The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 on Black Friday. They are now 11-1 on the season and have secured a playoff spot, yet many people still do not have faith in them.
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is the latest to sound alarms on Kansas City. He compared the defending champions to the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles season, a team that lost six of its last seven games to end the season.
Ryan Fitzpatrick Is Concerned for the Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have not blown out any team this season. They have won their last 14 one-possession games, leading some to believe that the team is riding on luck. Fitzpatrick thinks that Kansas City could be in for a very rude awakening.
“Don’t love the vibes in KC right now,” wrote Fitzpatrick on X. “This team feels eerily similar to Philly last year when they were 10-1 and the wheels fell off. If you feel good about this team after the last 4 games, I think you’re in denial.”
The 17-year NFL veteran also compared the Chiefs to the 2019 New England Patriots, who were bounced out of the playoffs in the first round.
2019 Patriots had a pretty good QB too who went on to win another SB after that season
Sometimes it’s hard to get an ominous feeling out of a locker room….it usually exists for a reason
— Ryan Fitzpatrick (@FitzMagic_14) November 30, 2024
Patrick Mahomes and his team have won the last two Super Bowls and have their sights set on becoming the first team in NFL’s history to win three straight Super Bowls. As a result, they might not be taking the regular season as seriously with their eyes set on the postseason, which could explain why they are involved in close games.
Moreover, last season, the Chiefs played a lot worse than they have this year. Despite that, they went on to win the Super Bowl, and the same could happen this year. Kansas City is also without its WR1, WR2, and CB2 and also has a big issue at the left tackle position. All these one-possession games are preparing the team for the playoffs, and despite all of their flaws, they still have the joint-best record in the NFL.
Will K.C.’s Leadership Group Help Them Overcome Playoff Hurdles?
Last year showed everyone that Mahomes and the Chiefs can turn it up in the playoffs. They came away with wins on the road against Buffalo and Baltimore on their way to the Super Bowl; this time around, they are quite likely to have the home-field advantage.
Kansas City’s leadership group, consisting of Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and head coach Andy Reid, will always bring the best out of the players on the team in big games. This season has shown that the Chiefs can win games in multiple ways, and it’s not a positive sign for the rest of the teams.
READ MORE: Chiefs Clinch Early Playoff Spot, but Do They Deserve To? — PFN Insights Luck Metric
The defense has been disappointing in the last few games, but it will eventually get better as we move further closer to the playoffs. Mahomes hasn’t had his best season, but he has taken a step in the right direction since the team acquired DeAndre Hopkins.
In six games with the veteran wideout, the Chiefs quarterback has thrown for 1,590 yards, 13 touchdowns, and three interceptions, completing 68.8% of his throws with a passer rating of 99.8. He is still arguably the best quarterback in the league and is ready to play his best football in the playoffs, making Kansas City one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.