Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are on the precipice of history.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champions have the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs. With that comes the bye in the Wild Card round and not having to play this Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Since the Chiefs have nothing to play for in Week 18, they can begin to focus on becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
We go “behind enemy lines” to get a feel for the Chiefs heading into the playoffs with Jared Sapp from Arrowhead Pride to preview KC’s march to history.
MHR: Since the Chiefs have the No. 1 seed in the AFC locked up, how are fans feeling heading into the postseason?
Jared: The offense coming to life since the return of Hollywood Brown in Week 16 and last week’s big win at Pittsburgh on Christmas has been good for confidence. For most of this season, underwhelming wins have been paired with a belief that the team could flip a switch when it mattered like it did in 2023. It finally feels like that is possible. Every team in the AFC field feels somewhat flawed, but the Chiefs appear to be peaking at the best moment.
MHR: Where do you feel KC is the most vulnerable, and do you think that could be taken advantage of in the playoffs?
Jared: The team’s tackle play has solidified since kicking guard Joe Thuney outside to left tackle in December. I suspect, however, that there is a shelf life to how long Thuney can hold up outside. Whether that is one more game or three more games may determine the season’s outcome.
The Chiefs are still vulnerable to big passing plays, although they have deployed rookie safety Jaden Hicks effectively down the stretch. Hicks played a big part in limiting the damage from alpha wide receivers Nico Collins and George Pickens in the last two games. That double coverage strategy, however, left Houston wideout Tank Dell able to do whatever he wanted until his gruesome knee injury in Week 16. Playoff teams will have good second options that could give the Chiefs secondary trouble, even if the star player is contained.
MHR: How concerned are you that it will be over three weeks before the Chiefs starters play meaningful snaps?
Jared: If the Patriots held onto their lead against the Bills two weeks ago, it may have turned out even longer. The Chiefs are definitely making the right decision with Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones both managing lower leg injuries. Kansas City also inexplicably had an early Week 6 bye even though they were scheduled for three games over ten days late in the season. This team’s key players need the rest.
I think this is an area where championship experience and a veteran coaching staff come into play. Since 2022, the team’s core players have navigated a Germany game, the craziness of Super Bowl Week twice, and this year, playing on six different days. I am going to trust that the team that has played more football than anyone else for a half-decade will know how to take advantage of the extra bye week while preparing to be in top form for the Divisional Round.
MHR: What is the team that poses the biggest challenge to KC in the AFC and why?
Jared: I will be very surprised if the AFC Super Bowl representative is anyone other than the Chiefs, Bills, or Ravens. I think the biggest challenge is Buffalo, the only team to have defeated the Chiefs since December 25, 2023. Losing a playoff game on a 13-second drive also should not really reflect on Josh Allen’s ability to win a playoff game at Arrowhead because he did everything he could to win there three years ago.
The Ravens are a good team and perfectly capable of hoisting the Lombardi to end the season. Steve Spagnuolo has generally planned better for Lamar Jackson than for Allen, however. Yes, tight end Isaiah Likely’s toe narrowly missed a potential game-winning touchdown and two-point try. The Chiefs were also up by 10 in the fourth quarter before Jackson just gassed the defense on opening night with his legs.
Not discounting Baltimore’s chances, but I think the weaknesses Buffalo exploited are more repeatable.
MHR: As for Sunday, what is the thinking behind this game? Do Chiefs fans care at all about it?
Jared: I don’t think anyone really cares about what the Chiefs do other than Carson Wentz’s agent. I expect Wentz to be very motivated for this game ahead of a likely dismal offseason quarterback market via both free agency and the draft.
The Chiefs’ main priority needs to be avoiding injury. Even with Mahomes, Jones, Kelce, McDuffie, etc., likely sitting out, this isn’t a preseason game. You don’t have 90 players available. Some starters and key role players will be on the field and exposed to injury against a Denver squad with everything to play for. I expect a very vanilla game plan, likely paired with very soft tackling.
In real-time, I am sure some fans will be complaining that the defense is giving up too many yards or that they are not allowing Wentz to do very much. The only thing that should really matter for this one is that the clock keeps moving and that the trainers stay off-camera.
