KC Chiefs should be most feared team heading into playoffs

The 2021 regular season is over for the Kansas City Chiefs. Their 3-4 start was well documented and created questions as to whether they would make it to the playoffs. But they will indeed be one of the 14 teams who will extend their season.

The Chiefs got off to a slow start, and a plethora of turnovers hurt the team in those first seven weeks. Since then, the Chiefs surged, winning eight straight games. Despite the turnover woes, the Chiefs found themselves competing for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

The Chiefs offense played better. Acquiring Melvin Ingram from the Steelers played a huge role as it put Chris Jones back at his natural position and the defensive line started playing better, which led to the defense as a whole playing better.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of talent in all three facets. If they play to their potential, they are the team to beat in the playoffs.

The Chiefs may not get the No. 1 seed. Unless the Houston Texans pull off an upset, the Tennessee Titans will get the sole bye week in the AFC. Yes, the Titans are expecting Derrick Henry to return soon and it is understandable why some might favor them to go far if Henry returns and plays well. But there is a case to be made that the Chiefs should be the team everyone wants to avoid in the playoffs.

The Chiefs have the best QB-TE-WR trio in Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. The offense has a solid supporting cast with pass-catchers Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Blake Bell and Noah Gray, plus some running backs who have stepped up anytime Clyde Edwards-Helaire was absent. More importantly, the Chiefs have a stout offensive line with Pro Bowler Orlando Brown and rookies Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith excelling this season.

As for the defensive side, the defensive line improved with Ingram’s presence and Jones moving back to the interior. This allowed defensive end Frank Clark to play better. Tyrann Mathieu continues to be one of the better safeties in the NFL while being surrounded by good defensive backs in Juan Thornhill, L’Jarius Sneed, Rashad Fenton, and Charvarius Ward.

Rookie linebacker Nick Bolton has quietly had an impressive rookie season and led the team in tackles and tackles for a loss as Willie Gay has been able to showcase his skills with more playing time this year.

Safety Dan Sorensen faced a lot of criticism this season for his poor coverage, but he ended up making a few key plays and played better during the team’s eight-game winning streak.

Kicker Harrison Butker stayed consistent, making 23 of his 26 field goals and missed just two PATs out of 47 tries this year. Punter Tommy Townsend saw fewer punts but his average still went up in his second season.

The Chiefs have not been perfect this year. They struggled in some of their victories when they could have played better. But no team has been perfect. Every team, including the Chiefs, have holes and weaknesses.  Yet everyone knows what the Chiefs are capable of. There is a reason they have been to three straight AFC Championship games and two straight Super Bowls.

The Chiefs simply need to play their game and play to their strengths. That is something Andy Reid and the rest of the coaching staff must make sure of in the playoffs.

The Chiefs have a lot of strengths across the board. If they can play to them and be consistent in the postseason, it is hard to think anyone could stop the Chiefs from reaching the Super Bowl for the third year in a row and potentially winning the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.

All they have to do is play to their strengths. It is easier said than done. But if the Chiefs play to their potential, their season should end with them lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Inglewood.