Patrick Mahomes just won the Super Bowl on a bad ankle, with a mediocre defense, and without a No. 1 wide receiver. What will he do next?
For most teams, there’s a natural progression. Franchises usually have a small window of time to make a run at winning championships. The NFL legislates parity into its business model theoretically giving all 32 of its members the chance to win it all. After a while, free agency, the salary cap, the draft, and coaching brain drain all take their toll.
It’s hard to stay on top. The New England Patriots were an outlier, maintaining two decades of dominance in a sport where teams rise and fall from year to year. No one is going to match that. But the Kansas City Chiefs might come the closest to reaching that kind of sustained excellence.
The Chiefs are the envy of the rest of the league. As long as Mahomes is healthy and management remains intact, their window for winning more Super Bowls will be open for a long time. It probably won’t result in six Super Bowl victories, but it’s going to be a while before they are a non-factor.
#MVPat. pic.twitter.com/bUUERmDj0d
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 13, 2023
Entering this season, the Buffalo Bills were the betting favorite to win Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs were No. 2. Based on what we know so far, you can make the case that this was the least talented of the three Kansas City teams to reach the Super Bowl over the past four seasons. For the first time in 14 career playoff games with Mahomes, it was an underdog.
The Philadelphia Eagles had the better roster, and Jalen Hurts played the type of game that usually wins. But no quarterback in NFL history can overcome obstacles like Mahomes. Not Tom Brady. Not Joe Montana. Nobody. Mahomes is an absurd 4-2 when trailing by 10+ points in the playoffs. Brady is next best at 6-8.
With Mahomes, the championship window is seemingly always open.
Mahomes, 27, is entering his prime and is coming off his most impressive season, winning both the regular-season MVP and the Super Bowl MVP. He has reached the AFC Championship Game every year since becoming the starter in 2018. And even when he reaches his late 30s, he could still be a threat. Take a look at how quarterbacks are aging now. Brady was the league MVP at 40. Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs at 37 and 38. The modern-day NFL rulebook gives QBs advantages, allowing them to avoid big hits and play longer than ever.
DISNEYWORLD @PatrickMahomes 🎉 pic.twitter.com/x2RYUIQ8WZ
— Whistle (@WhistleSports) February 3, 2020
Andy Reid knows this. That’s why the 64-year-old isn’t retiring. He’s an innovative designer of offense coaching a generational talent. Why would he ever leave this party early?
The Chiefs should be a better overall team next season. The receiving corps might be deeper, particularly if they add a true top wideout to complement tight end Travis Kelce. A defense that went through growing pains with a revamped secondary will be more experienced. Entering 2022, Kansas City had the ninth-youngest roster in the NFL. According to Spotrac, the Chiefs are the fourth-youngest team right now due in part to having only 36 players under contract so far for 2023.
When you have Mahomes, you can take chances. Kansas City made the difficult decision to trade away Tyreek Hill due to financial reasons. Leadership demands tough choices. What the Chiefs gave away in game-breaking speed in the short term put them in a position to build around Mahomes for the long term.
Kansas City can continue to add young pieces to its roster, and the franchise will continue to be a destination for veterans looking for a shot at a Super Bowl ring. They will be willing to take team-friendly deals.
Sounds a lot like the Patriots dynasty. The Chiefs have a long way to go. But with Mahomes, they’re off to an incredible start.
HOME SWEET HOME 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9qlAPa1NS9
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 13, 2023
