Every year, the narrative gets recycled: “This is the season the Chiefs fall off.” The media picks the Chargers or Broncos to win the AFC West. Pundits pencil in Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, or Lamar Jackson to finally dethrone Kansas City. They treat the Chiefs like a dynasty on its last leg — like their time has passed.
But here’s the truth: the Chiefs are still the Chiefs.
The NFL world seems to forget one massive detail — Patrick Mahomes is still under center. As long as No. 15 is at the helm, Kansas City is not going anywhere. Every time the talking heads pick against him, he responds the same way: by walking into February and playing for a Lombardi. He’s made four Super Bowl appearances in five years. There’s no quarterback on Earth with a stronger claim to the crown, yet every offseason, the doubt creeps back in.
Some critics have even taken shots at Mahomes’ physique this offseason, as if his build — not his brilliance — is what’s made him unstoppable. Others question Andy Reid’s ability to evolve with the league and generate points at the clip we’re used to. But here’s a stat they conveniently overlook: the Chiefs ranked top-3 in the NFL last season in points allowed per game. Their defense wasn’t just good, it was elite. And now, the offense is healthier and deeper.
Rashee Rice missed most of last season with an LCL injury. Hollywood Brown was barely available. And let’s not forget — the Chiefs didn’t have a starting-caliber left tackle protecting Mahomes. This year, Rice and Brown are back at full strength, and they’ve added Josh Simmons, a freakishly athletic first-round pick, to anchor the blindside. Behind him? A reliable backup in Jaylon Moore, offering depth the Chiefs really lacked.
And somehow, despite all the adversity, the Chiefs still won three the Super Bowls in the Mahomes era.
Yet here we are again. The same experts are circling other teams, hyping up rosters with flashier weapons or better preseason storylines. But none of them have what Kansas City has — a Hall of Fame coach, the most generational quarterback in decades, and a locker room built on trust, toughness, and titles.
So go ahead — keep picking against them. Keep assuming the torch has been passed. Kansas City doesn’t need your belief. They’ve built their dynasty on doubt. They’ve become the league’s most reliable force by silencing noise, not feeding into it.
Because at the end of the day, the Chiefs are still the Chiefs.