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 3. Kansas City Chiefs


PATRICK MAHOMES, CHIEFS STILL NFL'S TOP TEAM AFTER 49ERS BEAT LIONS FOR NFC
TITLE

Maurice Moton@@MoeMotonContributor IJanuary 29, 2024 CommentsComment Bubble Icon


Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens had a phenomenal run through the 2023 regular season. But
in the AFC Championship Game, they failed to measure up with the Kansas City
Chiefs, who are the NFL's gold standard.

Though the Chiefs didn't win with style points, they found a way to claim their
fourth Lamar Hunt Trophy in six consecutive trips to the AFC title game. Despite
the San Francisco 49ers' come-from-behind win in the NFC Championship Game,
Kansas City should be the favorite to win Super Bowl 58.

The Chiefs have taken the dynasty baton from the New England Patriots, and
they're running with it to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11.



Despite all of the discussion about the 2023 Chiefs being more vulnerable than
ever before, they once again look like the total package en route to a fourth
Super Bowl appearance in five seasons.

We didn't see the Chiefs' pass-catchers struggle with drops in big spots, which
plagued them during the regular season. Patrick Mahomes is still the league's
best quarterback by a significant margin. Kansas City's defense has held seven
of its past eight opponents to 20 points or fewer.

The Chiefs beat the Ravens 17-10 in Baltimore without a score in the second half
thanks to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, whose unit shut down the
league's No. 4 scoring offense.

Mahomes and four-time All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce helped Kansas City jump off
to a quick start, and Mahomes iced the game with a deep throw to wideout Marquez
Valdes-Scantling late in the fourth quarter.

By his standards, Kelce had a down year, with a decline in total catches and
receiving yards. But he played like a future Hall of Famer on Sunday, hauling in
11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. In doing so, he passed Hall of Fame
wide receiver Jerry Rice for the most postseason receptions in NFL history.

> Kansas City Chiefs @Chiefs
> 
> A postseason legend. Congratulations <a
> href="https://twitter.com/tkelce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tkelce</a>! <a
> href="https://t.co/x6pyPz4o0b">pic.twitter.com/x6pyPz4o0b</a>



For 60 minutes, Mahomes looked composed in the pocket and delivered the ball
accurately downfield, while Baltimore's Lamar Jackson—the MVP
front-runner—seemed rattled at times because of Spagnuolo's blitz-heavy game
plan. By halftime, Jackson had completed only five passes.

Mahomes finished with an efficient stat line, throwing for 241 yards and a
touchdown with a 77 percent completion rate. Jackson threw for more yards (272),
a touchdown and an interception, but he only completed 54 percent of his passes.

With that said, Baltimore's season-deflating playoff loss isn't all on Jackson.
The Chiefs showed championship mettle, while the Ravens cracked under pressure.

The Ravens gained some offensive momentum in the second half, but rookie wideout
Zay Flowers had a brutal sequence that started when he drew a taunting penalty
for standing over cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. A few plays later, he lost a fumble
at the goal line that resulted in a touchback.

Ironically, Sneed made the momentum-stopping play to force the fumble.

> Kansas City Chiefs @Chiefs
> 
> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, L'JARIUS SNEED!!! <a
> href="https://t.co/rHw8hcuUgG">pic.twitter.com/rHw8hcuUgG</a>

Flowers must learn from his rookie mistakes—allowing his emotions to get the
best of him and lunging yards away from the goal line—but the Chiefs played with
the utmost composure even when Baltimore made a second-half push, and it paid
off.



One can argue that the Chiefs have the best play-callers in the NFL. Head coach
Andy Reid leads an offensive attack that doesn't rack up a ton of points but
executes efficiently in big moments, while Spagnuolo calls plays for the
second-ranked scoring defense.

How do the Chiefs stack up against the 49ers in a Super Bowl 54 rematch?

As a perennial playoff squad and Super Bowl contender over the past several
years, San Francisco matches up well against Kansas City in big-game experience
and roster personnel.


Chiefs QB Patrick MahomesDavid Eulitt/Getty Images

However, whom do you trust more in a close battle: Mahomes or Brock Purdy?

Purdy completed less than 60 percent of his passes in two of his past three
games leading up to the NFC title game. For most of the 49ers' divisional-round
matchup, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love outplayed him.

Purdy pulled through with big-time throws in a late go-ahead touchdown drive,
but his accuracy and passing numbers have sharply declined over the past month.
Meanwhile, Mahomes is trending in the right direction, completing at least 72
percent of his passes in three of his past four outings.

Mahomes has earned the benefit of the doubt, but Purdy still needs to prove he's
a high-end quarterback in the postseason. In three complete playoff games, Purdy
has thrown for four touchdowns with a completion rate of 60 percent or lower in
two of those contests.



In a Super Bowl matchup with Kansas City, San Francisco may need more than a
game manager under center if two-time All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey
has anything less than a strong showing.

Up to this point, Purdy has done enough to help lead San Francisco. But is he
capable of carrying the offense against one of the league's stingiest defenses?

On Sunday, Purdy and the 49ers offense had a slow start, which allowed the
Detroit Lions to open the game with a 14-0 lead. If San Francisco gives Kansas
City a head start like that, Purdy will find it difficult to dig the 49ers out
of a hole against Spagnuolo's stifling defense.

If you're going to place early Super Bowl bets on the moneyline, trust the
Chiefs. They've been there and won it multiple times.

This year, the Chiefs have likely used some bulletin-board material. They've
been betting underdogs in their past two games, only to show doubters that their
dynastic run remains intact.

Here's a simplistic but practical approach: Don't bet against Mahomes,
especially with Kelce, Reid and Spagnuolo on his side.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter
@MoeMoton.



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   Catches

 * Patrick Mahomes Trolls Bills' Dion Dawkins with IG Photo After Chiefs'
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 * Video: Taylor Swift Hyped Celebrating Travis Kelce's TD vs. Ravens in Chiefs
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 * Eagles' Jason Kelce Shares Text of Daughter Saying 'Dads Boobs Are Showing'
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 * Kadarius Toney's IG Live Accuses Chiefs of Lying About Injury Status in NSFW
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 * Video: Travis Kelce Tosses Justin Tucker's Helmet and Footballs as Mahomes
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