How the 2020 Chiefs playoff run is different than 2019

Tyrann Mathieu

If Kansas City had a healthy Eric Berry during the 2018 season and 2019 playoff run, they would have won the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Berry was perpetually listed as day-to-day and barely gave Kansas City any meaningful snaps throughout the season.

Fortunately, Veach was wise enough to give up on the pipe dream that would see the old Berry run through the tunnel at Arrowhead ever again, and correctly identified that the Chiefs must improve at the safety position to give themselves a fighting chance at slowing down opposing quarterbacks in the 2019 NFL.

This offseason saw Kansas City draft standout rookie performer Juan Thornhill, come within moments of securing the services of Earl Thomas, and most importantly of all, sign should-be Pro Bowl safety Tyrann Mathieu.

Mathieu has brought an incredible amount of playmaking ability to Kansas City and leads the team in interceptions (4) and passes defended (12), not to mention multiple dropped interceptions over the course of the season (including two on Sunday). More importantly, Mathieu has brought an attitude along with him that manifests as incomparable leadership for a defensive unit desperately in need of a new identity after a miserable 2018.

If Kansas City had Mahomes during Eric Berry’s prime, they would have won a Super Bowl by this point. They didn’t, but they were able to find a replacement Berry in free agency last year, and The Honey Badger comes in on the list of reasons why this year’s Chiefs playoff run is different than all of the others.