Winners and Losers From the KC Chiefs' Week 3 Win Over the Chicago Bears

After starting the 2023 campaign 0-1, the Kansas City Chiefs have rattled off two wins in a row and more closely resemble the team that won Super Bowl LVII earlier this calendar year.

On Sunday, the Chicago Bears stepped onto GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium looking to get their season back on track and show some sign(s) of life against the reigning champs. What unfolded over the ensuing 60 minutes of game time was everything but that, with Kansas City blowing out their visitors by 31 points.

It was a wire-to-wire win for the Chiefs — one that saw them secure a record above .500 for the first time since last season. With a Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets on the horizon, this was a prime opportunity for Andy Reid's squad to keep some momentum going as the schedule continues.

With that in mind, let's point out some of the Chiefs' biggest winners and losers from the third week of the NFL season.

Sep 24, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs safety Mike Edwards (21) intercepts a tipped pass against the Chicago Bears during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Winners: Travis Kelce and Jerick McKinnon

For as young as the Chiefs are on the defensive side of the ball and at the wide receiver position, there are a few players on offense who are considered old for Kansas City and general NFL standards. Despite that, tight end Travis Kelce and running back Jerick McKinnon showed no signs of rust or age on Sunday afternoon. With the former hauling in seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and the latter scoring a pair of touchdowns in his own right, this was a strong showing for two of Kansas City's more important offensive pieces.

Loser: Blaine Gabbert

It didn't put any scare in the Chiefs nor make the game seem a whole lot closer than it actually was, but the fact that backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert tossed a pair of interceptions is never a good thing. Kansas City has been blessed with steady backup quarterback play in the Patrick Mahomes era, with this preseason being the first time that there was a legitimate question as to whether the veteran was the top man for the job. Gabbert ended up being out Shane Buechele for the gig, but his first action of the regular season didn't inspire a ton of optimism. This is something to monitor for next time.

Winner: Mike Edwards

When the Chiefs signed Mike Edwards during the offseason, many immediately pointed to his knack for playmaking as a clear selling point for the move. In just his third game with the team, he ended up proving that right when he intercepted a pass that was tipped by Justin Reid. When defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo goes beyond a standard two-safety look on defense, Edwards is now a legitimate player to keep an eye on instead of merely a substitution. He always seems to be around the football.

Bait and Take Tip Drill‼️ https://t.co/Y1ekguxURt
— Justin Reid (@JustinqReid) September 25, 2023

Loser: Jawaan Taylor (perhaps unfairly)

Let's make one thing perfectly clear: Jawaan Taylor has done a quality job as a run blocker and in pass protection this season. As far as executing the Chiefs' blocking scheme and keeping Patrick Mahomes clean is concerned, the 25-year-old is living up to the franchise's hefty billing it signed up for in the spring. With that said, Taylor was called for a pair of illegal formation penalties on Sunday and cost his team a touchdown. Whether that was actually his fault is up for interpretation, but it's clear that league officials are still keeping a very close eye on the Chiefs' high-dollar free agent signing. For better or worse, he has to find his name here.

Winner: Drue Tranquill

With usual starting linebacker Nick Bolton out of the lineup as he dealt with a lingering ankle injury, Spagnuolo trusted free agent signing Drue Tranquill to pick up the slack on defense as the team's go-to option on base downs and as a MIKE. He did exactly that, leading the team in tackles with eight and notching half a sack in the process. Tranquill's blend of athleticism, football IQ and experience is hard to beat; he made a case for being the Chiefs' best linebacker with his play against the Bears.

Loser: Kadarius Toney

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney returned to practice late in the week, carrying a questionable designation into Sunday's game but ultimately being active on game day. With that, however, the former first-round pick hauled in one pass for a loss of a yard and only saw the field three times (twice on offense and once on special teams). This can likely be tied back to Toney's sprained toe he's working through, although it doesn't bode well for him that he hardly played in Week 3.

Winner: Trent McDuffie

Out of all the Chiefs' 2022 draft picks, cornerback Trent McDuffie has emerged as a legitimate blue-chip prospect from that impressive class. The No. 21 pick from a cycle ago is not only playing lockdown coverage, but he also forced a fumble in the first half against the Bears and continued to improve the playmaking aspect of his game. McDuffie is still chasing the ever-elusive first career interception, although he'll likely settle for a 77.6 passer rating when targeted in coverage for the time being.

Loser: "Da Bears"

No need to add too much salt to the wound here. The Chiefs simply didn't have many losers from Sunday's game, so the opponent has to occupy the final spot.