PHOTO USA Today Sports Images Nearly a decade of dominance has put a massive target on the Kansas City Chiefs’ back.
Winning three Super Bowls in five years and also coming within one victory of another title during that span has established Kansas City as the team to beat. The Chiefs have reached the AFC Championship Game in each of the past six seasons, and they haven’t missed out on the playoffs since 2014.
But a handful of teams are in position to potentially dethrone Kansas City, many of which reside in the AFC. Here are three that could end up representing the conference in the Super Bowl this season:
Baltimore Ravens
If Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers hadn’t opened the fourth quarter of last season’s AFC Championship Game with a goal-line fumble, maybe it would have been the Ravens going up against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.
Of course, that wasn’t the case, and now Baltimore will be out for revenge.
Incorporating veteran Derrick Henry into what was already the league’s best-running game should do wonders for both the Ravens and Henry, who finally doesn’t have to be relied upon for 30 carries a week.
Baltimore also has one of the few defenses in the AFC that can contain star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ high-octane offense. It should just be a matter of time before the Ravens have another chance to oust Kansas City in the postseason.
Houston Texans
Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws the ball asNew York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (95) pursues during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Stroud was injured on the play and left the game. credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports When the Bills fell to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game back in 2021, Buffalo wide receiver Stefon Diggs stepped out onto the field and watched as confetti rained down on Kansas City.
Diggs was trying to soak in the feeling of defeat, something that surely could be used as motivation down the line.
It didn’t work.
The Bills would go on to lose to the Chiefs in the divisional round in two of the following three seasons, with a photo of Diggs taking in Kansas City’s celebration in 2021 circulating around social media each time, essentially turning it into a meme.
Luckily for Diggs, who is now wearing a different uniform, he’ll have a chance to silence his doubters this season. The 30-year-old was traded to Houston in April, putting him alongside running back Joe Mixon and fellow receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell in a stacked offense that will be led by second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Perhaps the only team slowing down the Texans is the Texans, as Houston has never made it past the divisional round and could struggle to match up with a Chiefs team that has plenty of playoff experience.
New York Jets
Head coach Robert Saleh is tasked with leading the New York Jets to the Super Bowl. credits: Seth Wenig | source: AP Here’s the dark horse you’ve been waiting for.
A secondary featuring Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Tony Adams and Michael Carter II is going to give any signal-caller fits, even Mahomes.
And Aaron Rodgers? He’s back. Let’s see what the 19-year veteran can do with New York when he gets to throw more than one pass before going down with a season-ending Achilles injury.
Rodgers’ health will make or break this team, as it did last year.
The Jets also have to make sure they don’t start playing down to competition. Sure, they’ll be tested by two meetings with the Miami Dolphins and a campaign-opening clash with San Francisco, but they don’t have Kansas City on their regular-season schedule and get two cracks at the lowly New England Patriots.
If New York can keep its foot on the gas, it could be a dangerous opponent for the Chiefs to go up against come playoff time.
