There was (and sort of still is) a sense of disbelief for Kansas City Chiefs fans that their team not only didn’t execute a Super Bowl three-peat, but was soundly defeated as well. The shocked look on the faces of the Chiefs’ players told the story after Philadelphia went ahead 27-0 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. There was no K.C. comeback happening on that day.
This begs to question if this is the end of the line for this current run for Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and head coach Andy Reid. Or can they return to make a seventh consecutive AFC title game and sixth Super Bowl in the sensational period?
Let’s give it a look before heading to the top-rated sportsbooks.
The Case for Returning AFC Championship and Super Bowl
In early March, we went to check the latest odds for Kansas City to accomplish each of these instances:
- Kansas City to Win AFC (+300)
- Kansas City to Win Super Bowl (+650)
For the AFC, the Chiefs are once again the favorites, and why not? The key components are scheduled to return, with Kelce announcing he’s coming back, saying that’s not the way he wants to leave the game. Andy Reid won’t suddenly forget how to coach. Patrick Mahomes isn’t going to fall off a cliff; if anything, he will have more motivation and be just 30 in September.
Based on the track record, one should trust the Kansas City front office, which has expertly drafted despite doing so far down the list for numerous years because of its success.
The Chiefs’ defense should not be an issue either, as they are ranked #4 in points allowed and #9 in total defense. Besides, this team knows they have the physiological edge over their opposition in that conference.
AFC Championship Winner Odds
| The Elite | The Contenders | The Longshots | The Underdogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| KC Chiefs (+300) | BUF Bills (+375) | LA Chargers (+1200) | DEN Broncos (+1800) |
| BAL Ravens (+340) | CIN Bengals (+900) | HOU Texans (+1400) | MIA Dolphins (+2500) |
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Why the Chiefs Won’t Be Back to the AFC Title Game in 2025
Kansas City has been to three Super Bowls in a row. That’s a lot of extra football, which takes a mental and physical toll. Mahomes and company aren’t chasing history this time around, they are attempting to close what is an open wound.
K.C. survived last season in spite of having the worst tandem of tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. This was especially true on the left side (Mahomes’ blind side), where they ranked next-to-last almost the entire season.
As we know, offensive tackles are so important, frequently high first-round draft picks, yet, for the most part, this organization has been able to overcome mostly average to slightly above or below because of Reid’s understanding of his team and the genius of Mahomes.
A Fading Offense
In the NFL, you might spot a weakness and not be able to take advantage of it. However, once it’s on tape, others will learn, and unless Kansas City is trading future draft choices for all-pro tackles Tristan Wirfs (Tampa Bay) and Penei Sewell (Detroit), along with their all-pro linemen Joe Thuney (LG) and Creed Humphrey (C), this will still not be strength in 2025.
Expect those crazy defensive coaches to have diabolical game plans for Mahomes.
Xavier Worthy was a great draft choice and was Mahome’s favorite target at the end of the season. Losing WR Rashee Rice was a damaging loss and his return will help the passing game. One has to ask after that on the current roster, who is excited about JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown returning as wideouts? All these players are older and not getting the separation in pass patterns they used to.
Kelce has visible signs of slowing down, and while he’s still a Top 10 tight end, especially in the red, white and yellow, he’s not the same player as three years ago.
The K.C. defense had excellent numbers, yet, was wearing down as the season progressed, but their championship pedigree got them to the Big Game. Will that continue? We are not saying Kansas City will be 9-8 and the last wild card in the AFC, but things change, dynasties end and the sport moves on.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
