Chiefs Still AFC 'Front-Runners' With 1 Huge Question Mark
Chiefs Still AFC 'Front-Runners' With 1 Huge Question Mark originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The AFC pecking order entering the 2025 season is fluid, and with the Kansas City Chiefs coming off a brutal Super Bowl loss and a so-so offseason, this might be the year the champs fall away.
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However, with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid as a quarterback/head coach combination, the Chiefs are still going to be a tough assignment, but the other teams in the AFC might smell blood in the water.
The AFC West has improved, and the Chiefs' aura of invincibility seems to have seen its shine taken off, but ESPN's Ryan Clark isn't about to throw in the towel yet.
Speaking on NFL Live, the former Pittsburgh Steeler still has the Chiefs at the top, but one thing still concerns him.
'I do think with the way that they've played year in and year out, showing up in the biggest moments, I do believe that they are the front runners,' Clark said. 'But we saw in that Super Bowl that if you don't protect Patrick Mahomes, it's extremely difficult for even the best in the business to operate.
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"I don't feel like they did enough in this off season so it will be interesting to see how this offensive line gels, because we know the Buffalo Bills the Baltimore Ravens and some of those other teams at the top of the AFC will be chomping at the bit to repeat what they saw the Eagles front do in the super bowl.'
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Four-year backup Jayon Moore and first-round pick Josh Simmons will occupy the left tackle spot, while Kingsley Suamataia, a left tackle last year, will shift inside to guard to take Joe Thuney's place.
That's a lot of moving parts for Mahomes to navigate, and most, like Clark, think the Chiefs' success in 2025 all boils down to whether the offensive line can adequately protect Mahomes.
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A total of 36 sacks in the regular season (career high) and another 11 in three playoff games point to a position in desperate need of improvement.
And just how well the unit meshes and gels together might determine how successful the 2025 season is for the Chiefs.
Related: Mahomes Issues Take On Kelce's Major Chiefs Move
Related: Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Reveals 'Ultimate Test' For Offense
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
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