Let's start with the record, get it out of the way, and move on: the Chiefs went 0-2-1 in preseason. A loss to the Rams, a loss to the Bucs, a tie with Seattle. If that's the only stat you look at, you'd think this team forgot how football works. It isn't, and they didn't.
Here's who earned some attention: Justin Fields went a perfect 4-for-4 for 41 yards. Garrett Nussmeier looked sharp in his NFL preseason debut, going 13-of-19 for 98 yards. And rookie running back Emmett Johnson didn't just run well (12 carries, 59 yards), he impressed the coaching staff with his pass protection, the unglamorous skill nobody claps for until the guy who doesn't have it misses the block.
Mahomes didn't take a single snap this preseason. Zero. And honestly? Good. Preseason football is simply a glorified practice.
Andy Reid's read on the whole camp was clear: this stretch is "the hardest time of the year" for the staff making roster cuts, but he also said the group "really challenged each other" all camp. Let's hope that tough season shows a team ready to get back to the level of play we are used to.
So, here's where I land: a typical preseason from a win/loss perspective, a few real bright spots, penalty clean up needed on "aisle 5," and a city ready for the return of Mahomes. Monday Night Football against Denver is going to tell us a lot more than three preseason games ever could.
What's your read?