Bills, Steelers, and Ravens will prove to be the biggest roadblock in Chiefs’ three-peat pursuit
Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs will have to deal with three tough AFC rivals if they are to win a third straight Super Bowl.
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Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs will not have it easy in the AFC Championship game this season (Image via Imago)
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs came in with one goal this season, to win a third straight Super Bowl and etch their name into NFL’s history books. They have done their bit so far winning 11 games to head the AFC, but the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are shaping up to be legitimate threats to that three-peat goal.
Those watching the Chiefs will know that their 11-1 record has come with a lot of controversy. Either referee errors gave them the upper hand, or they were able to execute some timely plays that helped them win.
Despite that, the Kansas City Chiefs have shown that they are a good football team. Their defense was without doubt one of the best units in the league up until their first loss of the season to the Buffalo Bills. Their special teams have also been exceptional so far.
That leaves their offense as the only question mark. Early on, the sheer lack of production worried many, as Patrick Mahomes struggled to play to his usual MVP levels. In addition to that, they had injuries and production issues from some of their mainstays. But in spite of all those issues, they kept winning.
That brings a question to the forefront that can this level of play continue to help the Chiefs. Especially when each of their top conference rivals has strengths and weaknesses that can stop the back-to-back Super Bowl champions in the AFC Championship game.
1. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills
The one loss showing on the Chiefs schedule is the one they suffered at the hands of the Buffalo Bills. Sure, Patrick Mahomes does not like playing in front of the Bills Mafia and the retooled Bills is still a mystery for their opponents, but that game showed that the way to beat the Chiefs is to take time away from overall possession.
Baker Mayfield knew the moment the ball was in Mahomes’ hands that the game was over for them. The Bills defense ensured that they remembered it as they stopped Mahomes’ first drive early.
That interception was a culmination of the problems the two-time League MVP has shown so far. He has had an uptick in yards and touchdowns off late, but his efficiency is far from usual as he is still figuring out his current batch of receivers.
The Buffalo Bills can take advantage of that again if they meet in the AFC Championship game. Stop Mahomes from scoring early and hand the ball to quarterback Josh Allen. Then on, their triple-threat QB’s improved game management skills will be enough to stop the three-peat from happening for some time.
2. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens and the Chiefs headlined NFL’s season opener as two of the most electric teams in football were expected to give fans a show. However, the game was anything but electric and the league were left to handle the uproar among fans for officiating mistakes.
That game showed a couple of things that have changed over these thirteen weeks of football. The Chiefs’ problems are becoming more evident, and the Ravens are showing some unwanted inconsistency. The Ravens’ recent offensive woes are problems they can fix.
But in that game, the Ravens’ biggest problem was that they could not unleash Derrick Henry completely. Neither was their defense at their best as rookie WR Xavier Worthy embarrassed them. Ignoring the past three games, Henry has returned to his monstrous ways, and the defense is leagues better.
If the Baltimore Ravens defense continues its upward trend, their malfunctioning AFC rivals might find it difficult to score. In addition to that, Lamar Jackson and Henry could iron out their recent misgivings and return to their dominating ways. If both happen, expect the Ravens to exact revenge and forge themselves to the Super Bowl.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers and that defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in their second last game of the season. That is three games for Mike Tomlin and his team to iron out their recent struggles on offense. Their last game against the Cincinnati Bengals did show that they can step up and go toe to toe with the best offenses.
If they can continue to produce at that level, Russell Wilson and his teammates should not have a problem scoring over a Chiefs offense that hasn’t scored over 30 points so far. But they still have some nitty gritty problems to iron out and they have not yet fully incorporated Mike Williams into their lineup.
But there are no question marks about their defense that continue to show that they can stop anyone and everyone. Sure, the Bengals game saw them give up the most points so far, but it was a mere blip in the excellent approach the team has towards its game plans.
Lastly, the Steelers have arguably the best special teams among these three contenders. Add the sum of all parts and Patrick Mahomes and his teammates could face some difficulty if the Steelers reach the AFC Championship game.
One cannot count out Andy Reid and his players when their season is on the line. But these teams have faced the Chiefs enough times to know the chinks in their armor. Execute their game plans well and we could be looking at a new Super Bowl champion for the first time in three years.
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Joseph Varghese
(2265 Articles Published)