At 10-1, the Kansas City Chiefs have the record of a juggernaut, even if they don’t have the look of a juggernaut. That was on display for all to see in Week 12, when the Chiefs played the lowly Panthers and needed a last-second field goal from backup kicker Spencer Shrader to escape with a victory.
Despite all that winning, the Chiefs have a point differential here in 2024 of plus-52, which is just 11th in the NFL. By way of comparison, the Lions are tops in point differntial at plus-177, while the Commanders are in the Chiefs’ neighborhood at plus-57, yet are just 7-5.
Eight of the Chiefs’ wins have been one-score games.
Yet, they’ve landed the best record in the NFL, which is an indication that they’ve had some luck along the way, but also that this is just a wily, experienced group that knows how to execute in tight games.
That, it turns out, can get under the skin of opponents. Asked on the “Monday Night Countdown” show on ESPN ahead of the Ravens-Chiefs game about playing the Chiefs in the past, former Eagles center Jason Kelce–brother of Kansas City star Travis Kelce–had two words to describe playing the Chiefs.
“It’s annoying,” he said, “is what it is.”
That’s understandable. The Chiefs’ last three wins have all come on the final play of the game. There’s going to be some annoyance when opponents keep getting the team on the ropes, but the Chiefs keep winning.
“He’s so good, that’s why, they’re very good, is what it is,” Kelce said of the Chiefs and his brother. “I was fortunate to beat Trav once. You’re out there on the field and you’re getting ready to play your brother. There’s just something about seeing your brother out there that–you get these flashbacks going, to being out there in the backyard playing football again.”
The Chiefs were 5-1 against the Eagles during Kelce’s career, including a win in Super Bowl LVIII.
The “Monday Night Football” game featured a pair of brothers, too, in Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and Ravens coach John Harbaugh.