Since Eric Bieniemy’s departure after the 2022 season, the Chiefs’ offense has not been the same. During his first tenure as offensive coordinator, Bieniemy won two Super Bowls, and the team’s identity was a high-powered passing attack built around Mahomes, Kelce and Tyreek Hill. Between 2018 and 2022, when you turned on a Chiefs game, you expected Mahomes to throw for a lot of yards and you expected points. That offense was the reason Kansas City became a dynasty.

Under Matt Nagy’s direction as offensive coordinator, the offense did not look the same. Mahomes was going into his sixth year as a starter, Tyreek Hill was no longer part of the team, and Kelce’s production was slowing down as he started to enter the twilight of his career.

A lot of the games they played were just about winning. They did not care how many touchdowns they scored as long as it was enough to win. If you are a Chiefs fan, that is when the championship DNA was developed: winning close games. If you are not a Chiefs fan, that is when the refs were helping the Chiefs win games because the NFL wanted them in the Super Bowl.

It all culminated in what I call the most impressive Super Bowl win of the Andy Reid era, when they beat the 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII.

That win was so impressive it hid the problem. Nothing really changed. The Chiefs accepted being a team where the defense kept games close and the offense did just “enough” to win, rather than diagnosing why the offense had not been the same.

Then came Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles won 40-22, and “just enough” wasn’t close to enough.

And last season was the breaking point. For the first time since 2014, the Chiefs did not make the playoffs. They had a lackluster offense, and the defense could not bail them out every game. Brett Veach decided not to renew Nagy’s contract and went back to what once brought them two Super Bowls by rehiring Eric Bieniemy.

Since he’s been back, the offense is not quite the high-powered 2019 offense yet, but for the first time in a long time, Kansas City has a superstar at running back in Kenneth Walker. He is currently leading the entire NFL in rushing yards, and he looks unstoppable.

If you go to ESPN, everyone will tell you the Chiefs are back. But here’s a big reality check. Who have they faced so far?

• Broncos: Despite being 4-2, they have serious issues at quarterback with Bo Nix. On top of that, they have had issues at offensive coordinator, to the point that Payton decided to take over play-calling duties.
• Colts: A franchise that has been fighting mediocrity for the last 10 years under Chris Ballard.
• Dolphins: The Dolphins’ GM basically sold off all their assets during the offseason and has accepted that they are going to be bad for the next few years.
• Raiders: In my opinion, this has been their toughest challenge. There have been signs of the Raiders being back in some games, but after getting molly-whopped by the Patriots, they may not be completely back.
• Chargers: Their entire season has been a disaster from beginning to end. At 0-6, they are looking at some draft capital for next year.

Am I happy they won all those games? Of course! But I am not going to label them as completely back. I need to see some fight against the higher-level teams on their upcoming schedule, like the Seahawks, the Bills, the Rams and the 49ers. I want to see how they perform in those games. If they win, or even lose but play at a high level, I can see them making another Super Bowl run.

Another factor to consider: right now, the offense is Kenneth Walker. He is carrying the big numbers, and without him, they are no different from last year’s team. As great as he is, I would like Bieniemy to manage his usage. I have noticed a trend with NFL running backs who lead the league in rushing yards: as they get close to the end of the season, they suffer some type of injury. That’s why, as the season progresses, I’d like to see the passing game get better and a higher level of play from Xavier Worthy, so that in tough away games, like the one against the Bills, they have other options on offense.

Good news, I can properly answer this question after Sunday Nights game where the Chiefs face the Seahwaks. It will be Walkers first game back since signing the Chiefs. If Kansas City wins the game I can say they are officially back.