As the 2023-24 NFL season looms closer, the question on fans’ minds is, “Will the Kansas City Chiefs repeat?” The short and simple answer is yes. They have done it before, winning Super Bowl 54 against the San Francisco 49ers and losing Super Bowl 55 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The more complicated answer is maybe.
On any given Sunday, Monday, or Thursday, anything can happen. The grind to reach the playoffs leads teams down a road of victory and heartbreak. Only a chosen few make it let alone make it to back-to-back Super Bowls. Kansas City’s streak of success, with seven straight AFC West crownings and hosting five consecutive AFC Championships, makes them appear unstoppable. Barring injuries to their starters, they would inevitably keep on rolling.
What Makes a Dynasty?
Ask any fan or NFL talking head, and you will get many different answers on what constitutes a dynasty. Some believe that a team must win three or more Super Bowls. Others might suggest more than that. Most agree that two is simply not enough. Neither is winning two and making more Super Bowls but losing them. The Dallas Cowboys won two Super Bowls and played in three others in the 1970s; the Buffalo Bills went to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s and didn’t win any of them. Neither one of those teams are considered dynastic, despite the accomplishments of those seasons. The same can be said for teams like the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. While prolific in their own ways, they are still not considered a dynasty.
If teams are going to be scrutinized using the accomplishments of a team such as the New England Patriots, will any team ever be called a dynasty again?
Edge of a Dynasty
The Chiefs are standing on the edge of a blossoming dynasty. They will come much closer if they can repeat and win this season’s Super Bowl. The losses to the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 and the following year to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship have so far prevented the Chiefs from blossoming into the dynasty we know they can be.
Now that the Chiefs have lost players such as Orlando Brown and have failed to come to an agreement yet with Chris Jones, there might be worries about the defense. While similar to the previous season, the offense might still have holes that cannot be plugged. Losing players such as Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster will be a challenge, but they have players with the potential to step up and be what the Chiefs need for the offense.
Just remember how people thought the Chiefs were surely done for after losing Tyreek Hill. All the talking heads would not shut up about it week in and week out.
Why Still All the Smack Talk?
Although the smack talk about the Chiefs having holes on both sides of the ball is going on, just like it always does, it is not as bad as it was last year. Before the beginning of last season, no one thought the Chiefs would be the AFC West champs. They also predicted that while Kansas City might make the playoffs, they would not go anywhere. The Bengals and the Buffalo Bills would make sure of that.
The smack talk was understandable when looking back because other teams appeared to be moving and grooving with changes on the roster and filling holes, while the Chiefs essentially were just chilling by the pool. While some of the smack talk could have been considered clickbait, for a while, it seemed the majority figured the Chiefs were done.
Maybe more teams should chill by the pool.
Will Kansas City Play in Super Bowl 58?
It is a possibility. Nothing is ever guaranteed. There will not be an answer to this question until the end of the season. So much has to go right, but typically things go wrong. Do they have a better chance than other teams? Of course, they do. They always have a chance with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Only eight teams have ever won consecutive Super Bowl titles. If Kansas City can make it and win, they would be the first team since the Patriots did it in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
Talent and sheer will can only get the Chiefs so far. It will get them most of the way, but that last mile or two belongs to plain old simple luck. Hopefully, luck will be a lady this season.
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