LET'S TALK FOOTBALL - Kansas City Chiefs

After becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Patriots from 2003 to 2004, it felt like the Kansas City Chiefs were on the verge of making more history. They went 15-2 in the regular season, easily clinched the best record in the AFC, and made it to their fifth Super Bowl in just seven years. Many predicted that the Chiefs would become the first NFL team to three-peat, which in a lot of people’s eyes would vault him as the Greatest of All Time over Tom Brady. But we did not get to witness such history as the Philadelphia Eagles, still stewing from getting their hearts broken to that franchise a couple of years ago, laid out one of the biggest whoopings in Super Bowl history. Patrick Mahomes turned the ball over three times and got sacked six, the defense was on its heels the entire night, and the fatigue kicked in at the worst possible time. We can blame injuries for this outcome, but the reality was that Kansas City just got straight up punked. The Eagles essentially said that “the Chiefs are who we thought they were and we did not let them off the hook.” At the same time, however, you know that this team will still be the favorites to win the conference as long as the nucleus is intact.

I have been on record saying that Patrick Mahomes is nowhere close to being the GOAT and that this is a conversation that should never have been started in the first place. Yet, I can somewhat understand why some people were pushing this narrative because his career thus far has been unbelievable. We know that when it is all said and done, he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer and should be recognized as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. Entering the 2025 season, we all know that as long as he is under center, this offense is going to flow in the right direction. However, there is the thought in the back of my mind that nobody else wants to discuss: how long is the Super Bowl fatigue going to last? Obviously Kansas City has the talent, but will they have the physical energy to make another deep run? My guess is that they most likely will because Andy Reid is the best coach in football. Isiah Pacheco has proven to be the focal point of the running game, yet he is coming off a serious leg injury that sidelined him for most of the season, and his numbers took a dive once he tried to come back. Why else would they bring back Kareem Hunt and sign Elijah Mitchell? I can predict that Reid is going to try a running back by committee approach, but the problem is that Hunt will turn thirty this summer and Mitchell has not had a strong campaign in four seasons. Let’s just hope that Pacheco can return to his true form, because when he is 100%, he is one of the angriest and most powerful runners in the league that generates plenty of yards after contact. I also want to take a look at this passing game because while Mahomes still took this group to the Super Bowl last year, it was the first time he did not finish a full season with four thousand yards. Obviously, he would have passed that point if he played in the regular season finale, but the weapons he had to work with were just above average at best. Hollywood Brown did not play until the latter half of the season due to a shoulder injury, Rashee Rice only played four games before suffering a torn ACL, and DeAndre Hopkins was not necessarily the same player that he was in his prime as one of the best receivers in the league. The good news is that Kansas City still has Travis Kelce, who might be also experiencing a bit of a decline in production, but still draws so much attention that it can open up the rest of the offense. That will be good for second year receiver Xavier Worthy, who showed that he had the tools and skills to be an excellent wide receiver, but has yet to maximize his true potential. One guy that I do not think gets a lot of love is Noah Gray. If he was not playing behind Kelce, I personally believe Gray would be a starting tight end for any other team in the NFL because he shares many of the same characteristics and traits that any offense would love to have. To conclude with the offense, I have to state that the offensive line was a shocking liability. They let up forty-one sacks last year, which was ranked seventeenth in the league, and a lot of that had to do with the fact that they did not have a left tackle. Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris got benched, DJ Humphries got hurt, and they had to resort to All-Pro guard Joe Thuney for the playoff push. The Chiefs made sure to address that by signing Jaylon Moore and drafting Josh Simmons with their first round pick. Thuney left in free agency, but Kansas City liked what they saw from Mike Caliendo and he will join an interior team led by Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith. The only other liability this group has is at right tackle, Jawaan Taylor. The penalties kept piling up and he struggled in pass protection, but it clearly did not stop the Chiefs from making it to two Super Bowls in a row with him as a starter, so I will not stress about it too much.

Obviously, the offense has been the main centerpiece of the Chiefs defense, no question. However, that defense led by Steve Spagnuolo does not get the amount of love it deserves. Since he joined in 2019, he has only had one season where his unit did not finish in the top ten in points allowed, and they still managed to win the Super Bowl that year. The core is still intact, which is great because they have outstanding chemistry and continuity, but you do not want the worst case scenario to pop up and notice that they might be exhausted from three straight Super Bowl runs as well. The best part about their defensive line is that while Chris Jones is going to be a future Hall of Famer and is still playing at a high level, he was not even their leader in sacks this season. That honor went to George Karlaftis with eight, who is slowly evolving into one of the best defensive ends in the league. Tershawn Wharton was second with six and a half, but he left to sign a big contract with the Panthers in free agency. However, the Chiefs still have Mike Danna and former first round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah to make sure that this group does not take a dip in performance. Kansas City also has one of the deepest linebacking rooms in the league featuring Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal. They gave up the eighth fewest rushing yards in the league, and while they had a hard time stopping Jalen Hurts, one silver lining to their Super Bowl loss was that they did not let Saquon Barkley disrupt that game. Their secondary also has a burgeoning amount of playmakers that can lock down defenders, succeed on the blitz, and track the ball with precision. Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie have more than proven to be their top two corners, they just signed Kristian Fulton to help out on the outside, and their safety room is incredibly deep as well. While Justin Reid is gone, they still have Bryan Cook and Chamarri Conner, not to mention Jaden Hicks on the strong side.

Like I said before, all Kansas City needs is the nucleus intact for them to remain the favorites to win the AFC. They know that as long as Patrick Mahomes is their quarterback and Andy Reid is the head coach, then there will always be a chance. They have been to the conference championship every single year since they have been together and they only missed out on the Super Bowl twice. We always hope that the Ravens and Bills can finally get over the hump, yet it is the Chiefs that show there are levels to greatness. This franchise is hoping to prove that the Super Bowl loss was just a big bump on the road, rather than a harbinger of things to come. The last time that I said that Kansas City was going to have a down year was in 2022, which was the year Mahomes won his second MVP and they ended up beating the Eagles in the Super Bowl. The only way I can believe it will happen again is if I see it myself. There is actually more pressure on the rest of the teams in the AFC because they are the ones that have yet to prove they have what it takes to beat the Chiefs. Just because a team in the NFC was finally able to knock them down, it does not mean they are just going to simply lie there and die. We all know that this team will never quit, so let’s see if there will be somebody else that has something to say about it this year.

WEEK 1 @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The Chiefs are fortunate to play in the second NFL game ever hosted in Brazil and it happens to be against a division rival they have normally bested, the Los Angeles Chargers. This is technically a road game for the defending AFC champions, which is positive news because Patrick Mahomes is undefeated against LA in away games. However, you know that you are getting a matchup that goes down to the wire because Justin Herbert is their quarterback and Jim Harbaugh is the head coach. Last season did not end the way they wanted, but the Chargers proved that they could compete with anybody in the league. Harbaugh implemented the same formula with LA that he did when he won the National Championship at Michigan: run the ball, play great defense, keep their quarterback Justin Herbert out of harm’s way. It helped JK Dobbins bounce back with a near thousand yard season, so just imagine what things could be like with rookie Omarion Hampton and veteran Najee Harris. But even if a defense manages to keep the running game in check, then there is wide receiver Ladd McConkey to worry about, who thrived in his rookie season. My only question is who will be Herbert’s second option. Quentin Johnston is incredibly talented yet has drop issues, Mike Williams had a very up-and-down season in 2024 trying to return from injury, and tight end Tyler Conklin is the only other security blanket on the roster. The Chargers offensive line is an average unit that does well with run blocking, but could have its issues in pass protection, so the latter might be a problem if Herbert does not have anybody that can consistently get open.

What really turned things around for the Chargers was their defense, which went from being one of the worst in the league to allowing the fewest points one year later. When you look at the defensive line, there are not too many household names, but this is still a group that had the sixth most sacks in the league last season. Khalil Mack might not be the player he was in his prime, but he is still one of the most productive edge rushers in the league. Tuli Tuipulotu is emerging as one of the more underappreciated players at his position and veteran Bud Dupree did not do bad himself with six sacks of his own. What LA is hoping, however, is for more of the younger guys to step up and shine for this team. Daiyan Henley received that message early by nearing 150 tackles and guys like Troy Dye and Junior Colson are hoping to get caught up. In the secondary, LA let Asante Samuel Jr. walk away in free agency, mainly because they might have found a new number one corner in Tarheeb Still. Elijah Molden jumped into the radar out of nowhere last season and got himself a deserving contract extension as a result. That is not even mentioning that they still have one of the best safeties in football with Derwin James leading the unit. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter did a hell of a job leading that defense, and if he keeps this up any longer, he might enter some head coaching discussions.

I think that the Chargers have a lot more to prove in this game than the Chiefs because they are the ones constantly playing second fiddle. All Kansas City has to do is just stay locked in and make sure their opponent does not have any breathing room to take the lead down the stretch. If their defense gives Mahomes the ball back with a chance to win the game, then that is the best situation they could ask for.

WEEK 2 vs. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The NFL decided to give us the Super Bowl rematch a lot earlier than expected. Just like 2023, this game will take place in Arrowhead Stadium. The only difference is that the Chiefs are the ones trying to get back some of the dignity they lost in the Super Bowl, not the Eagles. Now I won’t be like a bunch of national media pundits and say that Philadelphia is starting a dynasty, but they are the most feared team in the NFC. Jalen Hurts finally got the respect he deserved by winning a championship and the game’s MVP, because when Philadelphia’s best player Saquon Barkley was held in check, it was the quarterback that rose up to the moment and redeemed himself from two years ago. Thankfully, the offense from that season will be back. Saquon is still at the peak prime of his career, the Eagles have one of the best receiving duos featuring AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, but one of the best news of the offseason was that they found a way to keep tight end Dallas Goedert for the foreseeable future. The offensive line has four of its five starters returning, so this offense should still be dominant on paper. The last thing Philadelphia wants, however, is a repeat of what happened two years ago. They might have finished with a winning season and a playoff appearance, but they collapsed after a 10-1 start and got demolished in the Wild Card with two different coordinators than the ones they had in their first Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs.

Thankfully, Vic Fangio will still be in charge of the defense, which means you should not experience a setback any time soon. Even though they lost a ton of pieces in the offseason, Philly is deciding to focus on its youth to keep their repeat chances alive. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis will be the two key pieces to their defensive line, with assistance from Nolan Smith and perhaps Jalyx Hunt coming around the edge. In the second level, Zack Baun will be the quarterback of the unit as he is coming off of a breakout season, with the confidence that he will come out stronger this year. With help from Nakobe Dean and rookie Jihaad Campbell, I don’t expect that run defense to get worse. The secondary is where it gets really interesting because even though they are still young, both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean formed into a lethal cornerback tandem. Reed Blankenship has evolved into a legitimate starting safety and Sydney Brown is hoping to reach that level, so there is depth in that group as well. I don’t think that defense will be as dominant as it was the year before, especially since there will be a lot more inexperienced guys being thrusted into starting positions, but then I remember what happened in 2023. When they lost to Kansas City, the Eagles had the best defense in football. One year later, they were one of the worst. It was the biggest reason why Philadelphia fell apart after such a strong start, so my fear is that it could happen again, especially since it will be a younger unit.

Just like the 2023 rematch, I believe that we are going to get a lower scoring game where both defenses do everything it takes to win the game. However, I trust the firepower on Philadelphia’s offense a little bit more and I think their defense proved it has the blueprint to slow down Patrick Mahomes. Obviously, I would not be surprised if the Chiefs found a way to win, but the last thing they can do is turn the ball over the way they did at a high rate in February.

WEEK 3 @ NEW YORK GIANTS

I know I am probably going to be on Freezing Cold Takes if the Chiefs win this game, which is what should be expected, but I have a reason why this is an upset. They have not won a road game against the Giants in their entire history as a franchise. The last time Kansas City was in this situation, an eventual 10-6 division winner lost to a two-win team 12-9 in overtime with Alex Smith and Eli Manning as the starting quarterbacks. The Chiefs had a vastly superior football team then and they still somehow lost, so it would not be impossible to see the same outcome eight years later. However, the Giants are not exactly in the best spot as an organization right now. They signed Russell Wilson, then traded up for Jaxson Dart in the first round. They have a promising running back in Tyrone Tracy, but drafted Cam Skattebo. Malik Nabers is a stud at wide receiver, but the next best options are Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, both inconsistent in their respective positions. At least Andrew Thomas is coming back to stabilize the offensive line, but with the uncertainty at the quarterback position, who knows how many times that group will be set up to fail? One more horrid start and John Mara is cleaning house.

Hopefully, the defense emerges out of the shadows and gives us promising flashes throughout the season. Their pass rush is stacked with the likes of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence. They added Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris to solidify that front, but the run defense has been underwhelming with Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden leading the way. What I am really going to pay attention to is their secondary because the Giants made sure to overhaul it in the offseason. They brought in Paulson Adebo to be their number one corner, signed the best safety in free agency in Jevon Holland to man the deep end, and are hoping for breakout seasons from Andru Phillips and Tyler Nubin. Yet, the biggest disappointment in that group has been Deonte Banks, who has not lived up to the first round pedigree he had as he allowed six touchdowns just last season.

I don’t know how the Giants are going to win and I am not the most confident about this game because both teams are on completely opposite sides of the spectrum, but there is always going to be at least one particular upset that nobody sees coming until it actually happens. Call me delusional all you want but the better team does not always win.

WEEK 4 vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Let’s say the Chiefs actually do lose to the Giants in Week 3. Then there is no question that they will be able to bounce back against the Ravens at home. Patrick Mahomes is 5-1 against Lamar Jackson and has yet to lose at home, so Kansas City will unquestionably be favored to win. However, it is not like this is going to be a walk in the park. Jackson is a two time MVP for a reason and if it were not for a certain Josh Allen fellow, then there is no question that he would have won his third. Besides him, the rest of the team has a boatload of talent that should be a championship contender. Derrick Henry proved that not only is he still the King, but he is easily one of the top two running backs in all of football. What I’ve been more impressed with is how well the Ravens opened up the passing game. Zay Flowers has slowly but surely emerged as a number one option and Rashod Bateman has not done too bad as a number two. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been added to the mix, Lamar will have more than just Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely to lean on as a security blanket. The biggest win of their offseason, in my opinion, was bringing back Ronnie Stanley. He turned more money down to stay with Baltimore, so as long as he stays healthy, he will be a huge investment that will pay off. The interior still gives me some concern, but with Lamar under center, it should not be too huge of a liability.

Hopefully this time, the defense will stay consistent all season long, rather than just wait until the second half of the season to show up. The pass rush has really come alive in the last two years, led by Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, but players like Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have really stepped into the fold in a positive way. The Ravens also drafted Mike Green in the second round, who led the FBS in sacks last year, so it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in Zach Orr’s system. In the second level, there is nothing else to say about Roquan Smith besides the fact that he is the best middle linebacker in the league. Trenton Simpson really stepped up as the right-hand man and those two are why Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. What really stepped up in the second half of the season, though, was their secondary. Marlon Humphrey still proved that he was one of the best cover corners in the league, but with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, they exploded and took off. If Jaire Alexander can stay healthy, then this group will be even more lethal, especially since Ar’Darius Washington and Nate Wiggins are expected to have bigger roles. To top it off, I think that the safety room will be better with Malaki Starks jumping on as a first round pick.

As I said in the week one matchup, the Chiefs are not the ones under the most pressure to win. The Ravens have come up short time and time again in the playoffs with Lamar Jackson as a common denominator. Kansas City has proven to beat this team at their own game, so Baltimore is the one that has to show that they have what it takes to make a deep playoff run.

WEEK 5 @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

It is weird that this game is on Monday Night Football, but not the one against the Ravens. Either way, this is one that Kansas City should win handedly. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars look with Liam Coen as the new head coach, because if Trevor Lawrence continues to look mediocre at best and pathetic at worst, then that contract extension is only going to appear worse as the days roll by. Coen has a lot of work to do with not just getting Lawrence back on track, but with the rest of the offense as well. They have two capable starting running backs in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, while Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as the focal point of the passing game, but the offense suffered a lot of turnover at the same time. Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram were all released. Jacksonville replaced them by promoting Brenton Strange as the starting tight end, signing Dyami Brown in free agency, and then trading up with the Browns to draft Travis Hunter with the second overall pick! Not only is Hunter supposed to help out a ton in the passing game, but that secondary has desperately needed a standout cornerback for years, and the Jaguars got a guy that can do both! One of the biggest surprises of 2024 was that their offensive line actually did pretty well, despite only winning four games. It only let up thirty-two sacks, the ninth fewest in the league, and I think it got stronger with the signing of Patrick Mekari in free agency. Anton Harrison showed improvement, Ezra Cleveland thrived at left guard, and the unit did pretty well for itself without Cam Robinson at left tackle. Lawrence is going to be the biggest X factor for this team’s success, or else Jacksonville’s new regime will not be afraid of moving on from him in the upcoming offseason.

As for the Jaguars defense, I have been consistent in saying that it has been the team’s Achilles heel for the last five years. The only two guys that kept it somewhat afloat were Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, so even with the addition of Travis Hunter, this group has a lot of making up to do this year. Arik Armstead has been a disappointment, Devin Lloyd showed a lot of consistency issues, and I did not like that Jourdan Lewis was the only addition they made to the secondary in free agency. Maybe Hunter and Tyson Campbell can form into a solid duo, but for this team to truly turn things around, everything has to be absolutely perfect in all aspects of play.

If the Jaguars do not show any progress on either side of the ball, then the Chiefs are going to turn this into an ugly rout. The Jaguars have the type of defense that Patrick Mahomes loves to pick apart and an offense that Steve Spagnuolo’s group can shut down in a heartbeat. An upset requires perfection because one little mishap and Kansas City is stealing all of the momentum.

WEEK 6 vs. DETROIT LIONS

It is weird to think about this but Jared Goff of all quarterbacks is undefeated against Patrick Mahomes as a starting quarterback. I remember when the Lions visited Arrowhead Stadium just a couple of years ago in the opening game of the season and upset the Chiefs 21-20. But the catch is that Kansas City was without Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, so it will be exciting to see what these teams can do against each other at full strength. The Lions might have lost both of their coordinators, but as long as Dan Campbell is in charge, then they are the team to beat in the division. For all the flaws that Jared Goff might have as a quarterback, he has still been one of the best the organization ever had. The only worst case scenario is that he turns into a turnover machine again and causes them to slip out of the playoff race, but with the cast around him, it should not be an issue. Detroit still has a one-two punch at running back featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Amon-Ra St. Brown is easily one of the top five receivers in the league and Campbell is hoping that Jameson Williams could emerge as a legitimate number two. Sam LaPorta is always one of the more reliable tight ends in the league and their offensive line is one of the best in the league. We know that this offense will keep Detroit in postseason contention, but what about the other side of the ball?

When the Lions defense was healthy, they were one of the more improved units in the league. But the more guys they lost, the worse it got. If Aidan Hutchinson can successfully bounce back from the gruesome knee injury he suffered against the Cowboys, not only is this group going to get back on track, but he will be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. The only issue is that there is not anybody else on the line that can generate consistent pressure. They have a few perennial run stuffers, but the only player that had more than a few sacks in 2024 was Za’Darius Smith, and he is still a free agent. At least the linebacking room is still deep with Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez. But without a pass rush, then that means the secondary is going to be put in a tough place. They lost Carlton Davis in free agency, but they still have a few key playmakers that will at least hold their end of the bargain. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are easily one of the best safety tandems in the league, they signed DJ Reed to complement the rising Terrion Arnold, and the additions of both Amik Robertson and Avonte Maddox should keep things stable. However, if this group is not healthy, then this season might turn out even worse than the last two.

This game is going to be on Sunday Night Football, so we know we are in for one hell of a showdown. I can definitely see this going either way because this is Patrick Mahomes we are talking about, but that matchup from a couple of years ago showed that the Lions are not afraid or intimidated for a challenge. I believe it is going to come down to ball security and composure down the stretch, so if Jared Goff can succeed in both tasks, then I have no doubt that Detroit can hang on for the win.

WEEK 7 vs. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

I am definitely tempted to pick an upset in this game because if there is one division rival that has found ways to shock the world in Arrowhead Stadium over the past few seasons, it is the Raiders. What makes this one more entertaining is that Geno Smith and Pete Carroll are back together, which means the two are probably not going to win less than seven games this season. Actually, if you look at the rest of their roster, it feels like watching the Seahawks in an entirely different conference, but there are a few modifications. The Raiders drafted the Heisman winning running back Ashton Jeanty with their first round pick, which was a huge need because this team has not had a powerful player at that position since Josh Jacobs. However, the passing game still gives me some questions. They might have Brock Bowers, one of the more generational tight ends in the league, but the wide receiver room is lackluster. I like Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, but they are not quality number one options, so maybe Jack Bech will jump onto the radar and surprise us out of nowhere. Their offensive line is also a pretty substandard unit that allowed the eighth most sacks in the league, so I do not think that signing Alex Cappa in free agency did not make them a better unit. Nor does hiring Chip Kelly as your offensive coordinator! It was an issue when Pete Carroll was in Seattle and I am scared it is going to linger again in Sin City.

If there is one thing that I hope Carroll does well with this team, it is make sure the defense is not set back a decade. You have an unstoppable menace in Maxx Crosby, but the rest of the supporting cast is just average at best. Christian Wilkins is coming back from injury, Tyree Wilson has not lived up to the first round hype, and they did not do enough to address the linebacking room after Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo left in free agency. I think Germaine Pratt is a solid tackler, but there is not too much depth at his position. The other three veterans in that group are Elandon Roberts, Devin White, and Jaylon Smith. The one thing that all of them have in common is that they have not been good in three to five years. Hopefully there is a younger player that could surprise us out of nowhere, but I truly do not know who that will be right now. The secondary also lost some key pieces like Tre’von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs, but I honestly like the guys that will take their place. I have always been a fan of Jeremy Chinn, and I believe that both Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jakorian Bennett took big leaps in 2024. I do not expect it to be a great unit, but I think they can be pretty good against certain foes.

I am going to pick the Chiefs to win this for now because they are at home and they normally do not lose two games in a row, but I seriously doubt we are going to get a blowout. One quarterback you do not want to give the ball back with a chance to win is easily Patrick Mahomes, but Geno Smith is not too far off that list. Remember, Aidan O’Connell was a botched snap away from beating this team on Black Friday just a year after his team shut the Chiefs down on Christmas, so anything is possible in this game.

WEEK 8 vs. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

This would normally be the game where I would pick the Commanders to win, but I know that any time I think somebody has a legitimate shot of beating them, they fail to get the job done. Two years ago, I thought it was Miami, and I believed that the Texans could do it last season. Obviously, I was very wrong. However, I am absolutely looking forward to this Monday night matchup because Washington has a chance to prove that they can be just as great if not better than last year. The reason why they are getting all the hype is because their quarterback has emerged as a superstar that lifted them to the conference championship game, so he is hoping that they get further this time around and have a happier ending. The supporting cast around him did not change drastically from last year. Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler have been a solid running back tandem, Terry McLaurin is easily one of the more underappreciated receivers in football, they just acquired Deebo Samuel as an extra option, and Zach Ertz returned to being the reliable security blanket that everybody wants in their offense. Washington also made sure to address its offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil, so let’s hope that he is not one of the more penalized tackles in the league this time around. However, it is a group that allowed the seventh most sacks, so it is not like Washington is going to have an unbelievable offense that cannot be stopped. Fortunately, they drafted Josh Connerly Jr. as a future starter at right tackle, so the Commanders made sure to address the two most important positions on that front.

Their defense is a very unique one run by Dan Quinn. They do not have too many household names, but it is a group that is opportunistic and one you do not want to turn the ball over against. Jonathan Allen is gone, but they still have a franchise cornerstone in Da’Ron Payne along with a quality starter in Dorance Armstrong to lead the pass rush. The Commanders are also expecting Jer’Zhawn Newton to take the next step at defensive tackle and even signed Javon Kinlaw to give him a bigger role. Bobby Wagner is still playing at a high level and Frankie Luvu has been more than an exceptional complement to have in the linebacker room, but the secondary is one that I am hoping shows signs of improvement. Hopefully, Marshon Lattimore can have a full and healthy season to remind us why he is still one of the best corners in football. Mike Sainristil will be in the slot and Jonathan Jones is expected to be another outside defender, which is not the most ideal situation, but you at least have proven starters. However, one player that I have high hopes for is safety Quan Martin. He totaled eighty-seven tackles last year and showed up huge in the playoffs, the type of player that Dan Quinn loves to have on a daily basis.

My reasoning is very simple. If the Commanders could not beat the Eagles twice on the road, then how can I expect them to do the same against the Chiefs in Arrowhead? The game plan cannot just be “Jayden Daniels or bust” because Kansas City is going to shut that down in a second if that is the case.

WEEK 9 @ BUFFALO BILLS

Since 2021, Josh Allen is undefeated against Patrick Mahomes in the regular season, but has yet to beat him in the playoffs. I am just going to expect that trend is going to continue, yet I am not going to be satisfied or angry either way. If it were not for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen might actually have at least one Super Bowl ring to wear, but that has been the only knock on his tenure with the Bills. The supporting cast around him is pretty good, but it is the quarterback that has lifted them to a higher tier. The only true star that they have is running back James Cook, but he is currently unhappy with his current contract, and there is a strong chance that he could hold out for a new one. On the other hand, I have faith that Ray Davis could elevate his game and Ty Johnson has served as a quality third down back. Their receiving room is not as average as it was last year. Keon Coleman has the potential to be a promising number one receiver, but we need to see more from him to truly believe it will happen. I have always liked Khalil Shakir in the slot, and I think both Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore could put up decent numbers as depth pieces. On paper, the Bills have a formidable tight end duo of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, but their numbers from last year do not indicate that. What masks this flaw is their offensive line, which gave up the fewest sacks in the league. As long as they have Josh Allen fully healthy, then this team is going to be favored to win the division and be a perennial championship contender.

Unfortunately, Sean McDermott’s defenses have not held his end of the bargain of trying to deliver a championship to the city of Buffalo. Their defensive line has household names like Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, but they were just okay last season. I don’t really know if bringing in Michael Hoecht or Joey Bosa is going to make them a whole lot better, but my guess is that Buffalo is banking on AJ Epenesa and Javon Solomon to take big leaps. I think one of the biggest reasons why the Bills defense has not been as feared over the last couple of seasons is because both Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard had to deal with long-term injuries, thus affecting their run defense and the strength of the entire unit as a whole. It is no wonder why this secondary is on its heels every day, but even they have their limits. It looks like Christian Benford will be their number one corner after receiving a long-term extension, but I need to see more from him to truly believe he has what it takes. They brought back Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson, yet they are not the same players that they were in 2021. If you had to ask me who would start alongside Benford, it would be Cam Lewis and Taron Johnson, with Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp manning the safety positions. That will allow rookie Maxwell Hairston to sit back and learn, rather than be thrusted into the fire and rush his developmental process.

Just let Josh Allen have his moment and allow the national media to overhype the Bills, but when that moment does arrive, I am not going to care for one single second. If you want to celebrate winning a game in November, that is fine. However, beat the Chiefs in the playoffs and maybe I will have a different level of respect.

WEEK 10: BYE WEEK

WEEK 11 @ DENVER BRONCOS

I think that if there is one division rival that can threaten Kansas City’s chances of winning the AFC West, it is the Denver Broncos. Their defense is stacked, their offense is efficient, and they are just as well-coached. They might not have had the strongest unit in the league, but thanks to Sean Payton, their signal caller Bo Nix managed to improve week after week and blossomed as a face of the franchise. However, I did not see their offense get drastically better in the offseason. They did not solve a ton of their issues with the running game, their only notable signing on that front was tight end Evan Engram, and they did not sign another veteran wide receiver to aid Courtland Sutton. My guess is that Payton wants some of the younger players like Devaughn Vele, Marvin Mims, and especially Troy Franklin to form themselves into a legitimate receiving corps. Thankfully, they have one of the more improved offensive lines in the league, so it is not like they will not be given the chance to succeed.

What makes this a drastic challenge is the Broncos defense, which surged in several categories. They led the league in sacks, finished third in rush yards allowed and points allowed, and ranked eighth in takeaways. Their pass rush has an abundance of key playmakers starting with Nik Bonitto and working down to the likes of John Franklin-Myers, Zach Allen, and Jonathon Cooper. Denver boosted their run defense by signing Dre Greenlaw to boost the younger guys like Dondrea Tillman and Jonah Elliss. Did I forget to mention that Alex Singleton is coming back from a torn ACL? The secondary, however, is the most lethal group in my opinion. They have the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Patrick Surtain II. They drafted Jahdae Barron in the first round as an elite second option. Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones are the two spearheads at safety, while JaQuan McMillian will secure his spot as the nickel back. I never thought Vance Joseph of all coordinators would be the one to put that defense in this position, but he has done a tremendous job over the last season and a half, meaning that he could get another chance to be a head coach.

I just do not believe that this series is going to end in a sweep, and if it does, then it is most likely going to be due to the fact that Bo Nix could not hold onto the ball to save his life. However, I will not predict that at this moment and say that Denver will come out swinging at home. Yet there is another game to be played at Arrowhead Stadium, so do not be surprised if the Chiefs find a way to bounce back in that one.

WEEK 12 vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Even though I do not see this as a completely lopsided game, I doubt that the Colts are going to beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. The reason why is very simple: they do not have a legitimate starting quarterback. We thought it could be Anthony Richardson, but his inaccuracy issues completely plagued this team, and it did not help that he was in and out of the lineup throughout the season. I seriously doubt Daniel Jones is going to get this team over the hump, so what I see is an average offense led by two subpar quarterbacks. I feel bad for Jonathan Taylor because his prime is just being wasted. The same goes with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, because while Joe Flacco was not exactly the transcendent backup that he was in Cleveland, he at least proved that all those two needed was a better player throwing them the ball to help the two of them grow. However, one player that I think a lot of teams will have a hard time planning against will be rookie Tyler Warren. Regardless of who starts at quarterback for Indianapolis, he is going to be the ultimate security blanket because there are so many things he could do with the football. The offensive line was not so bad last season, but the departures of both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries are going to hurt them in 2025. Outside of Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith, I don’t really know which players on that front are going to excel at the highest level, meaning that Indianapolis is more than likely bound for another mediocre season.

Newly hired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is hoping to get his career back on track in a new change of place and prove that Gus Bradley was truly not the right man for the job. When I look at the Colts defense, I see a lot of names, but I know that the production was not there the year before. Their front four was supposed to be led by DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and Laitu Latu. Yet, they totaled the seventh fewest sacks with thirty-six. Zaire Franklin is one of the consistent leading tacklers in the NFL, but their run defense allowed close to 132 yards per game. However, I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that their secondary was still a travesty. This offseason, Chris Ballard did his job to make sure that it would not be an issue again. They brought in Charvarius Ward to be their new number one corner and signed safety Camryn Bynum to elevate it even higher. These were the two latest additions to a secondary that already had starpower in Nick Cross, Kenny Moore, and Jaylon Jones. Now it is up to Anarumo to see if he can finally turn this group around for the first time in close to five years.

The only way I can see that there is even the smallest of chances that the Colts could win is if their starting quarterback situation gets resolved. Until then, I see the Chiefs taking care of business on both sides of the ball. It will be scrappy for most of the day, but they will find a way to go ahead by double digits in the final few minutes.

WEEK 13 @ DALLAS COWBOYS

I actually thought Dallas had a legitimate shot of winning this game on Thanksgiving because they have not lost to the Chiefs at home since 1975, including a Thanksgiving matchup in 1995! Kansas City entered Texas Stadium 10-1 while the Cowboys were 9-2, and it was the home team that pulled off a convincing 24-12 victory. However, I think that this is a streak that I feel eventually has to end because this Dallas team is obviously not as strong as they were in the past. So many of their fans think that they will be a lot better than advertised, but I seriously cannot see how. Dak Prescott is coming back, that is always a great sign. CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the league, that definitely helps. Micah Parsons, given that he gets his contract extension, is absolutely one of the more unstoppable defensive players in the league. But what do these three have around them? Rico Dowdle left in free agency, which means the only running backs are Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. One of them has not been the same since a season ending injury he suffered a few years ago and another was proved to be nothing more than a system back for the Eagles. The passing game was already reliable with Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert, but acquiring George Pickens was definitely a high-risk and high-reward move. He is extremely talented, but the biggest red flag is that he had character and maturity issues in Pittsburgh, so I really do not know if this was the best change of scenery. The potential is there and I think he and CeeDee form a strong duo on paper, but I need to see how they gel together before I can come to a final conclusion. Fortunately, the offensive line is never an aspect I have to worry about. They drafted Tyler Booker in the first round to replace the recently retired Zach Martin and complement Tyler Smith, their tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are hoping to improve in 2025, and Cooper Beebe had a strong rookie season at center. With Dak under center, I doubt they will be a top ten offense, but they should be a productive unit against certain opponents. But when it comes to top tier teams, they do not always show up, so that needs to change if they truly want this year to be different.

With Matt Eberflus as the new defensive coordinator, I already know what I am going to get. There will be some games where they make tremendous strides, but then others where they are on their heels way too often. Yes they have Micah and Osa Odighizuwa on the defensive line, they brought back Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland is on the rise, and Sam Williams is returning from injury to step in for DeMarvion Overshown. Yet, I am not exactly confident that Kenneth Murray or Jack Sanborn are going to fix a run defense that was below average last year. Trevon Diggs struggled to return from injury and DaRon Bland is essentially the same type of player, so I don’t have the highest faith in those two as the starting corners despite the fact that they have exceptional hands. I don’t need to worry about the safety room because it already has a ton of depth, but when Dallas cannot generate any pressure, then they better make a ton of plays.

I just hope that we get a great game between these two teams. It would be too boring and honestly a little depressing to see the Chiefs blow the Cowboys out of the water, so if we get a close game that comes down to the final play, then I will be satisfied enough.

WEEK 14 vs. HOUSTON TEXANS

As I said earlier, I truly thought that the Texans were the biggest threats to the Chiefs in the AFC last year. These two teams played in Arrowhead not once, but twice, and Kansas City took care of business both times. Now we get a postseason rematch on Sunday Night Football and I am scared we are going to get a familiar script. Last season was rough for a franchise that was finally starting to get things back on track. Despite winning the AFC South and making it back to the playoffs, it felt like they were worse than last year, and now it is time for everybody to prove that it was just a fluke. That means CJ Stroud is going to have to break through that rough sophomore wall and return to the promising stud he was in his rookie season. This season will be a bigger challenge because not only is Stefon Diggs gone, but Tank Dell is expected to miss all of 2025 with that gruesome knee injury he suffered in December. However, I think both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are going to surprise a lot of people in their rookie seasons, which will take a lot of pressure off of Nico Collins and even newly signed Christian Kirk. Along with Joe Mixon and Dalton Schultz, it is still a talented offense that just let go of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, so it is time for Nick Caley to right the ship. Yet, their offensive line still gives me pause for concern. They traded away Laremy Tunsil, released Shaq Mason, and traded away Kenyon Green. The new guys that the Texans signed include Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Ed Ingram. The only returning pieces are Juice Scruggs and Tytus Howard. I don’t know how, but it felt like their offensive line got worse. That says a lot, considering that CJ Stroud was the second most sacked quarterback in the league!

As for the Texans defense, the one thing that held them back from their potential was the lack of discipline. That falls on DeMeco Ryans because this was supposed to be the unit for him to turn around. They have the talent, but they need the chemistry and mental toughness to really go far in the playoffs. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter did a tremendous job on the front four, they have a legitimate linebacker duo of Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, but it is their secondary that I think makes this group even more dangerous. They have a transcendent number one corner in Derek Stingley Jr., a couple of rising studs in Calen Bullock and Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre is one of the more underrated safeties in all of football. They also just acquired CJ Gardner Johnson in a trade with Philadelphia, which means Jimmie Ward will not have to take a huge load of the work as one of the only veterans on the team.

I already know what we are going to get from these teams. The Chiefs are going to get off to a hot start, then the Texans will fight back to potentially tie the game, before a missed extra point allows Kansas City to pull away in the fourth quarter. It is a matchup that looks exciting on paper, but we know what outcome we are going to get at the end.

WEEK 15 vs. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Even though I would love to see a split series, the Chiefs have dominated the Chargers over the past decade plus, and normally expectations are not a good thing for the latter team involved. The only way I can believe an upset will happen is if I actually see it myself.

WEEK 16 @ TENNESSEE TITANS

Patrick Mahomes has not won a game in Nashville yet in his career, but I feel like if there is time to get the first one under his belt, it is this year. The Titans had the worst record in the league last season and clinched the first overall pick, which they used to select quarterback Cam Ward. I loved watching him when he was at Miami, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to throw this kid into the fire early, and I honestly cannot determine how he will perform. The pieces around him are not terrible, but then again, they only won three games with essentially the same supporting cast around him. You have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears manning the backfield, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as your expected top receiving targets, and an offensive line that honestly did not improve over the offseason. I have hopes for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Deke, but I still cannot understand why new general manager Mike Borgonzi gave Dan Moore Jr. $50 million guaranteed to be their starting left tackle.

As for the defense, it really gave us a bunch of mixed signs every week. They were the second best group in yards allowed, yet were the third worst in points surrendered. All of the veterans that they acquired that offseason were let go before the 2024 season could even conclude, and a couple more might join them if they implode once again. Harold Landry was released, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were cut in the middle of the year, and Ernest Jones was traded. Hopefully, things do not head in the opposite direction once again because they have solid guys in their group. Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key, and T’Vondre Sweat held their own on the front four. Cody Barton and Dre’Mont Jones were brought in from Denver to help pick up the slack. L’Jarius Sneed is trying to return to form and will have guys like Amani Hooker and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to step up on their end.

It will be fun to see L’Jarius Sneed go up against the team that drafted him, but I think the only way for the Titans to pull off this upset is if they are perfect in every single facet. Even if they turn out to have a decent season, I just do not see them beating the Chiefs in a critical month where you have to win a ton of games to have better positioning in the playoffs.

WEEK 17 vs. DENVER BRONCOS

Yeah I just do not see the Broncos beating the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium, even if they emerge into a legitimate threat. Patrick Mahomes has yet to lose to this division rival at home, and while Denver was close to doing it last year, it is just that this game is taking place near the end of the regular season. This is the one that Kansas City is not just going to lose out of the blue, so we are going to get a split series.

WEEK 18 @ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

The Chargers are not the only team that Patrick Mahomes is undefeated against on the road. Not only is he undefeated against the Raiders under those circumstances, but his third Super Bowl win was in the same stadium, so I don’t think that we are going to get an upset.

FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 12-5