The Kansas City Chiefs are hitting their Week 6 bye this weekend, still undefeated, and sitting pretty with a lead in the standings. It’s the first bye week on the NFL schedule this year, and for fans watching the Chiefs, it’s feeling eerily similar to two years ago when they also entered an early bye at 5-0. But don’t get it twisted, Seattle, there are some big differences this time around, especially since our Hawks are on their upcoming schedule.
Déjà Vu with a Twist, And a Familiar Name
Back in 2024, the Chiefs rolled into their bye 5-0 after a Monday Night Football win against the New Orleans Saints. They had some legit conference wins already under their belt against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, plus a crucial road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Sound familiar? This year, the Chiefs have already taken down the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, holding that lead in the standings. The rough part? Two years ago, they lost wideout Rashee Rice to a torn ACL against the Chargers after an interception. This year, the Chiefs offense is again moving forward without a top receiver, Tyquan Thornton, who’s out.
But here’s where things get wild, and Chiefs fans should be hyped: this 2026 offense is a whole different beast. In their first five games in 2024, the highest the Chiefs scored was 27 points. Their season-high rushing total for that first stretch was 149 yards, and that was in a game where starting running back Isiah Pacheco broke a bone in his leg. Fast forward to now, and the Chiefs have dropped 30 or more points in three of their four games! And get this, Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker has blown past 148 rushing yards *twice* on his own. Yeah, it’s a different energy, and their offense is cooking even with the significant injury to Thornton. Back then, they traded for All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, but he didn’t make a huge impact on their AFC championship run, even with two touchdowns in his second game. Chiefs GM Brett Veach doesn’t mess around when Patrick Mahomes is at the helm, and the receiver spot might need another boost if the younger guys don’t step up big time.
The Emerald City’s Roadblock?
So, what does this mean for us in the Emerald City? Well, after their bye, the 2026 Chiefs are looking at another brutal road trip, just like 2024. Two years ago, they won four straight games after their bye, including a tough road trip against a contending NFC West team, the San Francisco 49ers, and their division rival Raiders, before finally falling to the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 11. Can this year’s Chiefs keep that undefeated streak alive through their upcoming gauntlet? The schedule makers didn’t do them any favors. This year’s road trip includes another trip to Buffalo, plus a West Coast swing that pits them against our Seattle Seahawks and the Broncos.
That’s right, the undefeated Chiefs are coming to Lumen Field! Our Hawks, led by Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp, with Coach Macdonald leading the charge, will be a major test. The Chiefs’ offense is flying high, but their ability to finish stronger than the 2024 team is a massive question mark. That squad basically had the wheels fall off in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, largely due to an injury at left tackle. This year, they’re rolling with rookie Kahlil Benson protecting Mahomes’ blind side, but the health of last year’s first-round pick, Josh Simmons, is going to be key to avoiding another disappointing end. Our defense better be ready to bring the heat to Benson and whoever else is out there because the Chiefs are on a mission, and our Hawks are in their way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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