It is crazy to think that just one game ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were looking at potentially becoming one of the greatest teams of the modern era, and possibly ever, yet the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles ruined it all.
Such was the manner in which Kansas City was blown out 40-22 in the Super Bowl, many bandwagoners have jumped off, thinking the era of dominance is over.
But not everyone thinks that.
Yes, the AFC West is going to be tougher with the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders all expected to improve, but for ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum, if the offensive line can sort itself out, the division still runs through Kansas City.
"[Patrick] Mahomes had a lot of issues with protections last year," Tannenbaum said. "If that's cleaned up with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Rashee Rice pending suspension, this offense can get back to being the explosive offense we've seen Patrick Mahomes have a couple of years ago. So, I'll take Mahomes and a great offensive line."
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is pressured by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt (58).
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is pressured by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt (58).
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mahomes was sacked a career-high 47 times, including the playoffs, last season, and as we saw in the Super Bowl, it doesn't matter how good your quarterback is if he doesn't have time to throw; you have no shot.
Joe Thuney was traded, leaving the Chiefs to sign left tackle Jaylon Moore in free agency and draft another in Josh Simmons. Kingsley Suamataia was the left tackle last year but failed to secure the spot, so he is now projected to shift inside to take Thuney's left guard position.
That is a lot of moving parts in front of Mahomes, and if the Chiefs are to prove the skeptics wrong in 2025, the offensive line simply has to play better.
If it does, we agree with Tannenbaum that the Chiefs have the weapons to be a force; however, if Mahomes is running for his life, we may have a new AFC West champion for the first time in nine years.