The Kansas City Chiefs are heading to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years. Although the Baltimore Ravens entered the AFC Championship as the conference’s top seed, Patrick Mahomes and Co. came out on top once again, winning 17-10 to reach Super Bowl LVIII.
This is the same Chiefs team that went 3-5 starting in late October and saw Mahomes produce the least efficient passing grades of his illustrious career. So how, exactly, did they get back to the Super Bowl? Here are 10 reasons:
1. Patrick Mahomes is undeniable in the playoffs
This is not just a guess. The figures confirm it. KC’s offense is significantly more efficient in the playoffs than in the regular season, and Mahomes is the captain of that ship. The future Hall of Fame quarterback is now 14-3 as a starter in the postseason with 39 touchdown passes to just seven picks.
Like his QB, the Chiefs’ star tight end saves some of his best work for the brighter lights. Despite a “quiet” 980-yard receiving season, he stepped up a gear in the playoffs, recording at least seven catches for 70 yards in each of KC’s playoff victories at age 34.
3. The defensive front is a strength
It always comes back to the trenches, and the Chiefs have Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, two of the best pocket wreckers in the NFL. The former had a quiet stat sheet against Baltimore, but has made his presence felt all year, combining for 24 sacks in the regular season and playoffs to date.
4. Andy Reid didn’t quit the race
The Chiefs’ offense runs through Mahomes and Kelce, but running back Isiah Pacheco has kept them more balanced than usual. While he struggled to come up with big gains against Baltimore, his heavy workload takes a toll on opponents due to his unique physique.
5. The secondary is in top form
If Chris Jones is the face of the Chiefs defense, the fullback is the backbone of the unit, with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed leading the charge as a violent but disciplined perimeter man. Safety Justin Reid and fellow corner Trent McDuffie were also excellent in critical moments.
6. Steve Spagnuolo is at the top of his game
Not only is the defensive coordinator’s staff thriving, but he’s also dialing up all the right calls, especially to create pressure. The veteran coach has been highly regarded for years, but he’s in the midst of the most productive defensive finishing streak of his entire career.
7. They cleaned up the fundamentals
Earlier this year, KC’s inability to field a reliable receiving corps was a league-wide joke, with starters missing critical plays due to mistakes like drops and misalignments. In the second half of the year and especially in the playoffs, the Chiefs played smart, controlling the ball and the clock.
8. Mahomes has a No. 1 WR again
While rookie Rashee Rice took a slight step back against Kelce against the Ravens, the freshman pass catcher remained one of Mahomes’ top targets with eight catches, cementing his role as the club’s top option on the ground. He has now completed eight passes four times since Thanksgiving weekend.
9. Two of their three playoff opponents failed
Nothing against the Chiefs, but it helped that the Dolphins and Ravens, two of the NFL’s most explosive offenses in 2023, had virtually no answers for KC’s defense in the playoffs. Tua Tagovailoa and Lamar Jackson only had 17 points combined in their losses to the Chiefs.
10. Remarkably, they are better when counted
No one, deep down, was confidently betting against the Chiefs, but Mahomes is now 10-1-1 ATS entering as a oddsmaker’s underdog. He and Reid are this generation’s version of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick Patriots – who will never be written off.
Super Bowl LVIII will take place February 11 on CBS. The game will also air on Nickelodeon and stream on Paramount+.
