1. Home
  3. Sport

Chiefs predictions at NFL midseason: Kansas City will host Ravens in AFC title game rematch

7 November 2024Last Update :
Chiefs predictions at NFL midseason: Kansas City will host Ravens in AFC title game rematch

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs have an unblemished 8-0 record.

The Chiefs are at the midway point of the regular season as they prepare to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Similar to last season, the defense is the Chiefs’ best unit, holding opponents to 18.4 points per game, the fourth fewest in the NFL.

At this time last season — one that ended with the Chiefs becoming the NFL’s first repeat champion in two decades — we made five predictions for the rest of that year.

Looking back, we were correct with four predictions: The AFC Championship Game was not played at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs defense did indeed finish in the top five in three categories (points allowed, sacks and splash plays from dime personnel), the offense didn’t lead the league in giveaways and the Chiefs did have a rematch with the Miami Dolphins in the postseason. The lone prediction we missed was on tight end Travis Kelce finishing last season with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

Here are five predictions for the rest of the Chiefs’ 2024 season:

The Chiefs will earn home-field advantage in the postseason

The Chiefs already have a sizable lead in the AFC standings. Because of their season-opening victory, the Chiefs have essentially a four-game lead on the Baltimore Ravens, who might be their biggest threat in the conference. Other contenders, such as the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, have two losses. The Chiefs can create even greater distance in the standings with victories later this season against the Bills (Nov. 17), the Houston Texans (Dec. 21) and the Steelers (Dec. 25).

Another path for the Chiefs to secure the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed and home-field advantage is by sweeping their divisional rivals. After last year’s four-game postseason run, in which Aaron Schatz, the chief analytics officer of FTN Network and inventor of DVOA, said the Chiefs faced the hardest-ever postseason road to a championship, based on the regular-season DVOA of their opponents, Mahomes and his teammates are motivated to take a different path this year.

“I pride myself on being able to throw in any condition,” Mahomes said Monday after the Chiefs’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “That’s something that’s an advantage at Arrowhead. If it’s raining, snowing, cold or hot, I want to be the best thrower of the ball on the field. That’s why we want home-field advantage and the playoffs to come through Arrowhead because it’s a special place and you have to be able to play in every environment.”

Travis Kelce will not reach 1,000 yards

Kelce, 35, and playing in his 12th season, doesn’t need to carry the load for the Chiefs offense. The most important factor for Mahomes and coach Andy Reid is that Kelce is healthy for the playoffs.

In the last two games, Kelce had 24 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown. It’s hard to see him maintaining that statistical pace in the second half of the season. If the Chiefs do wrap up the AFC’s top playoff spot, Kelce could once again rest in the final game or two of the regular season.

Another reason Kelce might finish closer to 900 yards than 1,000 is the opportunities for rookie receiver Xavier Worthy should increase and veteran receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (right hamstring) and Marquise Brown (left shoulder) could return to the lineup.

DeAndre Hopkins will lead the Chiefs in receiving touchdowns

OK, this could be a knee-jerk reaction after Hopkins’ impressive start since the Chiefs acquired him from the Tennessee Titans. At the same time, though, Hopkins is the Chiefs’ most sure-handed receiver and can still win one-on-one matchups, which is what he did in scoring two touchdowns against the Buccaneers.

Did you know Worthy leads the Chiefs with just three receiving touchdowns? Hopkins should see his snaps increase and his chemistry with Mahomes grow in the second half. When the Chiefs are in the red zone, most opponents will still focus their attention on Kelce or the speedy Worthy, which should lead to plenty of opportunities for Mahomes to find Hopkins in the end zone.

Trent McDuffie will finally get an interception

As strange as this might be, this could be our boldest prediction. McDuffie is one of the Chiefs’ best players, a talented cornerback who is great in coverage, can make strong open-field tackles and has five pass breakups this season. As a three-year player, McDuffie is still looking for his first career interception.

The odds are on McDuffie’s side. At some point, an opposing quarterback will make a mistake when McDuffie is in coverage. It could be Broncos rookie Bo Nix.

“I told him this before: He got voted All-Pro last year, and I thought that was the (highest) compliment to a DB that did not have an interception,” coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said in training camp. “He does a lot of things really (well), and I guarantee you he’s got his eyeballs on trying to get a couple picks this year.”

The AFC title game will be a thrilling rematch against Ravens

Let’s do this one again, because the possibility is too intriguing. A rematch in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead could be the best game of the 2024 NFL season.

If the Chiefs are victorious, they will reach the Super Bowl for the fourth time in six years. The win would also put the franchise just one victory away from capturing an unprecedented third straight Lombardi Trophy.

If the Ravens win, they would avenge last year’s loss in Baltimore. Quarterback Lamar Jackson would lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl for the first time in his illustrious career. And the Ravens would be the team to dethrone the Chiefs, ending their two-year reign.

Also think about this: The game could feature as many as 13 future Hall of Famers — Mahomes, Kelce, Hopkins, Jackson, defensive tackle Chris Jones, left guard Joe Thuney, kicker Harrison Butker, center Creed Humphrey, running back Derrick Henry, kicker Justin Tucker, safety Kyle Hamilton, coach Andy Reid and coach John Harbaugh.

(Photo of Patrick Mahomes: Denny Medley / Imagn Images)

Recent