Dynasty DNA fuels hope. Despite a losing record, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid's Chiefs possess the firepower for another deep playoff run.
At a 5-5 record heading into Week 12, everybody in the football world is asking whether the Kansas City Chiefs are still a contender or not. In a recent article, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report made the case for both sides of the argument.
We’ll start with why the Chiefs should still be viewed as a contender in the AFC. As Gagnon pointed out, the Chiefs are the Chiefs after all. They’ve made seven straight AFC Championship games, advancing to the Super Bowl five times and winning it three times.
The Chiefs still have most of their core that has made them a dynasty in quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive tackle Chris Jones, and head coach Andy Reid. It’s hard to rule out a Kansas City team with so much proven firepower.
Though it hasn’t been all great this season, you have to believe that the Chiefs will find their way into the playoffs yet again this season. It’ll likely be by way of the Wild Card, as they sit four games behind the Denver Broncos in the AFC West, but all the Chiefs need is a chance. If you give them a chance, it’s not impossible to imagine the Chiefs playing their best football in January and making a serious push once again.
There is a legitimate case to be made as to why Kansas City is no longer a contender, though. Gagnon cites their current record as a tough hill to climb with just seven games remaining. At 5-5, the Chiefs are currently on the outside looking in. It’s possible they turn it on enough to pass the Los Angeles Chargers in the standings, but it would take a miracle to jump all the way to first place.
Relying on a Wild Card victory and forfeiting home-field advantage in the playoffs would be brutal for Kansas City’s chances in the postseason. Arrowhead Stadium brings one of the most threatening atmospheres in all of football, and it’s undoubtedly played a part in the team’s success over the last decade.
The Chiefs have a few tough games on their remaining schedule, one against the 8-2 Indianapolis Colts, another against the top defensive team in the Houston Texans, and one more against both the Chargers and Broncos.
They don’t exactly have an easy path, but the path is still there. Gagnon believes the Chiefs should still be viewed as contenders.
“The Chiefs have the third-best scoring margin (plus-73) in the conference, as they rank in the top 10 in terms of both scoring offense and defense,” he wrote. “The breaks haven't gone their way, but don't be surprised if they finish out the schedule 6-1 or 7-0.”