That was my initial thought when the Kansas City Chiefs reclaimed the top seed in the AFC last week. The successive AFC champions have overcome their pre-season struggles to emerge once again as a true title contender – and they may be in a better position to win the Super Bowl this time than ever before.
Given how much The Chiefs were loved during the Patrick Mahomes era, I know that’s impressive. But this version of Kansas City is better overall a team of modern editions. It’s important to underscore that word – TEAM – given the 2021 Chiefs’ ability to play complementary football after relying so heavily on a one-dimensional approach that puts everything on the 15th seeded right arm.
The Chiefs’ aerial circus certainly spoiled us in past seasons, with the Mahomes throwing rainbows at what looked like an Olympic relay team on the ocean. The amazingly talented arcade not only made the game look effortless, but he also did it with flair, as his unflattering bitters and impromptu plays left us in awe of his unique talents. Mahomes seemed to have no weaknesses as an effective gunslinger with an exceptional feel for the game. Andy Reid has sponsored QB by assembling an all-star cast of passers-by who have the ability to detonate Mahomes bombs or turn his checks into big plays. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, in particular, thrived on a fast-breaking attack directed by a stout thrower with exceptional tools.
The Chiefs’ attack seemed like an unstoppable force… until the pirates disrupted the unit at Super Bowl LV. After defeating Kansas City in that 31-9 issue, Tampa Bay presented a still-problematic scheme for the attack that lives on for the big plays like Oxygen. With opponents imitating Tampa’s deep cover tactics eliminating deep ball and forcing Mahomes to take a more in-depth out-of-pocket approach, Kansas City lacked patience and discipline in the first two months of this season, resulting in an alarming number of turnovers. Despite demonstrating better ball security in recent weeks, the Chiefs still have the second-highest number of games in the NFL with 25. Only 3-11 Jets (26) have more. These flushes directly affected the bottom line, with The Chiefs holding a 1-3 record in games over three turnovers.
To combat the staff turnover issue that played a major role in The Chiefs’ game that started this season at 3-4, Reid has been more conservative as a speaker, with the Mahomes also making a comeback in some of the risky throws that were a big part of his playing. QB1 in Kansas City began embracing anti-coverage screening measures, while also using his athletic style to punish opponents for sitting in the soft spots in the key studs. New action style from a former top player lacks excitement, but the offense still puts in the numbers (397.2 total yards per game, third in the NFL) and points (27.5 points per game, sixth). With the NFL’s attacking number one in third-tier transfers (52.7 percent), the Chiefs win the defining moments while embracing a technique that will enable them to win in the postseason.