The Kansas City Chiefs have started a season 0-1 for only the second time in Patrick Mahomes’ career as a starter. However, the bigger concern is whether their Super Bowl 59 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles will lead to another season without a ring.
Talk of a Super Bowl hangover will be coming after the Chiefs lost 27-21 to the AFC West rival Chargers in Friday night’s Week 1 opener from Sao Paulo, Brazil. That’s because the Eagles, who beat the Cowboys to open their Super Bowl defense on Thursday night, are coming to Kansas City in Week 2.
There’s a real chance the Chiefs will start the season with a dreaded 0-2 record. Several previous 0-2 teams with Kansas City’s talent have proven they can still make the playoffs. But only three teams have won the Super Bowl after starting a season 0-2.
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Much is riding on the Chiefs exacting revenge on the Eagles and winning at home to improve to 1-1. After the Chiefs lost Super Bowl 55, they were 3-4 after Week 7 of the 2021 season. That’s the only time over the past six seasons Kansas City didn’t win the AFC championship.
It’s only one game and only one week, but is hangover history set to repeat itself? Here’s a look at the key factors that will help determine the Chiefs’ path:
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Are the Chiefs headed toward a Super Bowl hungover?
The Chiefs not only have the Eagles at home in Week 2, but they also host the Ravens in Week 4 and the Lions in Week 6. It’s helpful to have all three of those games at Arrowhead Stadium, but it’s possible they are stuck at 3-3 through mid-October anyway.
That give the Chiefs little margin for error in the second half of the season or risk losing a shot at the top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage. Although they proved they can win the conference and Super Bowl with a more difficult playoff road (see the 2023 season), it will not be ideal for their chances.
Will the Chiefs face tougher competition in the AFC West?
The AFC West is much tougher than it was in 2023. Jim Harbaugh has made the Chargers a contender to dethrone the Chiefs from their decade-long division dominance.
Los Angeles is better than its 11-6 wild card season last year. The Broncos also made the playoffs at 10-7 last season. Las Vegas is bound to be more competent and competitive with Pete Carroll as head coach and Geno Smith under center. Kansas City, on the other hand, starts a game back in the West race.
The Broncos can match the Chargers 1-0 start and get the jump on the Chiefs with a home win over the Titans Sunday. The Raiders also have a good shot at earning an opening road win at the Patriots in Week 1.
The Chiefs are the ones used to being chased. But it will be interesting to see how they respond with Mahomes and Andy Reid looking like the chasers early in the divisional race.
Who are the title challenges to the Chiefs?
The winner of Sunday night’s Ravens-Bills game. That now becomes a must-win game to get the jump on the Chiefs for the AFC’s top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Baltimore and Buffalo remain the biggest threats to break through and get past Kansas City.
Cincinnati also could be a factor in conference race with Joe Burrow. Throw in Los Angeles, Denver and Houston in the mix as well.
The Chiefs showed some cracking similar to 2021, the year the Bengals beat Mahomes and co. in the AFC championship game en route to a Super Bowl appearance.
Kansas City’s version of a Super Bowl hangover with Mahomes isn’t breaking down and free-falling out of the playoffs. Instead, it’s simply falling short of the Super Bowl expectation the team has each year. However, the Chiefs didn’t waste any time showing the potential cracks other teams take advantage of like the Chargers did Friday night.
