It’s been an odd season for the Kansas City Chiefs, with 11 games decided by one score.
Games decided by a toe out of bounds, a blocked field goal on the last play and a fumbled center-quarterback snap exchange in the final minutes — to name a few.
Three different kickers kicked a game-winning field goal, tying an NFL record.
A revolving door at left tackle throughout the season resulted in left guard Joe Thuney moving out to the position, giving the offensive line the most stability they’ve had all season.
The team played every day of the week except for Tuesday.
The Chiefs have been decimated by injuries. They lost their starting running back, top two wide receivers and No. 2 cornerback for a portion of the season. This resulted in the club instituting a reunion tour of sorts. They brought back familiar faces, including running back Kareem Hunt, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and cornerback Steven Nelson.
The Chiefs’ offense has not lived up to their preseason hype. They rank 13th in yards per game (342) and are averaging 24 points per game — only scoring more than 30 twice this season.
They’ve been doubted (and continue to be) by the national media and even their local fan base throughout the entire season.
And despite all this adversity, the Chiefs have clinched the top seed in the AFC with a week to go. The 2024 Chiefs have become the winningest team in franchise history with a 15-1 (.938) record. The team has never completed a season with more than 14 wins, a feat they last accomplished in 2022.
With team success has come personal accolades as well.
Tight end Travis Kelce — one of the players most doubted by the media this season, set a franchise record for touchdown receptions last week. He surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, paying homage to the former Chief with his signature touchdown celebration. He also caught his 1,000th regular-season reception — becoming only the third tight end to do so and good for 13th all-time in the record books.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also set the team record for passing yards and touchdowns this season, surpassing the late great Len Dawson. Mahomes accomplished this in only his seventh season as the Chiefs’ starter.
Looking ahead
The Chiefs are enjoying a restful weekend after completing a brutal three-game stretch that included traveling twice and playing three games in 11 days. However, the time for retrospection will soon be over as they turn their attention to January.
With the one seed locked up, the Chiefs will likely rest their starters in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs’ bye week was in Week 6, in mid-October. It’s been a long and difficult journey for them to get to this point. Securing the bye week and additional rest time is crucial for players like defensive tackle Chris Jones, who is dealing with a calf strain that kept him out of Week 17.
By resting their starters, the team will have a full three weeks of rest before their postseason journey begins in the AFC Divisional round of the playoffs. The AFC playoffs will go through Arrowhead Stadium, and the team should be refreshed and ready for whoever the opponent is.
The Chiefs clearly have their intentions set on the three-peat. They have made many player acquisitions and trades during the regular season, more than any other season in recent memory. The team has steadily improved and stabilized over the course of the season. Two of their best performances came in Weeks 17 and 18.
This truly is the golden age of Chiefs football. This team will be in the history books as the winningest club in team history, no matter the result from here. Fans should enjoy every minute of the ride, no matter how bumpy, frustrating, or laborious it has felt to this point.
The fact is, this team knows how to win. They’ve proven it. They relish the doubts and the criticisms from outsiders. They’ve said this.
The 2024 Chiefs are who they are at this point — not perfect, but dangerous. They are a team that no other club in the AFC wants to face in the postseason. Things could certainly be lining up for a special January in Kansas City.
