Chiefs just lost their best offensive player to injury not named Patrick Mahomes

Earlier this week, one of my colleagues brushed aside a claim that the Chiefs are the worst 9-0 team in NFL history. “You can’t be the worst 9-0 team if you’re the two-time defending Super Bowl champs.”
Well, my friend, let me be the first to tell you that you are wrong. Especially now.

If you stack up all 34 teams to ever start 9-0 and rank them by point differential, the Chiefs rank dead last at -58 (go subscribe to Stathead, it’s great).

And while that alone certainly doesn’t equate to “worst” especially when you have the greatest quarterback of all-time not named Tom Brady, it certainly paints the picture of an underwhelming team surviving by the thinnest of margins as opposed to unbeatable juggernauts.

Outside of Mahomes, that team just lost the player it can least afford to lose.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday that kicker Harrison Butker will miss the next 3-4 weeks with a knee injury. According to Ian Rapoport, Butker will undergo surgery to trim the meniscus in his left (non-kicking) knee and will be back for the stretch run and playoffs. Kansas City has signed Spencer Shrader off the Jets practice squad to serve as the interim replacement.
Yes, he’ll be back for the playoffs. No, it’s not the end of the world. But when you’re barely squeaking en route to pursuing 3-peat history — and potentially a perfect season — having your kicker require mid-season surgery certainly isn’t ideal. Especially when said kicker had already drastically changed his form to go down on his knee on every kick.

Harrison Butker has collapsed on his left knee following through EVERY kick this season.

It is a change in his technique that really caught my attention, and unfortunately it’s not surprising his left knee needs a meniscus procedure.

Now back to that “best offensive player not named Patrick Mahomes” claim.

Travis Kelce is certainly rounding into HOF form. DeAndre Hopkins is building chemistry with Mahomes. The interior trio of Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith is perhaps the best in the NFL. And Isiah Pacheco will eventually return, though Kareem Hunt has filled in admirably