Former Buffalo Payments assistant coach Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit and performs for Nice Britain’s flag soccer workforce.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs got here into the 2024 season hoping to turn into the primary workforce in NFL historical past to win three straight Tremendous Bowls.
They’ve began the season with a 9-0 file for simply the third time in franchise historical past – however that solely tells half the story.
If you happen to look again so far as week one, virtually each week one thing’s occurred in order that they’ve by some means prevented defeat. They simply appear to discover a option to win on a regular basis.
Have a look at this run:
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Week one: If it wasn’t for Isaiah Possible’s toe being out of the top zone, the Chiefs would have misplaced in opposition to the Ravens.
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Week two: In opposition to the Bengals, the Chiefs’ win likelihood was 15.5% within the fourth quarter, earlier than Harrison Butker gained it with a subject objective as time expired.
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Week three: The defence stepped up in opposition to the Falcons and compelled two turnovers within the fourth quarter, deep in Chiefs territory.
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Week 4: In opposition to the Chargers, the Chiefs by no means led till the ultimate six minutes, with the defence once more stepping up.
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Week 9: The Chiefs gained in extra time, when in hindsight possibly the Buccaneers ought to have gone for 2 factors reasonably than kicking the purpose after their late landing.
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Final week: The Broncos had a 35-yard subject objective to win it, but the Chiefs grew to become simply the third workforce in 10 seasons to win on a blocked subject objective.
These usually are not small stats that the Chiefs are placing collectively.
Together with the post-season, the Chiefs have 15 straight wins – the longest streak for the reason that Packers in 2010-11. In the event that they beat the Buffalo Payments on the highway on Sunday, it will likely be a franchise file of 12 straight common season wins.
Folks could wish to see the ‘Patrick Mahomes magic’ nevertheless it hasn’t been fairly, it hasn’t been flashy. It is primarily all the way down to their defence, which has now held 30 straight opponents underneath 28 factors. That is loopy.
I do know lots of people are bored of seeing the Chiefs win, however I am not. How can you get tired of watching quarterback Mahomes lead a game-winning drive in extra time? Or watching a linebacker (Leo Chenal) pull off a block to win the sport?
They’ve had so many accidents – Isiah Pacheco, Rashee Rice, Skyy Moore – however they’re nonetheless setting information. That is what’s so unbelievable.
They introduced again veteran operating again Kareem Hunt and traded for veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins. He was phenomenal with the Texans, however then it was a wrestle with the Cardinals and the Titans.
However simply think about becoming a member of a workforce the place, for the primary time in your profession, you even have the chance to win a Tremendous Bowl. That may encourage you. And who would not wish to play with a quarterback like Mahomes? You’ll be able to already see that they are on the identical web page.
The Chiefs wanted a deep risk and ‘DHop’ was a man you possibly can see making a right away impression. He is a game-changer. His arrival’s additionally allowed Travis Kelce to get some momentum as, beforehand, opponents saved double-teaming him.
It is thrilling to suppose that this workforce simply continues to do it, it is extraordinary. However none of it issues if they do not win one other Tremendous Bowl and get that ‘three-peat’.
The Chiefs know play within the post-season, that is after they’re so harmful, and they’re going to in all probability meet the Payments once more within the play-offs.
The Chiefs have gained all three of their play-off conferences since Mahomes and Josh Allen have been their quarterbacks and the video games are at all times thrilling. It is two of the game’s greatest quarterbacks going at it.
If it wasn’t for Mahomes, I really feel like Allen can be the man we’re all speaking about when it comes to the magic he brings and the insanity that ensues round him.
The Payments are actually 8-2 after profitable their previous 5, which is what makes Sunday’s recreation so thrilling. It is an enormous recreation for the Payments to see if they’ll compete with the Chiefs and see what they’ll collect in opposition to a well-recognized foe, as a result of subsequent time they meet, that is when the Payments actually need to win.
I am positive the message for the Payments this week has been “now we have to deal with the soccer, and when Mahomes turns the ball over, which he has been doing, now we have to capitalise”.