While some teams continue to fight for a playoff spot or better seeding to secure home-field advantage in the last two weeks of the regular season, the back-to-back championsKansas City Chiefs will essentially have two weeks of rest before their next meaningful game. With their dominant 29-10 victory over the Steelers on Christmas-their largest margin of victory this season-the Chiefs secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the third time in the past five years. This means the road to the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans will go through Kansas City for the AFC teams.
Kansas City Chiefs Still Eye Record-Breaking Season
With the win, the Chiefs have now won 21 of their last 22 games dating back to last season. They also reached their highest single-season win total, becoming just the eighth team in NFL history to record 15 wins in a season – the first since Cam Newton’s 2015 Panthers. Heading into their next game in Denver, the Chiefs will likely be looking to tie Tom Brady’s 2007 Patriots as the team with the most regular-season wins in history. The Patriots finished that season undefeated at 16-0, the second team ever to do so in the regular season, as the Don Shula Dolphins did it in 1972, but they finished 14-0. It’s worth noting that the NFL is expanding its schedule from 17 weeks to 18 weeks starting in 2021. The records continue to pile up for the Chiefs as they chase the first three-peat in NFL history, a position once held by Tom Brady but never realized.
But for the Chiefs, Brady’s 2007 season also serves as a cautionary tale. Despite his surreal season, it ended with Brady’s first Super Bowl loss to Eli Manning and the Giants. Heading into their next meeting, Mahomes boasts a 13-1 record against the Broncos, but will likely sit this one out, with Carson Wentz expected to step in and break the single-season win record. Andy Reid will likely choose to rest his stars, including Travis Kelce, who is on pace for his lowest yards and touchdowns totals in a season. Even if the Chiefs lose to the Broncos – who, unlike Kansas City, are likely to contend for a playoff spot – the Chiefs’ focus will remain solely on their quest for a historic three-peat.
Chiefs Prioritize Winning Over Style in 2024
The wins may not have been as spectacular or high-scoring as in years past, but the Chiefs are focused on what matters most: winning. The extra rest for Mahomes will be a blessing for the Chiefs, especially after the slight injury he suffered against the Browns. Additionally, we can expect to see the best version of Travis Kelce in the playoffs, as he’s proven time and time again. After all, he holds the record for most postseason receptions (165) in NFL history. Plus, it’s highly likely that the Chiefs won’t face the Bills or Ravens until the AFC Championship Game – the two teams that pose the biggest threat to Andy Reid’s team, especially since the Bills handed the Chiefs their only loss of the season. I’m not a Chiefs fan but we might witness history in February.
Mahomes is on fire at the most critical point of the season, with 11 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in his last 6 games. He has also completed 237 passes without an interception – opponents should fear him and bring their A-game. Marquise Brown also returned at the perfect time to bolster the passing attack alongside DeAndre Hopkins, who is chasing his first ring, and the aforementioned Travis Kelce. Finally, the running back duo of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt promises to be a nightmare for opponents in the playoffs, making the Chiefs a very well-rounded team as the defense continues to be the strongest part of the team since last season.
