Chiefs enter 2020 as favorites to win Super Bowl again
By Matt Conner
After winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years, the Kansas City Chiefs are aiming to repeat as the preseason favorite in Vegas sportsbooks.
Best-case scenario
Running it back. The Chiefs enter the new season as odds-on favorites to repeat in 2020, and given their ability to unexpectedly retain so many starters from the Super Bowl LIV roster, there’s no reason to believe they can’t pull it off.
They have the game’s best player at the most important position of all. They employ a genius of a head coach with a full staff returning from a championship parade. And in a disruptive offseason, no franchise is blessed with more continuity.
Worst-case scenario
The presence of Patrick Mahomes keeps even the worst-case scenario from becoming too dire. That said, injuries or inconsistency could plague them at thin spots along the offensive interior, linebacker, and cornerback.
A year ago, they were able to overcome those same concerns, but they were also close to losing in three straight rounds in the playoffs. A first-round upset would be worst-case scenario here.
Biggest offseason move
The Chiefs’ decision to retain so many players should allow them to avoid the growing pains and chemistry concerns so many other teams should have. That includes players like Sammy Watkins, Bashaud Breeland, Demarcus Robinson and more.
Draft pick who makes the big impact
Clyde Edwards-Helaire will draw the most attention as the first back taken in the draft, but L’Jarius Sneed has a sneaky chance to step into a starting cornerback role for a team perilously thin at the position even before Breeland’s early-season suspension.
Watch the fourth-round pick to earn more snaps than expected.
Overall expectations
Every NFL team has roster concerns or thin positions and the Chiefs are no different. However, Kansas City also has very legitimate reasons to believe it can win the Lombardi Trophy in 2020 and beyond. The NFL is set up to break up dynasties, but the Chiefs are hungry to make history.
Until a team like the Baltimore Ravens prove they can beat Kansas City on the field, the AFC is the Chiefs’ to lose. From there, the Chiefs should feel good about their ability to match up with the likes of the New Orleans Saints or San Francisco 49ers.
It’s hard to picture anything but a No. 1 seed, a deep playoff run, and a good chance to repeat in Super Bowl LV.