With the Chiefs defeating the Ravens 34-20, are the Chiefs now the best team in the AFC?
Hello again everyone and welcome to another week of the ArrowChop! This is the column where we look at the positives/negatives of a certain Chiefs/NFL issue and look at both sides of the aisle. Then you, the readers, will come to your conclusions after I lay out the case. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as we breakdown this week’s hot topic.
In my last column, I asked if Chiefs’ fans should be worried heading into yesterday’s game against the Ravens; apparently, they shouldn’t have been as the Chiefs have defeated the Ravens 34-20 in an exciting matchup. The Ravens’ defense had no answers for the Chiefs’ explosive offense and Lamar Jackson couldn’t throw it around as he has before. With the Ravens’ utter failure of a game, should the Chiefs be considered the best team in the AFC? Let’s break down both sides of the aisle to see which side has more truth.
The Chiefs are the best team in the AFC
This first point looms over yesterday’s game as they defeated a team gunning for not only a first-round bye, but the AFC crown itself. Besides the Chiefs, the Ravens had some of the best odds to win the AFC at +325, so they were easy favorites heading into it; moreover, many experts had the Ravens winning last night as well. If you watched the game last night, you could easily see who the better team was in terms of play-calling, efficiency, and so on. The Ravens, who were thought to be this great team, will always live under the Chiefs’ shadow until they beat them.
The second point directly leers at the play-calling that was done last night. The shovel pass from Mahomes to Sherman, the wildcat formation pass play to Edwards-Helaire, the touchdown pass to Eric Fisher, and the way the Chiefs contained Jackson were pinnacle examples of this. Reid, Bieniemy, Spagnuolo, and the entire coaching staff knows what they’re achieving from these plays, so one could assume that we’ll see this more often. The NFL would be a lot more enjoyable if this were the case.
The third and final point falls on the man, the myth, the legend: Patrick Mahomes II. 385 yards passing, 26 yards rushing (with some spectacular first-down runs), and five total touchdowns on the day can sum up this point easily, but shall we solidify this point further? If you said yes, I’m glad you asked.
Mahomes was able to lob it up over defenders with ease (the Hill touchdown catch and the Hardman touchdown catch were prime examples), to escape from the pressure the Ravens used as he was able to turn it into gigantic plays, to know who and when to throw it to, and many more! Mahomes II is an unstoppable force of nature that can’t be tamed by no team and I’m sure you can ask the Ravens and their fans that tonight, tomorrow, and the number of days into the future. It’s only three weeks into the season and Chiefs’ fans are excited to see what happens throughout the rest of it.
The Chiefs are not the best team in the AFC
The majority on this side of the aisle believes that it’s too early to call and this derives from a lot of other extraordinary teams:
The New England Patriots: While they may be 2-1, the Patriots’ only loss came to a dominant and undefeated Seahawks squad who is proving their worth through these three games. The Chiefs play them next week, so this could prove that the Chiefs are the best in the AFC if they’re able to win. If they were able to contain Jackson who is known for his mobility, it could be assumed that the Chiefs might be able to keep Newton and that offense under wraps (even though it’ll be a tough task to complete).
The Tennessee Titans: Ah the Titans, who were the famous 6th-seed who almost made it to the Super Bowl, yet they were defeated by none other than the Chiefs. They’re doing extremely well for themselves as they’re also sitting at 3-0 along with the Chiefs. While they might not be facing off against each other in the regular season, there’s still a chance that they’ll duel in the playoffs. It’ll be an exciting matchup if that’s the case as Derrick Henry can cause nightmares for any defense, Tannehill can sling it as well as many other top-tier quarterbacks, and Mike Vrabel’s playcalling is something that should be feared when any team is up against them.
The Buffalo Bills: Another impressive team that the Chiefs will face off against is the 3-0 Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen has been something else this season ranks second among all quarterbacks in passing yards (1,038) which has helped them cement their unblemished record. While the defense was picked apart against the Rams on Sunday, they could still give the Chiefs’ offense an unforgettable bout.
In closing, that’s the case for if the Chiefs are the best team in the AFC. What are your thoughts on this? Leave a comment down below to join the discussion.
Thanks for reading and have an amazing day!
merry Christmas…