While players like Brett Favre, Tom Brady, and Joe Montana are looked back on as some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes will no doubt be among this list with the potential to still win even more with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite not having his best year in 2023/24, Mahomes led the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl victory in a row, and the NFL playoff odds this year suggest it could well be three in a row come the end of the season.
The Chiefs were in imperious form going into the playoffs, winning 12 and losing just one of their first 13 regular-seasonmatches. This is the tied-best record in the NFL with the NFC North Champions, the Detroit Lions.
Seven wins from their opening seven in the regular season at Arrowhead have ensured that their home stadium is seen as a fortress, one that no team wants to visit.
What could potentially stop this incredible run from going to a third Super Bowl title in a row for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Reliance on Mahomes
While the 12-1 record after 13 games looked and is incredibly impressive, many felt the Chiefs had lived a charmed life this season.
As the season progresses closer to the playoffs, Head Coach Andy Reid will be keen to put a little more comfort into the end of games. The Chiefs set a record with 14 one-score wins in a row. This led to their point differential of +54, the worst of any side ever being 11-1 in NFL history.
How long can Mahomes keep dragging his side, however? Are they destined to be lucky throughout the year? After blowing a 13-0 lead against the Los Angeles Chargers, backup kicker Matthew Wright managed to hit the uprights with the last kick of the game. Thankfully for him and the Chiefs, it still bounced over for three points and a win.
Their roster looks and has played a little worse than the Super Bowl-winning rosters of the last few years. Superstar tight endTravis Kelce is playing his 12th season in the NFL, and it is beginning to show. He’s still elite, but there are only so many times Mahomes can continue to rely on their chemistry to bail out the entire team while others on the offense struggle to hit the numbers a wide receiver with such a good quarterback should be getting.
Josh Allen
While the Kansas City Chiefs struggle to put games away at times, players on other teams, most notably Josh Allen, will look to take advantage of this.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback is desperate to get out of Mahomes’ shadow and claim a first Super Bowl for himselfand a first for the Bills in their history. At some point, this team needs to move past four consecutive Super Bowl defeats from 1991 to 1994.
Allen has been in incredible form this season, even in defeat to the Los Angeles Rams; he threw three passing touchdowns and rushed for three touchdowns, all without throwing a single interception.
While the Bills still have a few wrinkles to iron out, they are one of the teams that could pose a real threat to the Chief’sattempts at a three-peat.
The NFC’s Top Dogs
Getting out of New York has done wonders for Saquon Barkley, and rivals of the Philadelphia Eagles are reaping the rewards. Barkley is back to being one of the best running backs in the league; Jalen Hurts is balling out each week and has exciting options like A.J. Brown to target.
While the Eagles have been soaring at the top of the NFC East, the North saw the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers with winning records through 13 games.
The Lions look most likely to be the biggest threat when it comes to the drama of the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025.
Jared Goff is spreading out the load, with all the offense chipping in, which makes life difficult for opposing defenses. For most of the season, the Lions have been the favorites for the Super Bowl title, and they will hope to bring some joy to a fan base that has never seen its side lift the Super Bowl trophy.
Whether any of these sides can end Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs’ success is still to be seen. While luck can often be on their side, there is no doubting the ability of Mahomes, Reid, and a number of the key players on this team.
It may not be the strongest roster they’ve ever had, but getting one over Mahomes will take a lot.
and then