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Former New England Patriots running back Damien Harris has offered his analysis on why the Kansas City Chiefs have looked so dominant this season. The Chiefs improved to 4-0 after a narrow 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Last season, Kansas City stumbled to a 6-11 record after quarterback Patrick Mahomes sustained a season-ending knee injury in January. Few anticipated a quick return to Super Bowl contention, but through the first month of the 2026 campaign, the Chiefs have appeared as formidable as any team in the league.
Harris, speaking on CBS, pointed to three specific reasons for the Chiefs' undefeated start. Kansas City has secured two blowout wins over the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, along with hard-fought victories against the Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders. Their success has come on multiple fronts offensively, with Harris highlighting key contributors in both the passing and running games.
"They're sitting in a great spot right now," Harris explained. "Coming into this season, we talked a lot about what iteration of the Kansas City Chiefs team we are going to see this year. It's going to look different because they don't have the same arsenal we're used to seeing from the Kansas City Chiefs. But it's all coming together."
Harris first singled out running back Kenneth Walker III, calling his performance "special" and "magnificent." He also expressed surprise at the play of tight end Travis Kelce, noting that while Kelce may not have had a huge game recently, he has still made impactful plays that demonstrate he has plenty left in the tank.
However, Harris saved his highest praise for Mahomes, calling him "the biggest part of this puzzle." He marveled at how Mahomes has responded from his ACL injury, appearing as though he hasn't missed a beat. "He's still making those off-schedule plays; he's throwing the ball in the pocket; he's finding ways to get guys the football," Harris said. "Tyquan Thornton is one of those. We're seeing guys step up, and it's because of Patrick Mahomes delivering the football to them."
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Thornton suffered an ankle injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future. The team is already exploring the possibility of signing former Super Bowl champion Tyreek Hill to help fill the void in their receiving corps.
Key Analysis
Harris's breakdown underscores the multifaceted nature of Kansas City's early success. The emergence of Walker in the backfield, the continued reliability of Kelce, and the MVP-caliber play of Mahomes have combined to make the Chiefs a legitimate contender once again. With Thornton's injury, the potential addition of Hill could further bolster an already potent offense. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see if these factors continue to propel the Chiefs toward another Super Bowl run.
Originally reported by yahoo.