On paper, the Kansas City Chiefs are the perfect staff within the NFL. They’ve the sport’s finest participant in Patrick Mahomes, who’s on his option to being the perfect participant ever, and so they have an excellent coach in Andy Reid to go along with a proficient roster.
That, coupled with my common custom of beginning the earlier 12 months’s Super Bowl winner within the prime spot of my Energy Rankings, has the Chiefs at No. 1 heading into the common season. They are going to be trying a three-peat, which has by no means occurred within the NFL within the Tremendous Bowl period.
However that does not imply I’m choosing the Chiefs to win all of it. Although 2023 was the 12 months to get the Chiefs once they struggled on offense for a lot of the season, they nonetheless discovered a option to win all of it — and this staff is best. However the burden of the three-peat will probably be an excessive amount of.
The Chiefs will begin in my prime spot, however they will not end there. The Green Bay Packers would be the staff to complete the season as the highest staff and Tremendous Bowl champion.
The Packers are my decide for a wide range of causes. It begins with Jordan Love, who proved to many, together with the Packers who gave him a mega-contract final month, that he’s their long-term reply at quarterback. He is solely scratching the floor of what he will be and will probably be. He’s going to be a star.
Then there’s the talent gamers. They’re loaded. On the opposite aspect of the ball, the Packers have expertise and now have a defensive coordinator in Jeff Hafley who will get the perfect out of them. That unit will probably be a lot improved.
The Packers almost beat the 49ers on the street within the playoffs final 12 months as a bunch of wide-eyed youngsters. That have will assist get them prepared for a playoff push and Tremendous Bowl look this season.
The Packers will beat the Buffalo Bills within the Tremendous Bowl. I’ve the Chiefs shedding at residence within the divisional spherical of the playoffs to Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. The Payments will then beat the Jets at residence to get to the Tremendous Bowl.
The concept that the window is closed on the Payments is absurd. So long as Josh Allen is slinging it, they’re a Tremendous contender. One different factor: They are not damaged up about Stefon Diggs not being round. It is going to be addition by subtraction. The protection will probably be higher than it was a 12 months in the past.
So will probably be Josh Allen vs. Jordan Love within the Tremendous Bowl.
Not Patrick Mahomes.
Am I loopy to choose towards Reid and Mahomes? Most likely so. However name it a hunch.
There is a motive groups do not three-peat.
Largest Movers
Rk |
Groups |
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Rcrd |
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1 |
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They may earn the highest seed within the AFC, based mostly on a so-so division, however the AFC is loaded so it will not be simple attending to the Tremendous Bowl. The added velocity outdoors will make them even harder to defend. | — | 0-0-0 |
2 |
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I really like the combo of veterans and younger rising gamers on this roster. Jordan Love is the true deal, which is why this can be a Tremendous Bowl decide for me. | 4 | 0-0-0 |
3 |
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Getting receiver Brandon Aiyuk signed to a long-term deal was transfer. The roster remains to be loaded and Kyle Shanahan stays one of many league’s finest coaches. | 1 | 0-0-0 |
4 |
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You’ll be able to depend them out if you’d like, however I will not. Brandon Beane has performed a pleasant job retooling this staff. They’ve a pleasant mixture of younger and previous. Oh, and Josh Allen. | 1 | 0-0-0 |
5 |
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Joe Burrow is again, which suggests the Bengals are again. He has to remain on the sphere, but when he does they’re a Tremendous contender. | 2 | 0-0-0 |
6 |
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They may once more push for the division title, however they’ve offensive line issues. The opposite situation is successful playoff video games with Lamar Jackson. | 3 | 0-0-0 |
7 |
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They need to as soon as once more push for a deep playoff run and extra. Dan Campbell must cease being so reckless along with his fourth-down selections since his staff is significantly better now. | 3 | 0-0-0 |
8 |
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They’d an excellent offseason including gamers to go along with C.J. Stroud and Co. Now comes the powerful half: Coping with being the hunted. | — | 0-0-0 |
9 |
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Aaron Rodgers is again, which modifications this staff’s dynamic. They want the offensive line to remain wholesome. In addition they want a second-receiver emerge to be a Tremendous contender. | 2 | 0-0-0 |
10 |
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This seems to be a prove-it season for Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott since McCarthy is in his last 12 months of a contract and Prescott did not get a long-term deal. Getting CeeDee Lamb signed was good to get him again on the sphere. | 3 | 0-0-0 |
11 |
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They fell aside late final season and that has put coach Nick Sirianni within the crosshairs. The protection was dangerous final season, in order that must be the unit that turns this staff round. | 1 | 0-0-0 |
12 |
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They crumbled late final season after begin. However that was as a consequence of Trevor Lawrence accidents. He is wholesome, so count on the offense to be good. The protection must be higher. | — | 0-0-0 |
13 |
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They’re the staff to beat within the NFC South with Baker Mayfield main the way in which. The roster skews younger, however that is by no means a foul factor. | 3 | 0-0-0 |
14 |
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They are going to be a enjoyable present to look at each week, however are they powerful sufficient? Can they win large video games late within the season and beat playoff groups? | 1 | 0-0-0 |
15 |
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Sean McVay did a heck of job getting this staff to the playoffs final season. The problem is even better this time with out Aaron Donald. It is unimaginable to exchange a participant like that. | 6 | 0-0-0 |
16 |
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Their whole season will probably be determined by how effectively Deshaun Watson performs — and the way a lot. If he is wholesome, they’ve a proficient roster round him. That is the problem. | 2 | 0-0-0 |
17 |
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The Caleb Williams hype is actual, however now comes the powerful a part of dwelling as much as it. The roster is proficient, however they may be a 12 months away. | — | 0-0-0 |
18 |
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Jim Harbaugh will repair this staff, but it surely won’t occur this 12 months. They are going to be bodily and hard to beat on a weekly foundation, however be careful subsequent season. | — | 0-0-0 |
19 |
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They are going to be an ideal instance of a staff that may do loads of issues, however one that’s held again by the quarterback play. Russell Wilson is not the savior. | — | 0-0-0 |
20 |
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By signing Kirk Cousins, they’re the stylish decide within the division. Including Matt Judon and Justin Simmons will assist the protection, however they’re behind Tampa Bay in my e-book. | — | 0-0-0 |
21 |
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Will Levis may have season underneath Brian Callahan, which is able to maintain them in loads of video games. However the true success will come subsequent 12 months in Callahan’s second season. | — | 0-0-0 |
22 |
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Their season is about maintaining Anthony Richardson on the sphere. If he is wholesome, they’ll win what’s now a tricky division. | — | 0-0-0 |
23 |
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They may as soon as once more be a tricky out on a weekly foundation, however the expertise pool is not fairly there but. They’re constructing to one thing, however they want yet another 12 months. | — | 0-0-0 |
24 |
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The Pete Carroll period is over, which suggests it is on Mike Macdonald to get this staff again to taking part in at a Tremendous Bowl stage. That is one other staff with offensive line points that might wreck these probabilities. | 1 | 0-0-0 |
25 |
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Can they resurrect Sam Darnold’s profession? Even when they do, they’re nonetheless the fourth staff within the division. | 1 | 0-0-0 |
26 |
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Jayden Daniels would be the Offensive Rookie of the Yr. However they’ve another points that might maintain this staff again. | 5 | 0-0-0 |
27 |
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They’ve offensive line issues, some age creeping in on protection and there are questions on whether or not Derek Carr can take this staff to excessive ranges. Dennis Allen could possibly be in bother after this season. | — | 0-0-0 |
28 |
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Sean Payton will begin his man Bo Nix in Week 1, which is the appropriate factor to do. They should construct to one thing, but it surely will not be a staff successful loads of video games this season. | — | 0-0-0 |
29 |
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This may be a win-or-else season for Brian Daboll. It should be a problem to win in division with quarterback questions. | — | 0-0-0 |
30 |
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They need to get on with it and play Drake Maye as a result of this staff is not going anyplace this season. For now, it is Jacoby Brissett’s staff. | — | 0-0-0 |
31 |
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Antonio Pierce might want to actually work some magic to get this staff to win seven video games. The roster is not nice. Gardner Minshew is not the reply at quarterback, both. | 7 | 0-0-0 |
32 |
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New coach Dave Canales faces a tricky problem to get Bryce Younger rotated. The roster is best, however they’re the fourth staff within the NFC South. | — | 0-0-0 |