During the midst of a global pandemic, the Kansas City Chiefs managed to have a phenomenal regular season that should be considered as the best in franchise history.
They were then able to follow this up with an electric playoff run and are looking to cap it all off this weekend with a win in Super Bowl LV.
Faced with adversity all season, it is truly amazing the Chiefs have made it to where they are.
- Star right guard Mitchell Schwartz was injured and has not played since week 6
- Patrick Mahomes took a scary tackle leading to a neck injury in the divisional round against Cleveland
- Eric Fisher faced an Achilles injury in the AFC Championship and will not play this weekend
These are only a few of the more serious ones, too.
This did not slow the Chiefs down one bit, however. Countless milestones have been achieved, and credit is certainly due.
– Travis Kelce: TE
Where to even begin with this man. Kelce was the well-oiled machine that the Chiefs required all season long. This season he recorded 105 receptions (5th), 1,416 yards (2nd), and 11 TDs (tied-5th). All three of these stats were career-highs for him.
Kelce is the franchise leader in receptions and has more receiving yards than any NFL tight end ever. Get the history books out.
He is the first player in franchise history and the first tight end ever to record multiple 100-catch seasons. Take a look at what he accomplished in the AFC Championship.
Travis Kelce has set the record for most receptions (13) in a Conference Championship game in the Super Bowl era
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 25, 2021
Kelce surpasses Michael Irvin (1994 vs SF)
Kelce will have a great chance to keep up his high-caliber play this weekend against Tampa, where in week 12 he went for eight grabs for 82 yards.
It was undoubtedly the best season by a tight end ever, and to top it all off he was gifted the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
– Patrick Mahomes: QB
Before Mahomes became the starting quarterback, Kansas City had appeared in three conference championships and two Super Bowls.
With Mahomes under center, the Chiefs have tied all of these past landmarks, and there seems to be plenty more to come.
He is the highest-paid football player ever for a reason. Mahomes has an unmatched skill-set and he will go down as one of the greatest to play the game.
There is no question that he has elevated this football program to a whole other level of play, and has had the weapons to do so.
What goes unnoticed about Mahomes is his ability to perform at such a high level on the road. There is concern that Brady and the Buccaneers will have a “home field advantage”, but many do not see this as any sort of issue.
Patrick Mahomes has only lost 4 games outside of Kansas City in his career, and in those 4 losses the @Chiefs have scored:
— Evan Kaplan (@EpKap) January 29, 2021
40 points
51 points
31 points
32 points
Playing at opposing teams’ stadiums doesn’t seem to affect Patrick.
At the young age of 25, he is already considered as one of the greatest quarterbacks to have played the game, based on skill.
– Andy Reid: HC
Give the credit where it is due. Since taking over in 2013, Reid holds a record of 91-37. He has guided the Chiefs to the playoffs each year with the exception of the 2014/2015 season.
Big Red is playing in his third consecutive AFC Championship game, and now holds the franchise record for playoff wins as a head coach.
The @Chiefs will host the AFC Championship game for the 3rd straight season
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 17, 2021
The Chiefs join the 2002-2004 Eagles – also coached by Andy Reid – as the only teams to host 3 straight conference championships
Reid and his staff have had immense success in recent years, and have cooked up some must-watch offensive schemes.
It is becoming apparent that opposing defenses simply don’t have the answers. Kansas City looks to be the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots did it in 2003 and 2004.
Featured Image Via: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
