There have been a few dissenters but not many. Chelsea, most have been convinced, would win the title this season.
Sure, some flirted with the idea Manchester City would rival Jose Mourinho’s team.
And some Manchester United fans, hopes raised by glimpses of fine attacking football, predicted their own side’s return to glory.
But most have seen little to suggest Chelsea had weaknesses to offer their rivals encouragement.
Most have seen a beautifully balanced side, cleverly put together by Mourinho, hungry, focused and unstoppable.
Last night’s magnificent match at White Hart Lane changed all that. Last night took the certainty away.
Because against Spurs, Chelsea did not just look flawed. For the first time, they looked vulnerable.
In pictures: Tottenham 5-3 Chelsea
Yes, they lost at Newcastle and, yes, they dropped points against Sunderland and Southampton recently, too.
But this was different. Even Mourinho admitted so in a press conference he loaded with coded messages. “We conceded five goals, which is something out of our context,” Mourinho said.
It is something out of his context, too. It was only the second time – alongside a defeat to Barcelona when he was Real Madrid boss – that one of his teams has conceded five.
Mourinho rationalised the defeat by dropping heavy hints about the “campaign” against Chelsea that he articulated after Sunday’s draw with Southampton.
Like many of his masterclasses in innuendo, it was what he left unsaid that conveyed his message.
Defeat to Newcastle last month came after a “clean” performance from referee Martin Atkinson, he said. This defeat felt “different” but he would not go any further. “I don’t want to be punished,” he said. “We lost and tomorrow is another day.”
He must have been worried though. Manchester City are coming on strong and suddenly Chelsea are wobbling.
Gary Cahill had a poor game. So did Branislav Ivanovic. Even Nemanja Matic, the league’s best player until now, struggled against the Spurs midfield.
Again, Mourinho rationalised those concerns by suggesting, without identifying the incident, that Chelsea should have had a penalty when they led 1-0 and Jan Vertonghen appeared to handle.
Mourinho’s argument had some merit but his conviction that Chelsea are being discriminated against underpinned everything.
Asked if he saw Cahill kick Harry Kane in the back as the Spurs striker lay on the floor, he was withering.
“Where did he hit him?” said Mourinho.
“In the back,” he was told.
“So not like Sterling, in the face?” Mourinho said, offering his coldest smile.
The wagons are being circled. The title race just entered a whole new phase.