The Kansas City Chiefs became the ninth NFL team to win consecutive Super Bowls when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58. They were the first club in nearly two decades to capture back-to-back trophies.
However, no NFL franchise has ever won three straight Lombardis.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid are already ticketed for the Hall of Fame, but Kansas City could become one of the league’s greatest dynasties by hoisting another Super Bowl trophy next February. They’re the betting favorites (+500) entering 2024.
Which rival teams are best positioned to stop the Chiefs’ Super Bowl three-peat attempt? Here are the top five clubs ready to spoil Kansas City’s party.
Who Can Stop the Chiefs’ Super Bowl 3-Peat?
5) Houston Texans
Few NFL organizations have blended young, ascending talent with established, veteran additions as well as Houston.
C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. give the Texans the reigning Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year. Nico Collins and Tank Dell — drafted, developed, and, in Collins’ case, extended — should be Stroud’s top weapons for years.
Houston traded for RB Joe Mixon, who should be a more consistent runner than Dameon Pierce was last season, and WR Stefon Diggs, who can still be a top-end pass catcher despite his 2023 decline. On defense, free agent signing Danielle Hunter’s speed-based game should perfectly complement Anderson’s power-centric game.
Even if the Texans have questions at defensive tackle or safety, DeMeco Ryans will coax the best out of this unit. Houston boasting a top-12 defense while Stroud throws 35+ touchdowns isn’t out of the question.
4) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were the AFC’s best team in 2023 but still couldn’t get past Mahomes in the Conference Championship Game. While Baltimore’s defense held Kansas City to just 17 points, eventual MVP winner Lamar Jackson posted a 41.6 QBR in a losing effort. The Ravens managed only 27 rushing yards from its non-Jackson runners.
Although Baltimore lost whiz DC Mike Macdonald and 60% of its offensive line during the offseason, John Harbaugh’s club should still be in the mix against the Chiefs in 2024.
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The Ravens’ OL is a concern, but Jackson and free agent signing Derrick Henry can overcome any issues with the front five. Meanwhile, Jackson should be more comfortable as he enters his second year in OC Todd Monken’s scheme and could advance as a passer next season.
First-year DC Zach Orr may be willing to send blitzes more often than Macdonald, who deployed an extra rusher on only 21.9% of Baltimore’s plays in 2023, the NFL’s eighth-lowest rate.
With Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith ready to stop Travis Kelce, and first-round CB Nate Wiggins in tow to prevent explosive plays to Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, the Ravens still represent a serious challenge for the Chiefs.
3) Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have proof of concept that they can slow down Mahomes and the Chiefs. In fact, Joe Burrow and Tom Brady remain the only two NFL quarterbacks who have beaten Mahomes in the playoffs.
Burrow is healthy after suffering a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11 of the 2023 campaign. Jake Browning is one of the NFL’s top backup QBs and performed well in Burrow’s stead.
However, Cincinnati’s offense should get back on track with a full season of Burrow and WR Tee Higgins, who missed multiple games with injuries in 2023 but will return on the franchise tag. Meanwhile, we’re assuming fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase — holding in while awaiting a contract extension — will be ready for Week 1.
Lou Anarumo’s defense gave up far too many explosive plays in 2023. Only the Detroit Lions (69) allowed more passing completions of 20+ yards than the Bengals (65) last season. It’s hard to imagine Cincinnati being so porous against opposing quarterbacks again next season after signing veteran safeties Geno Stone and Vonn Bell.
2) Detroit Lions
The Lions are the only team on our list that won’t face the Chiefs during the upcoming regular season. However, Detroit defeated Kansas City to open the 2023 campaign, emerging from Week 1 with a 21-20 victory over a Chiefs team playing without Kelce or DT Chris Jones.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s decision to stay in Detroit despite significant interest from teams who wanted to hire him as their head coach might have been the offseason’s most crucial turn of events.
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Guard Kevin Zeitler was the Lions’ only notable offensive addition, but Jared Goff already had so many options — RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and TE Sam LaPorta — that Detroit didn’t need to force a move. If 2022 first-round WR Jameson Williams can make a leap in 2024, the Lions’ offense could go nuclear.
Meanwhile, GM Brad Holmes attacked Detroit’s defensive weaknesses with multiple bites at the apple. DJ Reader and Marcus Davenport will help fortify the Lions’ front four, while Detroit is now overflowing with cornerback depth after relying on journeymen in last year’s NFC title game.
1) San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are still the NFC’s best team, and the betting markets believe they’re the only other NFL club on the Chiefs’ tier. San Francisco and Kansas City are the only teams with 2024 win totals above 11, while they’re also the sole squads with Super Bowl odds below +1000.
Brock Purdy returns under center after leading the league in touchdown rate (7%), yards per attempt (9.6), QBR (72.8), and EPA per dropback (0.360) in 2023.
While it’s evident that he’s supported by an offensive whiz like Kyle Shanahan and terrific weapons, Purdy has taken the 49ers’ offense to heights that Jimmy Garoppolo never achieved.
San Francisco still has offensive line questions, but Purdy has more than enough playmakers — including reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey — to overcome any issues upfront. Now that the 49ers have resolved contract situations for WR Brandon Aiyuk and OT Trent Williams, Kyle Shanahan’s unit is all systems go.
The Niners are on their third defensive coordinator in as many seasons, but S.F.’s defense seems to play with the same physical mentality regardless of who’s calling the plays.
Shanahan has already come incredibly close to taking down Mahomes and the Chiefs. In the past five years, his 49ers have lost two Super Bowls to Kansas City, blowing 10-point leads in both games.
Whether the Niners can stop the Chiefs’ three-peat attempt in 2024 is an open question, but they’re set up as well as any NFL team to prevent Mahomes from securing another Super Bowl trophy this season.
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