Skip to content

Kansas City Chiefs Clinch No. 1 Seed: What Stops the Super Bowl Three-Peat?

The Chiefs Secured a 29-10 Win vs the Steelers on Christmas Day

Is History About to Be Made?

You can pretend the NFL news should be about something else this season, but the main story has always been Kansas City’s pursuit of a historic Super Bowl three-peat. The Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC by dominating the Steelers to improve their record to 15-1, becoming the eighth team to win 15 games in a season.

 

Kansas City Chiefs Clinch No. 1 Seed: What Stops the Super Bowl Three-Peat?
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs - Joe Sargent/Getty Images/AFP

The NFL rumors tried dismissing this team as lucky, but that’s not the case with their track record of success. Now that we know the AFC playoffs run through Kansas City, what can stop the three-peat from happening?

Here are the four biggest roadblocks remaining for the Kansas City Chiefs, who are three playoff wins away from history.

 

Rest or Rust?

We’ll see who the Chiefs rest in Week 18, but there will be little incentive to play superstars like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones. That means we may not see the Chiefs put full effort into a game for 24-25 days.

But that’s a long time, and you worry about rust that can trip up a team early in the divisional round against an opponent that’s been in playoff mode for weeks. The Chiefs haven’t turned the ball over in six straight NFL games, the type of streak that’s dying to be snapped in a playoff setting.

However, the Chiefs are so battle-tested and good at comebacks that an early 10-0 hole may not matter. They’re also the only NFL team to never trail by more than 11 points in a game this season.

 

Buffalo Sweep?

It probably won’t be until the AFC Championship Game, but the Bills could have a shot at sweeping the Chiefs. They’re the only team to score 30 on them in the last two seasons, and while the rematch would be in Arrowhead, the Bills have proven they can win in that building, and this may be the best overall team they’ve had in the Josh Allen era.

Maybe this is the year they get revenge for the 13 Seconds game.

 

Lamar Jackson’s Time?

Don’t be surprised if the AFC Championship Game is a rematch from last year and opening night. Baltimore is on track to earn the No. 3 seed, already crushed Buffalo 35-10, and the defense is rounding into form. If Lamar Jackson can exorcise his playoff demons with the help of Derrick Henry, maybe this is the year it happens.

Just tell Isaiah Likely to wear white cleats this time.

The NFC in Super Bowl LIX

If the Chiefs return to their fifth Super Bowl since 2019, which NFC team could stop them in New Orleans in February?

  • The Eagles would seek revenge for 2022.
  • Dan Campbell might aggressively keep Mahomes off the field with fourth-down gambles for Detroit.
  • Sam Darnold (Vikings) could be the next Nick Foles and get it done against all odds, or Jordan Love (Packers) could be on that Eli Manning path to thwarting Mahomes.

 

Maybe the Chiefs’ three-peat is inevitable, but when you’re 11-0 in close games and your games have such few possessions, all it takes is one mistake. Maybe Harrison Butker will be the weakest link as his kicks aren’t looking great right now.

But so far, the Chiefs’ three-peat is right on track. Prepare for history.

Did you find this article interesting?

Comments (0)

Featured Picks

Related News