The latest
3. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson may have overshadowed Mahomes at times last season, but he still reached the Super Bowl for the fifth time in seven seasons. And a porous offensive line and injury-riddled receiving unit may have cost Mahomes and the Chiefs the first three-peat in the modern era of pro football. But don’t be fooled: Mahomes remains the best player in the league. A load of motivation, an upgraded offensive line and a healthy wide receiver corps have him positioned to rebound in a mighty way. Is a third MVP crown and fourth Lombardi trophy in his immediate future?
Kansas City Chiefs
Over 11.5 (+110) | Under 11.5 (-130)
Dubin: Over 11.5. Kansas City has won 12-plus games in six of Patrick Mahomes’ seven seasons as the starter. I continue to list the Over for the Chiefs as my favorite bet in this exercise, basically every year. It’s like they’re giving money away.
Chances to make the playoffs: 74.8%
Chances to win division: 46.8%
Projected wins: 10.3
Strength of schedule: 11th hardest (tie)
2024 record: 15-2Biggest strength: The Chiefs have Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, which is still the best coach-quarterback combination in the league. Mahomes was excellent in camp and has worked to improve his deep-ball passing. Reid and Mahomes are capable of adjusting during a game or the middle of the season to always give the Chiefs a chance to win. — Nate Taylor
Biggest concern: The Chiefs plan to protect the blind side of Mahomes with a rookie and a second-year player switching to a new position. Josh Simmons, the first-round pick, hasn’t played a game since October, when he sustained a season-ending torn patella in his last year at Ohio State. Kingsley Suamataia is the new left guard and has played one NFL game at the position. How Simmons and Suamataia perform this season will determine much of the Chiefs’ success on offense. — Taylor
QB stat to know: If Mahomes reaches the AFC Championship Game for an eighth consecutive season, he would match Tom Brady (2011-18) for the longest streak of conference championship starts since the 1970 merger. — ESPN Research
(20 votes: Abdoo, Baca, Band, Battista, Bhanpuri, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Florio, Gonzales, Gordon, Holzman-Escareno, Jones-Drew, Koplowitz-Fleming, Kownack, Parr, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Shook.)
Denver Broncos (+250) | 8 votes: Andrade, Bergman, Blair, Edholm, Filice, Okada, Patra, Rank.
Los Angeles Chargers (+350) | 1 vote: Zierlein.
Perhaps the Chiefs are headed for some regression after they had so many close wins last season but suffered a shellacking against the Eagles for the title. But it’s hard to doubt a franchise that has reached five of the past six Super Bowls, including three in a row. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes appears to have more offensive support this season, even with wide receiver Rashee Rice being suspended for the first six games. Their strong defense also returns 13 of its top 15 snap-getters from 2024.
Around the NFL
Bland, 26, set an NFL record in 2023 when he returned five of his league-best nine interceptions for touchdowns. He was limited to seven games last season because of a stress reaction in his left foot that required surgery, and he did not have an interception.
“He does have incredible ball skills, but I also think he’s got incredible instincts,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said Sunday. “His ability to study the game and his knowledge of the game for a young player, relatively young, are uncanny. Like his ability to read splits and anticipate routes and things like that, I always think of Stephon Gilmore. … Those guys as they get older, and they maybe lose a little bit of a step or something so they have to learn how to read splits and things like that, but DaRon’s just always had the ability to process things very quickly.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Unfortunately, just $2.6 million of his $4.4 million cap hit in 2025 comes from his salary. This means there is little room for general manager Brett Veach to create much cap relief for the current season, when we now estimate the team has only $3.1 million in cap space — in large part because the team now has eight players on its Reseerve/Injured list. That substantiallty reduces the pressure on Veach to get an extension done before the season gets under way against the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday.
For his part, McDuffie remains unconcerned about it.
“I feel like moving forward now, even, it’s really just about the season and about the game,” the cornerback told reporters on Sunday. “I’m not too worried about the contract or anything like that… Let’s just go out there and have a great year this year.”
Social media to make you think
Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media
- Facebook: Like our page
- Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
- X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
- AP Staff on X: See complete list
- Sports Radio 810 on X: Follow @SportsRadio810
24 CommentsSee More:
