Are we currently experiencing the gradual decline of the Kansas City Chiefs?

Are we currently experiencing the gradual decline of the Kansas City Chiefs?
Maybe this can be a big overreaction, particularly since the Kansas City Chiefs simply received their second Tremendous Bowl in 4 years, however maybe the starting of a small decline for this group is on the horizon. Whenever you take Patrick Mahomes out of the image and take a look at the relaxation of the roster, it is fairly beneath common for my part.
Exterior of Travis Kelce, who’s in his mid-30s, the Chiefs haven’t got a lot else on offense. Their inside offensive line is stable, however that is about it. Their protection can be a bit iffy on paper. Exterior of Chris Jones, who continues to be holding out over a contract dispute, the Chiefs’ protection is fairly beneath common on paper as effectively.
Maybe I’m completely flawed and people studying this are already rolling their eyes, however I actually do not suppose the Chiefs have an awesome roster. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid could be the finest QB/HC duo in NFL historical past when it is all mentioned and finished. Reid could be a top-five head coach of all time, and Mahomes may already be an all-time nice. The chance of an NFL group having that sort of set-up with their QB and HC is just about unattainable, however the Chiefs have it.
I feel they elevate the relaxation of the group a lot you can’t actually quantify it. Nicely, maybe the Chiefs will not be pretty much as good this 12 months as they had been in earlier years. Their finest defensive participant by a longshot, Chris Jones, has nonetheless not reported to the group over a contract dispute, and the Chiefs play a recreation on Thursday, so this holdout appears to be real from Jones.
With out having Jones in the center of that protection, the Chiefs’ D is just not a great unit. Their cross rush takes an enormous hit and I do not suppose they’ve a very good secondary anyway. After which, one other harm popped up, this time with their finest playmaker on offense, Travis Kelce.
#Chiefs star TE Travis Kelce’s standing is unsure for Thursday evening’s opener vs. the #Lions as a result of of his knee harm, however sources inform me and @TomPelissero it’s not believed to be a long-term harm. They’ll await swelling to go down and go from there. pic.twitter.com/pzuOYz2wt2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2023
Knee accidents are not any joke, and my wager is that the Chiefs maintain Kelce out of Week 1 and see how his knee feels after that recreation. There’s a actual chance that KC goes into Week 1 with out Chris Jones and Travis Kelce, their second and third-best gamers. Travis Kelce additionally turns 34 in October, so his age is most positively one thing that might catch as much as him this 12 months.
Sure, since Mahomes continues to be in the equation, the Chiefs will at all times be close to the prime of the league, however maybe we’ll see this group decline just a bit bit this 12 months. Possibly I am means off and perhaps this group will once more win a ton of video games and make a deep playoff run. However the AFC is massively gifted, and I am undecided the Chiefs have a top-five roster on paper in the AFC. Additionally, contemplate some extra up-and-coming groups in the convention that might additionally make some noise.
Here is hoping the Chiefs decline a bit in 2023.
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