The Kansas City Chiefs are tough to gauge in 2024, with their 11-1 record not truly reflecting their form throughout the season. Yes, having that kind of record usually lends itself to a team that is buttoned up and firing on both sides of the ball, but the Chiefs haven’t been that this season. They have won nine of their 11 games by one score, and if a couple of field goals were kicked or a bounce of the ball gone another way, that 11-1 record would look significantly different.

But Patrick Mahomes is still supremely confident that his team has what it takes to climb the mountain again, despite the critics of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl chances. “Every team I’ve been on, I feel like has been a championship team,” Mahomes said. “It’s been plays here or there that either we’ve lost in overtime with the AFC Championship Game or lost in the Super Bowl. But we have the talent, the coaching staff and the work ethic to go out there and win any football game.

“It’s about going out there and doing that on a day-to-day basis and we have guys that are motivated enough to do that. It’s not going to be easy, it never is, you have to play your best football at the perfect time in order to win a championship and that’s what I’ve learned through my time in the NFL.”

“It’s not going to be easy” might be six key words to KC’s success. In truth, as long as the Chiefs have Mahomes and Andy Reid, they will always be within a shot of the Super Bowl, but given the standard Kansas City has played to for so long, when they fail to meet that, doubts creep in about the team. Related: Andy Reid Reveals 1 Thing Chiefs Can Be Better At But that’s outside the building. Inside, the confidence is as high as ever, and with a home playoff game at least already on the Chiefs’ menu, Mahomes and Co. again have a great chance to go deep into the postseason.

And what’s more, the Chiefs have an uncanny knack of playing their best football when it matters most…which isn’t a coincidence.