Today is the opening day of the NFL season, where the back-to-back defending champion Chiefs will take on the Ravens tonight at 8:20 p.m. on NBC. The Chiefs will start their campaign for a third consecutive Super Bowl, which would make them the only team to ever accomplish this feat. With that said, there is a reason it has never been done, so let’s take a look at three teams that can dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC.
- New York Jets
Last season the Zach Wilson-lead Jets took the Chiefs to the brink in a game they narrowly one by the score of 23-20. The Jets will finally have Aaron Rodgers healthy this season and that will make all the difference. The Jet’s top defense got even better this offseason signing Javon Kinlaw and bringing back Chuck Clark. There’s no question that the Jets’ defense can give them a chance to win, even against a team like KC. The only question is will the offense be able to score this season, and with Rodgers back under center and some new receivers; that answer is yes.
- Buffalo Bills
For the last three or four seasons, Bills-Chiefs has been a game that all NFL fans have circled on the schedule. It has truly become one of the modern-age rivalries in this league. Mahomes is 4-3 against Josh Allen head-to-head and always seems to best him in the playoffs. Although the Bills lost some talent from last year, they still have Allen and head coach Sean McDermott and with that duo, I’ll always give them a chance to win, even against the champs.
- Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals play a fourth-place schedule this season, allowing them to win upwards of 11 games this season. If the Bengals can do this, it could give them home games in January. Having a home-field advantage against Mahomes in the playoffs could be enough for the only active QB to beat Mahomes in the playoffs to do it once again. Burrow is the only man for the job and is who I see as having the best shot to take down the repeat champions.
