Why everybody sleeping on the Chiefs?

Texans were only 3.5 dogs @ KC last visit....

@Jimmy_Cats

 KC defense is 12th overall in efficiency, 17th vs. pass and 9th vs. run.  RZ scoring 8th in league.  

 Last years' team was 7th overall, 5th vs. pass and 27th vs. run.  RZ scoring was same as this year at 8th.  

Also, I believe the 2023 SB winning KC defense also set the record for most games holding opponent under 20 points or less.  

So yes, they are slightly worse statistically than last year.  

Offensively the run game is basically the same.  This year 8th overall offense, 11th pass and 12th run.  

2023 they were 8th overall, 8th pass and 17th run.  So not "much worse" at all but "slightly better".  

Biggest difference offensively is this year WRs are catching the ball (one of worst historical drop rates ever last year) but more issues on the Oline, at Tackle specifically.  They seem to have adjusted with moving Thuney from G to LT but we'll see how this plays out in the playoffs, short term fix or something to worry about.  

Defensively, losing Watson at CB earlier this year forced All Pro McDuffie to play predominately outside instead of both inside & out matchups.  Watson was supposed to be out for the year but will be back now for this Super Bowl run.  

KC is peaking at right time, I believe it was something like KC finished the year with the 4 highest rated efficiency games of the year coming in last 5-6 games of the season.  They are fully healthy as well.  

Rematch of last years' AFCCG on deck at Arrowhead for next Sunday.... 

@kcblitzkrieg

The Chiefs are significantly worse than last season. Chiefs had 4.0 YP Rush this season and 4.3 yards last season. That's a fairly significant difference - especially given that 4.0 yards makes the Chiefs tied for 30th in the NFL. The Chiefs OFF Yards per Play is 5.1 this season and was 5.6 last season. DEF YPP this season of 5.3 this and 4.8 last season. One full yard in their YPP differential is a huge.

Yes, the Chiefs are peaking at the right time. I also foresee a Chiefs vs Ravens rematch for the AFC crown but I believe the Ravens win this one handily.

@Jimmy_Cats

 I like the KC / Ravens AFCCG rematch from last year as well.  My numbers were not raw stats, they were efficiency rankings from dvoa and are adjusted stats 

Lamar is yet to win in Arrowhead, or even play a playoff game there, no easy sleddings. It will be the toughest game of his career. Gonna be a battle for sure if Ravens can make it back to AFCC