Chiefs dominate Washington 28-7, proving they might be better than last season despite their record

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have more losses through eight games than they had the entirety of last regular season.

They just might be a better team, though.

So much of the incredible 15-2 regular-season record a year ago was smoke and mirrors, the byproduct of fluke plays, timely execution and a penchant for winning one-score games. But there have been no flukes during their 5-3 start to this season: all five wins, including Monday night's 28-7 rout of Washington, have been by at least two scores.

“I know our record isn't as good,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said, “but it's a lot more fun when everybody is going out there and making things happen. We lost some tough games early that we won previous years, but it's not like anyone hung their head.”

Not after a close loss to the Chargers in their season-opener, played thousands of miles away in Brazil, and without their top two wide receivers with Xavier Worthy getting hurt in the first quarter and Rashee Rice serving his six-game suspension.

Nor after a loss to the Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch, or against Jacksonville, when the Chiefs basically gave the game away.

Instead, the Chiefs (5-3) got healthy and whole, with Rice rejoining the team a couple of weeks ago. They began to rally around a core led by Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and they have now won five of their last six games, including the last three — against the powerful Lions, lowly Raiders and banged-up Commanders — by an absurd 89-24 combined margin.

It's the kind of stuff the Chiefs were doing during Mahomes' first couple of years in the league.

“They complement each other. That's a positive,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of his collective team. “At this level, you need everybody. And they stay positive; that's a part I appreciate. Even when it's up and down, they stay positive and create energy, and with that, they're able to come around and make plays on both sides of the ball.”

Indeed, it isn't just the Kansas City offense that is playing at a high level. The defense has allowed 14 points over the last 10 quarters, a streak that included a blanking of the Raiders — the first shutout by the Chiefs in 14 years.

“Usually years prior, we came back with success from the offseason,” Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said, “and it wasn't that way this year. It's just day-in and day-out, we're finding ways to get better, and it's just a joy to be around.”

It's been a joy for the Chiefs. A nightmare for everybody they've had to face lately.

There are some high-profile games on the horizon, too. Up next is a trip to Buffalo for a rematch of the AFC championship game, then games against Denver and Indianapolis, two of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season.

The way the Chiefs have been playing, it's a challenge they welcome.

One of the reasons that Mahomes has thrown for at least 250 yards and three scores in three of his past four games has been better production by Kansas City on the ground. The Chiefs ran for 148 yards against Washington on Monday night, and that opened up the passing game for them; Mahomes wound up throwing for 299 yards and three TDs.

Special teams problems have run the gamut this year, from Harrison Butker's early-season struggles in the kicking game to poor coverage and penalties. The latter two popped up again in the Chiefs' win over the Commanders.

Defensive end Mike Danna, who missed time with quad and back injuries earlier this season, had a game to remember against Washington. He finished with three tackles, a sack and the first interception that he could recall at any level.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones had just one tackle, no sacks and never pressured Commanders fill-in quarterback Marcus Mariota on Monday night. The three-time All-Pro still has only two sacks on the season.

Bolton and running back Isiah Pacheco each banged up one of their knees during the game.

83 — The number of touchdowns by Kelce, tying the Chiefs record held by Priest Holmes. Kelce caught his 80th TD pass on Monday night to go with a pair of rushing touchdowns and a fumble recovery for a score earlier in his career.

The Chiefs and Bills meet again on Sunday in Buffalo.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes smiles following an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, right, is congratulated by teammate Travis Kelce (87) after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

ROME (AP) — The ATP Finals. The Davis Cup Finals. And now a Wimbledon tuneup on grass courts that could be played on the soccer pitch inside Milan’s San Siro stadium.

Led by top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who won Wimbledon last year, the Italian tennis movement keeps on adding new events.

The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has purchased the rights for a 250-level ATP Tour tournament in Brussels that is held in October, federation president Angelo Binaghi announced Tuesday.

The event will be held each June starting in 2028.

“There’s still time to decide where to play it,” Binaghi said. “For climate reasons, it will probably be held in northern Italy.”

Binaghi noted that the Madrid Open is introducing practice courts inside Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, so the San Siro could be an option: “For once, we wouldn’t be the first to do it.”

Italy previously hosted a WTA tournament on grass in Gaiba from 2022-24. The federation is also hosting the ATP Finals, currently in Turin, through 2030 and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna through next year.

Meanwhile, the federation is preparing to host the Italian Open next month.

After Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo Masters final on Sunday, organizers are optimistic that he could become the first Italian man to claim the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

“We’ve got to try and win the men’s singles. The time is right,” Binaghi said at the tournament presentation, noting that Italy has three other players ranked in the top 25: No. 9 Lorenzo Musetti, No. 16 Flavio Cobolli and No. 21 Luciano Darderi.

Alcaraz beat Sinner in last year’s Rome final in Sinner’s first tournament back from a three-month doping ban; while Jasmine Paolini earned Italy the titles in both women’s singles and doubles (with partner Sara Errani).

Work on a retractable roof for Campo Centrale is slated to start immediately after this year’s Italian Open and be ready for the 2028 edition.

Capacity for the revised stadium will increase from 10,500 to 12,400 for tennis; and more for other sports such as basketball.

Binaghi also said he still hopes to make the Italian Open a fifth Grand Slam to join the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open as the sport’s biggest tournaments.

Binaghi first raised the idea last year — which would upend a century of tennis history. His federation is interested in acquiring the license for the Madrid Open, which immediately precedes Rome in the tennis calendar. The idea is that by eliminating Madrid and making Rome bigger it could constitute a fifth Slam.

“I think about it every day,” Binaghi said. “There’s only a brief window when we can achieve this. … Italy would benefit from it for 100 years. It’s our dream.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

FILE - A general view of the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner at the opening day of the "Watches and Wonders Geneva" luxury watch fair, in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)