In abnormal season, Chiefs’ repeat bid may be buoyed by experience
The Kansas City Chiefs have an odd advantage going into the 2020 NFL season.
With the coronavirus tragically raging on in the United States, the NFL has been forced to make OTAs and minicamps virtual. The preseason is reportedly being cut back to two games, and the NFLPA wants it eliminated completely. Additionally, rosters won’t be the traditional 90 players but somewhere between 75-80 players, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
All this change could be tough for teams with new coaches and/or quarterback to overcome. Reps and chemistry have been in short supply. Conversely, though, teams who have been together for a long time may benefit considering they don’t need to build up from scratch.
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Kansas City won the Super Bowl last season for the first time in 50 years. Somehow, general manager Brett Veach was able to bring back 20 of 22 starters, only losing guard Stefen Wisniewski and corner/safety Kendall Fuller. The Chiefs also return their entire coaching staff, including coordinators Eric Bieniemy and Steve Spagnuolo.
In short. Kansas City is starting from a point most teams only dream of. Now add in arguably the most talented roster in the league with loads of experience and the best quarterback on earth in Patrick Mahomes. One hell of a combination.
In Vegas, the Chiefs are already the odds-on favorites to repeat. With training camp opening up on July 28, it’s quite likely they will remain so going into the first practice for every team. If Kansas City can find a way to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at season’s end, it’ll be the first team to repeat since the 2003-04 New England Patriots.
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Additionally, Kansas City is in a division where change has been prevalent elsewhere. The Denver Broncos are giving the starting quarterback job to Drew Lock, who only has five games under his belt. The Los Angeles Chargers have a new signal-caller in either Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert. The Las Vegas Raiders are in a new city and have myriad new defensive parts.
Of course, winning a second consecutive Super Bowl won’t be easy. Like every teams, there’s the risk of injury and the constant struggle to remain hungry after winning it all. Almost every player on the roster has a ring now, so do they push the same as before? It remains to be seen.
Still, in one of the strangest seasons the league has ever seen, any team with experience together has a leg up. The Kansas City Chiefs, who had an incredibly low amount of turnover, certainly qualify.
