As the Kansas City Chiefs embark on their mission to become the first team to clinch three consecutive Super Bowl titles, a critical concern looms: will the 3.5 weeks of rest lead to a lack of sharpness?
Patrick Mahomes and the majority of Kansas City’s star players last took the field on Christmas Day, where they decisively defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, allowing them to claim the AFC’s top seed and secure a first-round bye.
The Chiefs (15-2) opted to rest their starters during the season’s final game against the Denver Broncos, who celebrated their first playoff appearance in eight years with a resounding 38-0 victory. This marked Andy Reid’s first shutout in his 12 seasons with the franchise, and only the fourth of his overall 26-year coaching career.
This loss also stood as the second-largest defeat for a Reid-led team, surpassed only by a 42-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in 2005, during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. While this defeat may have left a mark on Reid and the Chiefs, it largely impacts their outlook moving forward. Reid boasts an impressive 29-5 record after a bye week, including a 7-1 playoff record following periods of rest, with a breakdown of 3-0 while coaching the Eagles and 4-1 with the Chiefs.
By the time the Chiefs host a divisional round game on January 18 or 19, Mahomes and company will have faced a gap of 24 or 25 days between games.
Having clinched the AFC West title for the ninth consecutive year, the Chiefs will have company in the postseason from some of their division rivals. Jim Harbaugh has successfully led the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) back to the playoffs in his first season in the NFL since 2014, while Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos (10-7) are making their first postseason appearance since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season.
Wild-card weekend will commence with the Chargers visiting the Houston Texans (10-7), and Russell Wilson making his playoff return since 2020 when the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) take on the Baltimore Ravens (12-5).
On Sunday, the Broncos will face the Buffalo Bills (13-4), the only team to defeat Kansas City this season.
1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2).
With four Lombardi Trophies from six Super Bowl appearances, the Chiefs have a history that includes losses to the Packers (35-10 in Super Bowl I) and Buccaneers (31-9 in Super Bowl LV), mixed with victories over the Vikings (23-7 in Super Bowl IV), 49ers (31-20 in Super Bowl LIV), and Eagles (38-35 in Super Bowl LVII).
The Chiefs know how to lift the Lombardi. Having secured back-to-back Super Bowls and three since Mahomes took over the starting quarterback role in 2018, their experience is invaluable. This year’s squad is the most well-rounded in years, enhanced by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins and the return of Marquis Brown from injury. Their defense, anchored by All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and standout cornerback Trent McDuffie, has effectively limited opponents to an average of just 18 points per game.
However, there is concern over their tendency to win games in nail-biting finishes, relying on last-minute plays, often with bizarre outcomes. The Chiefs saw three different kickers secure game-winning field goals and even blocked a potential game-winner from Denver in Week 10. Allowing playoff teams to remain close poses a significant risk.
“We feel like we can continue to get better and better. But obviously we’re playing — especially offensively — our best football at the end of the year.” — Mahomes.
2. BUFFALO BILLS (13-4).
With zero Lombardi trophies despite four Super Bowl appearances, the Bills experienced heart-wrenching losses to the Giants, Washington, and Cowboys.
Josh Allen keeps the Bills hopeful. After facing losses in the receiving corps due to the offseason trade of Stefon Diggs, he delivered MVP-caliber performances while guiding the team to new franchise records for points and touchdowns. In a historic achievement, Buffalo became the first team to score 30 touchdowns both on the ground and through the air in the same season.
Defensively, however, they’ve faced challenges, allowing over 300 yards in ten games. Buffalo maintained a 1-3 record when yielding over 400 yards, leading to doubts about their capacity to compete against elite playoff teams.
“Everybody eats in this offense and it’s a mantra that we’ve had. And I think that’s a testament to that,” noted Allen when discussing the team’s multiple players who found the end zone this season.
3. BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5).
With two Lombardi trophies from two Super Bowl appearances, the Ravens boast a dynamic offense under the Lamar Jackson era. Adding Derrick Henry to the lineup enabled the Ravens to achieve a historic milestone of passing for 4,000 yards and rushing for 3,000 in the same season. Jackson passed for 41 touchdowns against only four interceptions, and Henry contributed 16 rushing touchdowns.
Despite their success, the side has seen penalties become a problem, raising doubts about their capability to handle quality quarterbacks if they can’t contain opposing wideouts. There were also concerns surrounding the reliability of kicker Justin Tucker, who appeared to struggle, though he has shown improvement during the team’s four-game winning streak.
“You just have to take it one game at a time, knowing that last year didn’t end the way we wanted, so just using that as fuel. But, you can’t jump right back to the AFC championship game, because it’s a damn good Pittsburgh team that’s coming in here.” — LB Roquan Smith.
4. HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7).
The Texans have yet to make an appearance in the Super Bowl.
Strength lies in their pass rush, with Danielle Hunter leading the charge alongside Will Anderson Jr. Hunter recorded 12 sacks in his first season with the Texans, while Anderson reached a personal best of 11 sacks after earning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors last season. Their combined efforts contributed to the Texans’ franchise-record 49 sacks. Furthermore, their secondary, led by Derek Stingley Jr., recorded 19 interceptions, ranking second in the NFL.
The downside for Houston is a depleted receiving corps. Following the injuries to starters Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, they struggled to find reliable options for quarterback C.J. Stroud. Although Nico Collins stood out with 1,006 receiving yards, Stroud’s performance has faltered, throwing 12 interceptions this season after only five in his rookie year.
“You’re more excited just because you’ve got the really hard part of the season done. Now it’s go play your best ball, go show your best stuff.” — Stroud.
5. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6).
The Chargers have yet to secure a Lombardi trophy, having only appeared in one Super Bowl.
With Justin Herbert leading the charge, the Chargers are entering the playoffs on a positive note with a three-game winning streak. They finished the season strong, scoring on 18 of their last 25 drives, showcasing harmonization in both their running and passing attacked. Defensively, Los Angeles leads in the fewest points allowed and has actively sought to pressure the quarterback.
However, their Achilles’ heel has been the concession of big plays, allowing 11 touchdown passes of over 25 yards, making them one of the top teams in this category.
“I think it’s always an exciting opportunity to go play in the playoffs. That’s all you want, you just want to take it to the dance,” remarked Herbert.
6. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7).
The Steelers have tirelessly fought for six Lombardi trophies in eight Super Bowl appearances.
Their defensive strength comes from players like Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, who are notable game-changers across all three levels of defense. The Steelers tied with Minnesota for the highest number of takeaways in the league, mainly relying on their ability to take care of the football during their strong start to the season. Interestingly, when they last entered the playoffs as the sixth seed in 2005, they went on to win their fifth Super Bowl title.
However, skepticism remains after a disheartening end to the regular season, losing four consecutive games. Defeating three elite teams without competitiveness raises concerns regarding their ability to revitalize their season.
“I doubt anyone in here, unless they were told that we’re underdogs, knows that we’re underdogs. It doesn’t matter.” — WR Calvin Austin III.
7. DENVER BRONCOS (10-7).
With three Lombardi trophies from eight Super Bowl appearances, the Broncos have showcased their resilience.
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is not your standard newcomer. With a collegiate record of 61 games started, he secured 29 touchdowns, just shy of Herbert’s rookie mark. Additionally, Denver’s defense demonstrated strength, achieving a franchise-record 63 sacks this season, showcasing contributions from Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, and Zach Allen.
While the Broncos broke their playoff drought, their journey won’t be easy as the seventh seed, having recorded a 4-5 record on the road. Further, they require more offensive playmakers to solidify their status as legitimate championship contenders.
“It’s playoff football. Everybody’s 0-0. I don’t think there’s any true meaning of underdog, especially in this atmosphere that’s coming up. We have a great opportunity in our sights, and we’re just going to go out there and play our brand of football.” — CB Patrick Surtain II.
