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Early this season, the Kansas City Chiefs looked human. That was an unfamiliar label for a franchise that has defined dominance under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. Offensive misfires, dropped passes, and inconsistency plagued a team still searching for its identity after an up-and-down start to the 2025 season. In Week 7, though, all that changed. The Chiefs didn’t just win. They made a statement. Their 31-0 shutout over the Las Vegas Raiders was a reminder to the rest of the league that the road to the Super Bowl still runs through Kansas City.
And the catalyst behind that resurgence? The long-awaited return of wide receiver Rashee Rice.
Rice returned to the lineup in Week 7 of the 2025 season after being sidelined for over a year due to a six-game suspension for off-field conduct and a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 of the 2024 season. In his season debut, Rice quickly re-established his connection with Mahomes. Rice led the team with 10 targets and caught seven passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
The return of Rice, along with a healthy Xavier Worthy, has provided a significant boost to the Chiefs’ offense. This is after they had struggled at times during the first half of the season. Reid and Mahomes both acknowledged the energy and trust Rice brings to the offense. Fans expect his workload to continue increasing as he regains full game fitness.
After months of speculation about how the Chiefs would look without their second-year receiver, the answer came loud and clear in Las Vegas: unstoppable.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss how Rashee Rice is back, and so are the Kansas City Chiefs as the best team in the AFC.
Rice’s return in Week 7 was a massive factor in the Chiefs’ dominant shutout over the Raiders. It was a powerful indicator that Kansas City is once again the team to beat in the AFC. However, it wasn’t just Rice’s stat line that stood out. It was the rhythm. For the first time in months, the Chiefs’ passing game felt fluid.
Mahomes spread the ball confidently to Rice, Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, and Xavier Worthy. They all helped stretch the Raiders’ defense. With those three on the field, Kansas City looks sharper than at any point this season. They have certainly rediscovered the explosiveness that defined their championship years.
This version of the Chiefs looks balanced, versatile, and dangerous. That is exactly what fans have been waiting to see since their uneven start.
Sure, the offense’s resurgence has captured headlines. However, the Chiefs’ defense might be the league’s most underrated storyline of 2025.
In Week 7, the defense suffocated the Raiders. They were hedl to just 95 total yards and three first downs. It was a staggering display of dominance. Chris Jones anchored the front line with relentless pressure, while Jaylen Watson and...
