The undefeated KC Chiefs have had success and may not change

The Kansas City Chiefs are 7-0 for the third time in franchise history and the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, a feat the team has not accomplished in any of its Super Bowl-winning seasons. This is the second time head coach Andy Reid has led the Chiefs to a 7-0 start, the last time being in 2013, his first season in Kansas City. The reality of this start has generally been discussed in light of KC's weak schedule, as the Chiefs were the worst team in the NFL before Reid took over. Still, it was an impressive achievement. This season was anything but a cupcake program early in the season, and the Chiefs still keep winning.

It was a good start to start the season with a win against the Baltimore Ravens, who were the No. 1 seed in the AFC last year. Then there was an ugly win over the Cincinnati Bengals, another team slated to compete in the AFC this season. The first road game was in Atlanta against the Falcons, a team currently in first place in the NFC South. This was followed by a road win in Los Angeles against the Chargers, a team that would challenge the Chiefs for the AFC West. The Chiefs celebrated their first double-digit win of the season on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints in early October before the bye week. They then had a Super Bowl rematch against the San Francisco 49ers, where the Chiefs won by double digits and controlled most of the game. Then of course the away win against the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.

There are still tough games coming up in the second half of the season, the highlight of which is an away game in Buffalo against the Bills. The three-game stretch between December 15th and 25th will be brutal for the players. They travel to Cleveland to face the Browns, host the Houston Texans and head out again for a Christmas game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nothing will come easy for this team, but don't be surprised if they keep winning.

Despite the 7-0 record and back-to-back Super Bowl championships, there is still talk across the country that the Chiefs still don't look like “the Chiefs” and haven't really gotten going this season. This is both good and bad.

The good news is that there is room for improvement and the team can get better every week. The bad news? That's who they are at this point. As we look back at the start of the 2023 season, the Chiefs have shown us a decent sampling of what to expect: The offense won't be as explosive as previous seasons and they'll commit some stupid turnovers while the defense will play well enough to keep them in the game. More good news to go along with the bad news: This formula has brought the team a Super Bowl and ensures the Chiefs are undefeated in Week 9 of the NFL season. It won't be pretty, but if the result ends in a win, does it really matter?

There are some built-in excuses for this season, especially with injuries decimating the Chiefs' wide receiver position, as Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Rashee Rice both landed on IR at the start of the year. This offense should have a high-flying, explosive feel with the addition of Brown and rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy. This offense can still take it to new levels and expand the field with Worthy, but it would certainly be more effective if all of its weapons were healthy. The use of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins should also be helpful in the home stretch.

Many teams have been hit by injuries to their wide receiver room, including the Chiefs' next opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The difference between the Chiefs and these other teams is that the Chiefs haven't lost a game. They just keep winning, despite the blows that keep coming. It's a testament to this team, to the depth that was built and to the tight feeling that existed in that locker room. Not every team in the league feels this.

It's too early in the season to talk about the Chiefs striving for perfection. Even if the Chiefs win every game between now and Christmas, Reid would likely sit out his starters in the final road game against the Denver Broncos, which could jeopardize their winning streak. Despite lacking an explosive offense up to this point in the season, the team continues to win and that's all that matters. Rely on strong defense, a reliable running game and keep winning games. As a fan, it may keep you on the edge of your seat until the final whistle, but if the end result is the same, there will continue to be plenty to celebrate in Chiefs Kingdom for the foreseeable future.

Read more: Chiefs vs. Buccaneers injury report: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mike Danna, Nazeeh Johnson, Jared Wiley updates