For the devoted fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, the current atmosphere is a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. After a rocky start to the season, two consecutive victories have provided a collective sigh of relief. Yet, beneath this veneer of success, a palpable sense of anxiety is simmering, prompting many to question the long-term stability of the Arrowhead dynasty. Are these recent triumphs a sign of a genuine resurgence, or are they merely papering over the cracks of a much larger storm brewing on the horizon?

The 2025 season began on a disastrous note for the Chiefs. Xavier Worthy, their shiny new rookie receiver, was sidelined with a dislocated shoulder in the very first game. Without his explosive presence, the offense looked flat and uninspired, leading to back-to-back losses against the Chargers and the Eagles. It wasn’t until Week 3 that the Chiefs managed to scrape together a victory, and even that was a low-energy, unconvincing win against a struggling Giants team.

Week 4, however, felt different. It felt like a return to form. The Chiefs didn’t just win; they dominated the Baltimore Ravens in a 37-20 blowout. With Worthy back in the lineup, Patrick Mahomes and the offense finally looked like the unstoppable force fans have come to know and love. But here lies the crucial caveat: the Ravens are in the midst of a terrible season, sitting at a 1-4 record with significant issues on both their offensive and defensive lines. This begs the question: was this a truly dominant victory, or was it simply a confidence-booster against a collapsing opponent?

The real test is just around the corner. The Chiefs are set to travel to Jacksonville for a Monday Night Football showdown against the red-hot Jaguars. This game will be the ultimate litmus test, a chance for Kansas City to prove that their Week 4 performance was not a fluke but the beginning of a true turnaround. Despite their shaky start, Las Vegas still has faith in the defending champions. The Chiefs are currently three-point road favorites, with a -172 moneyline according to FanDuel. While the 3-1 Jaguars have some impressive wins under their belt, including a gritty road upset of the 49ers, the oddsmakers aren’t biting just yet.

The Jaguars’ defense has been a force of nature to start the year, generating three takeaways in every single game, including a four-turnover masterclass against Brock Purdy and the 49ers. This unit is built to create chaos, employing zone-heavy schemes, tight coverage, and an aggressive, ball-hawking mentality. While Mahomes has only thrown one interception this season, this is precisely the kind of defense that can bait him into costly mistakes if he starts hunting for highlight-reel plays.

Conversely, Kansas City’s defense has been the quiet MVP of their season so far. They have performed far better than expected and are poised for another solid outing against a Jaguars offense that is still finding its rhythm under new offensive coordinator Liam Cohen.

However, not everything is looking up. A serious concern has emerged surrounding one of the Chiefs’ biggest defensive stars, and it has the potential to alter the course of their entire season. While it may seem like the Chiefs are back in business, a closer look reveals a brewing storm that has nothing to do with Mahomes’s cannon arm or their recent win streak.

Fox Sports analyst Bucky Brooks recently highlighted this growing issue by naming Chris Jones the most important non-quarterback on the team—and for good reason. Jones is a three-time All-Pro, a certified game-wrecker, and arguably the only true pass-rushing threat on the Chiefs’ defensive line. With 81.5 career sacks and a highlight reel filled with destructive plays, he has been the heartbeat of this defense for years.

But here’s the problem: he hasn’t been that same guy this year. Through four games, Jones has recorded just one sack. While he is still making plays—racking up five tackles for no gain—he doesn’t look like the same dominant force who used to blow up double-teams and terrorize opposing quarterbacks. This wouldn’t be as alarming if the Chiefs had a pipeline of young talent ready to step up, but they don’t. The dynastic core of Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Jones built this powerhouse, but two-thirds of that core is showing significant signs of wear. Kelce remains a matchup nightmare, but he isn’t aging in reverse, and his impact, while still great, is beginning to diminish just enough to be noticeable.

The truly frightening part is the front office’s lack of foresight. The Chiefs have failed to draft apparent heirs to these aging superstars. You would think that by now, they would be grooming Kelce’s successor or developing a young pass rusher to eventually take the mantle from Jones. Instead, they are riding their aging horses, crossing their fingers that they have another year or two of dominance left in the tank. Mahomes is a generational talent who can cover up a multitude of flaws, but even he can’t do it all, especially if his defense starts to slip and his offense becomes too one-dimensional.

To complicate matters further, a reclamation project is rapidly turning into a breakout star, and the Chiefs may be forced to make a major decision sooner than they planned. Wide receiver Taekwon Thornton arrived in Kansas City after failing to pan out in New England, but he possessed the one trait the Chiefs always covet: elite speed. Four games into the 2025 season, he has already amassed nearly half of his entire career receiving yards and has set a new personal best for touchdowns. To put it simply: he’s balling out.

If he maintains this pace, he’s on track for 43 catches, 774 yards, and a staggering 13 touchdowns over a full season. While that level of production might not be entirely sustainable, it proves one thing unequivocally: Thornton is a critical piece of this offense. He isn’t just filling a role; he’s potentially solving the long-standing problem of finding a legitimate deep threat since Tyreek Hill’s departure.

And here’s the kicker: if Thornton remains on the active roster for just two more games, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. The clock is ticking. If the Chiefs want to keep him—and they absolutely should—they need to act now. From a front-office perspective, it makes perfect sense to sign him to an extension before his price tag skyrockets with each passing week. A deal in the range of two years and $22 million, with the first year fully guaranteed, would be a win-win. It would provide life-changing financial security for Thornton and cost-effective flexibility for the Chiefs.

Securing Thornton would also bring much-needed stability to the wide receiver room for the next few seasons. With Travis Kelce’s retirement looming, the offense will desperately need reliable, explosive playmakers. Thornton’s unexpected rise gives them exactly that. The team is winning now, but cracks are forming in the foundation of their empire. If the front office doesn’t act decisively to address these looming issues, the dynasty they so carefully constructed could come crumbling down far sooner than anyone expects.