The Kansas City Chiefs have long been a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. Their recent success is nothing short of remarkable, with three Super Bowl wins in the past six seasons. But are they truly unbeatable? Let's take a closer look at the Chiefs and their path to Super Bowl 59.

Why the Football Gods Favor the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs seem to have the football gods on their side. They have an uncanny ability to find ways to win, which is evident in their four appearances in the last five Super Bowls, winning three of them. This kind of consistency is rare and gives them a significant edge over their opponents.Patrick Mahomes has been the driving force behind the Chiefs' success. His exceptional passing skills and ability to lead his team in crucial moments have made him one of the best quarterbacks in the league. His 90.1 passing grade on third down this season is the highest among all quarterbacks, and his 148 dropbacks without a turnover-worthy play are the most. These stats speak volumes about his talent and reliability.However, it wasn't always smooth sailing for the Chiefs. Before Andy Reid took over in 2013, the team had a rough patch from 1999 to 2012. They went a combined 98-126 during those 14 seasons and had an 0-3 record in the postseason. In fact, they had lost eight consecutive postseason games before Reid led them to a win in the wild-card round in 2015.

Ranking the Chiefs Among the Greatest Franchises

In terms of recent success, the Kansas City Chiefs have been indisputably the most successful franchise. Since handing the reins to Patrick Mahomes in 2018, they've won three Super Bowls, played in a fourth, and lost in overtime of the AFC Championship Game in the other two years. This is an impressive feat, especially when compared to other franchises in the NBA and NFL.While the NBA has produced six different champions during the same period, the Chiefs have either won or almost won six titles in a row. This shows their dominance and ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

How to Defeat the Chiefs

Cleveland linebackers have been surprisingly good in coverage this season, especially against the Steelers. Jordan Hicks, Mohamoud Diabate, and Devin Bush need to have another effective performance against the Chiefs if they want to slow down the Mahomes to Kelce connection.Jim Schwartz might choose to play more man-coverage in the secondary to make it "harder" for Kansas City's pass-catchers. Playing man coverage forces receivers and tight ends to physically beat the defender and find ways to get themselves open, whereas zone coverage puts more pressure on the quarterback to find the open man.Taking away the holes for Travis Kelce to sit in at the 2nd level could be the most effective way to defend him for Cleveland. If the Browns can limit Kelce's production, they'll have a better chance of beating the Chiefs.

Betting on the Chiefs

I'm also considering betting on the under 43.5 in Cleveland. The Chiefs look to continue their luck streak, but I'm not sure how they'll block Myles Garrett and how Jameis Winston will avoid crippling interceptions. Given that both teams have kicking issues and the Lake Erie winds can be unforgiving, I'll take my chances with the under.

Where the 2024 Chiefs Rank Among Worst 12-1 Teams

Even the worst 12-1 teams are very good, as evidenced by the 2020 Kansas City Chiefs. They led the NFL in both DVOA and point differential when they were 12-1, but their schedule through 13 games was the fourth easiest based on the average DVOA of their opponents.In the playoffs, the Chiefs narrowly beat Cleveland after backup quarterback Chad Henne had to come in for an injured Mahomes. They then had a convincing victory over the Bills in the AFC Championship Game but lost starting left tackle Eric Fisher to a torn Achilles tendon. This compounded earlier injuries and led to their Super Bowl loss.

Other NFL News

The San Francisco Niners are looking for the best way to part ways with De'Vondre Campbell. His decision to not play in Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Rams angered Shanahan and many of his teammates. As of Friday morning, the Niners had not determined exactly how they will handle the situation, but it's clear that Campbell's actions were unacceptable.Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss announced a cancer diagnosis and underwent a six-hour surgery. A cancerous mass was found in his bile duct, and he had surgery to put a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving and then underwent a more extensive procedure to remove the cancer. He is now recovering and has thanked his "prayer warriors" for their support.In the NFL Week 15 predictions, the late afternoon window is expected to be the most entertaining. The Detroit Lions will host the Buffalo Bills, the Philadelphia Eagles will welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Indianapolis Colts will try to keep their postseason chances alive against the Denver Broncos. Each matchup has the potential to be a close one, and fans are in for a treat.

Chiefs Roster and Defensive Backs

Despite some one-off weaknesses in coverage, the Chiefs' secondary has had some strong performances recently. In the 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the defensive backs showed great discipline and held the Chargers to only 194 passing yards.Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo emphasizes "eye discipline" with his defensive backfield. Back-end guys get their eyes tested to ensure they can handle play-action passes and not be fooled by the offense. This attention to detail is crucial in preventing explosive passing plays.