Cover Photo: Chiefs Safety Tyran Matieu (32) prior to the game between the Chiefs and Bronco at Arrowhead Stadium on December 15. Photo by Steve Sanders, Kansas City Chiefs
By Sam Kombrink
Happy holidays Kansas City! The Chiefs are AFC West Champions for the fourth season in a row, and are going into the holidays on a 4-game win streak after beating the Denver Broncos by a score of 23-3 in a snowy showdown at Arrowhead.
This time around the Chiefs faced rookie quarterback Drew Lock from the University of Missouri, and Lee’s Summit High School, where he won 2014 All-metro Player of the Year. Lock had just been given the starting job a few weeks prior, so it will be interesting to see if he can bring back the old rivalry. The Chiefs have won nine straight matchups against Denver, the Chiefs’ longest winning streak in the Super Bowl era against the Broncos.
The Chiefs have tallied a 27-3 (.900) mark against AFC West opponents in the last 30 games and hold a 45-14 (.763) record against AFC opponents dating back to 2015. Under Head Coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have qualified for the postseason six times, winning the last four AFC West titles. During the time frame of seven seasons with the Chiefs, Reid has accomplished 75 regular season wins, the highest combined win total of any head coach in franchise history.
Now the chiefs will travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears on prime time Sunday Night Football on NBC. The Chiefs’ defense the past four games has allowed an average of 11.3 points per game, and they will look to keep that same energy against the Chicago Bears. The Chiefs defense has only allowed 45 points their last 4 games (fewest in the league in that time span) and opposing NFL offenses are averaging just 11.3 points per game. For the first time in Kansas City Chiefs history they have a top 10 scoring offense (4th) along with a top ten scoring defense (10th). In previous years we have never had a balanced team take us to a Super Bowl, and the time is now to accomplish that goal.
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid will be coaching against his former understudy Matt Nagy who was a part of Reid’s coaching staff for 10 seasons, tracing all the way back to Philadelphia when he was hired as a coaching intern in 2008. Fun fact, Nagy was college teammates with Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach at the University of Delaware from 1998-2000 where Nagy played quarterback and threw passes to wide receiver, Brett Veach. Chiefs Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub’s son, Shane Toub, is currently an Offensive Assistant for the Bears. Facing the talent on Chicago’s Defense, and factoring in the wind, I predict that the Chiefs will win by a score of 24-10.
The Kansas City Chiefs will be sending 11 players to the 2020 NFL Pro-Bowl in Orlando. (quarterback) Patrick Mahomes, (wide receiver) Tyreek Hill, (tight end) Travis Kelce, (rookie wide receiver) Mecole Hardman, (defensive tackle) Chris Jones, (defensive end) Frank Clark. With reserves, (safety) Tyrann Mathieu, (right tackle) Mitchell Schwartz, (fullback) Anthony Sherman, (kicker) Harrison Butker, (punter) Dustin Colquitt.