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    Kansas City Chiefs 2024 Season Preview: Projected Depth Chart, Predictions for Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Co.

    Aiming for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat, the Kansas City Chiefs will have to navigate a rigorous 2024 NFL schedule.

    As Suzy Shuster said on her podcast “What the Football,” the Kansas City Chiefs‘ 2024 schedule is like looking at air traffic control. This season, the Chiefs will play a game on six different days of the week — six! Kansas City is the first team since the 2005 New England Patriots to go for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title, but the road to New Orleans will be daunting.

    Several marquee games will be broadcast on prime time and national television, including a three-games-in-11-day stretch culminating with a Christmas Day game at Pittsburgh. That comes just one month after a Black Friday rivalry matchup with the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. Not to mention, nine of the Chiefs’ 15 regular-season games are on the road.

    But with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and Andy Reid, the Chiefs are built for the rigors this season will present.

    Mahomes is knocking on the door to enter the conversation for the greatest quarterback in NFL history with Tom Brady. If he leads the Chiefs to a third straight Super Bowl title, he’ll become the first quarterback to accomplish that unprecedented feat and firmly be in that conversation. (Oh, and Brady will be calling Super Bowl LIX for FOX this coming February.)

    Will the Chiefs Become the First Team in NFL History To Win Three Straight Super Bowls?

    That is the most proverbial question going into the 2024 NFL season.

    The Chiefs will become the ninth team to go for a third straight Super Bowl title, but history is not on their side.

    None of the previous eight teams to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles even made it back to the stage a third consecutive time, let alone won it. Historically great teams like the 2000’s New England Patriots, 1990’s Dallas Cowboys, 1980’s San Francisco 49ers, 1970’s Pittsburgh Steelers, and 1960’s Green Bay Packers are prime examples of that.

    In 1990, the 49ers hosted the NFC Championship against the New York Giants and had the lead in the fourth quarter. Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor stripped the ball from San Francisco running back Roger Craig, setting up a game-winning field goal for the Giants to end the Niners’ run.

    No matter how great a team is, it is not immune to the pressure that comes with winning a third straight Super Bowl title. Accomplishing that in any sport is difficult.

    Mahomes, Kelce, Jones and Reid are all great — the best at their positions — but this will be a daunting challenge. In every game, they will get their opponent’s best shot. One thing is for sure, though: it will be fun to watch the Chiefs’ run at history unfold.

    Chiefs Projected Depth Chart

    Quarterback (3)

    Starter: Patrick Mahomes

    Backups: Carson Wentz, Chris Oladokun

    Running Back (3)

    Starter: Isiah Pacheco

    Backups: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Louis Rees-Zammit

    Fullback (1)

    Starter: Carson Steele

    Wide Receiver (6)

    Starters: Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice

    Backups: Justin Watson, Xavier Worthy, Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman

    Tight End (3)

    Starter: Travis Kelce

    Backups: Noah Gray, Jared Wiley

    Offensive Line (9)

    Starters: Kingsley Suamataia, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor

    Backups: Lucas Niang, C.J. Hanson, Hunter Nourzad, Wanya Morris

    Defensive Tackle (5)

    Starters: Chris Jones, Tershawn Wharton

    Backups: Neil Farrell, Mike Pennel, Fabien Lovett Sr.

    EDGE (5)

    Starters: George Karlaftis, Mike Danna

    Backups: Malik Herring, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Charles Omenihu

    Linebackers (6)

    Starters: Leo Chenal, Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill

    Backups: Cole Christiansen, Jack Cochrane, Curtis Jacobs

    Secondary (9)

    Starters: Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Justin Reid, Bryan Cook

    Backups: Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Jaden Hicks, Deon Bush, Chris Roland-Wallace

    Special Teams (3)

    Kicker: Harrison Butker

    Punter: Matt Araiza

    Long Snapper: James Winchester

    Chiefs’ Roster Changes

    The most impressive aspect to the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl in 2023 was they weren’t that great offensively. They were good, but they weren’t special like they were in the five seasons prior to 2023.

    Wide receiver, and all the drops from that group, was the biggest Achilles heel in 2023. Naturally, the Chiefs addressed the position in both free agency and the draft.

    It’s a sign of a championship organization: improving the roster even after back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Mahomes and Kelce made it clear on the victory set to CBS’s Jim Nantz, just minutes after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII, that they are fully invested in going for a Super Bowl three-peat. The Chiefs front office, with their moves in free agency and picks in the draft, have reciprocated their star players’ investments.

    Players Added:

    • QB Carson Wentz
    • RB/WR/ST Louis Rees-Zammit
    • WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown
    • TE Irv Smith Jr.
    • P Matt Araiza

    Players Lost:

    2024 Draft Class

    • 1st round, 28th pick: WR Xavier Worthy
    • 2nd round, 63rd pick: OT Kingsley Suamataia
    • 4th round, 131st pick: TE Jared Wiley
    • 4th round, 133rd pick: S Jaden Hicks
    • 5th round, 159th pick: OL Hunter Nourzad
    • 6th round, 211th pick: CB Kamal Hadden
    • 7th round, 248th pick: OL C.J. Hanson

    Chiefs’ Coaching Staff

    A big reason for Kansas City’s success over the last six seasons has been the continuity of the coaching staff. To illustrate its continuity, the Chiefs coaching staff has just one new member going into the 2024 season. Every other member is returning for at least their second season.

    Reid is the best and most successful head coach in the NFL, and there’s no denying that. His innovative offensive concepts are a huge reason Mahomes has had such a successful start to his career.

    In addition, Reid guiding the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the first two seasons post-Tyreek Hill trade is extremely impressive. Playmakers have come and gone over the last two years, but Reid, Mahomes, and Kelce have stayed the course and performed their best on the biggest stages. In Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs scored on their last four drives against the Niners’ defense.

    With all of that said, the Kansas City coaching staff’s success extends beyond Reid.

    MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor

    Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has now won four Super Bowl championships in his position. The Chiefs are known for their offense, but what Spagnuolo has done with the defense in his five seasons has been spectacular. After four seasons as Chicago Bears head coach, Matt Nagy came back to the Chiefs as a senior assistant and quarterbacks coach before taking over the offensive coordinator role in 2023, helping navigate the loss of Hill.

    Coaching matters in the NFL, and the Chiefs coaching staff continuity embodies that at the highest level.

    • Andy Reid, Head Coach
    • Dave Toub, Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator
    • Matt Nagy, Offensive Coordinator
    • Steve Spagnuolo, Defensive Coordinator
    • Rick Burkholder, Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance
    • Louie Addazio, Defensive Quality Control
    • Joe Bleymaier, Pass Game Coordinator
    • Terry Bradden, Assistant Defensive Line
    • Greg Carbin, Assistant Strength and Conditioning
    • Nick Cassetta, Assistant Strength and Conditioning
    • Joe Cullen, Defensive Line
    • Donald D’Alesio, Safeties
    • Brendan Daly, Linebackers
    • Porter Ellett, Assistant Running Backs
    • Connor Embree, Wide Receivers
    • Mike Frazier, Statistical Analysis Coordinator
    • David Girardi, Quarterbacks
    • Andy Heck, Offensive Line
    • Andy Hill, Assistant Special Teams
    • Corey Matthaei, Assistant Offensive Line
    • Tom Melvin, Tight Ends
    • Dave Merritt, Defensive Backs
    • Todd Pinkston, Running Backs
    • Spencer Reid, Assistant Strength and Conditioning
    • Ryan Reynolds, Head Strength and Conditioning/Director of Sports Science
    • Kevin Saxton, Offensive Assistant
    • Alex Whittingham, Defensive Quality Control
    • Dan Williams, Offensive Quality Control/Assistant Quarterbacks
    • Rod Wilson, Outside Linebackers

    Chiefs’ 2024 Season Schedule

    Pro Football Network’s Strength Schedule ranks the Chiefs with the 10th-easiest schedule in 2024. Playing against the NFC South and six division matchups — accounting for 10 of the 17 regular-season games — is a big reason.

    However, this schedule is more than just the teams they will take on. As mentioned, the Chiefs will play games on six different days of the week, so they’ll only have a Sunday-Sunday week six times; Kansas City will also play on a short week four times. Both of those abnormal work weeks can disrupt routines and alter game preparation.

    Add those on top of the pressure the Chiefs will face in going for a Super Bowl three-peat, and this schedule could prove to be anything but the 10th-easiest schedule in the NFL.

    One other thing to note: the Chiefs, along with the rest of the AFC, play nine road games this season vs. eight home games. However, the schedule opens with back-to-back games at Arrowhead, which means Kansas City will play nine road games in their following 15 contests after Week 2.

    2024 Season Prediction for the Chiefs

    There’s no denying the Chiefs improved this offseason. As scary as that might be to believe, they will be better in the regular season in 2024.

    Just like the Patriots won 17 AFC East titles during their dynasty, the Chiefs are on a similar streak with eight straight AFC West championships. Winning the division gives them at least one home playoff game, which is a huge advantage playing at Arrowhead.

    Whether you think the pressure will get to the Chiefs this season or not, they are going to be really good. There’s too much top-tier talent not to be.

    The first step towards a historic Super Bowl three-peat is winning the division. The Chiefs will do that, potentially with relative ease. Once the Chiefs accomplish that feat, we will see what their road to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX looks like.

    Record Prediction: 14-3 (1st in the AFC West)

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