The Kansas City Chiefs are dynastic, and a central reason is Patrick Mahomes.
Since he has taken the job of QB here, the Chiefs have been the dominant force in the AFC, winning three Super Bowls and appearing in each of the last seven AFC Championship games.
On a level beneath that domination comes what Mahomes has done to the poor AFC West.
Kansas City has won the division nine years in a row and will go for the decade mark in 2025. ... and until further notice, nobody - not the Denver Broncos and not the Los Angeles Chargers and surely not the Las Vegas Raiders - can "match'' any of that.
Unless Maxx Crosby's boast is to be believed.
Raiders defensive star and team leader Maxx Crosby can be applauded for his confidence and for his excellence. He is certainly among the NFL's elite pass-rushers.
But is he the defensive equivalent of Mahomes?
“It’s ultimate respect when it comes to them,” Crosby said on ESPN. “They’ve earned it. They’ve won three Super Bowls, they’ve got the best quarterback in football. But for us, as a pass rusher, I’m going against the best quarterback.
"For me, I believe I’m the best pass rusher in the world, so every time we match up it’s match made in heaven.”
Crosby's talent deserves recognition. (And he craves that, it seems.) But ... both the Broncos and Chargers at least made the playoffs last year while Kansas City advanced to the Super Bowl.
Las Vegas is still waiting for any of that sort of success, which leaves a bottom line: Greatness is in part about lifting teammates to your level.
Mahomes has been doing that for almost a decade now. And for the "heavenly'' Maxx? All he's doing is chasing Mahomes.