Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs. (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
One ESPN NFL insider believes the Kansas City Chiefs may have what it takes to go undefeated.
Not since the 1972 Miami Dolphins has an NFL team navigated a season to perfection, but many people believe the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs could do so this fall.
On Wednesday morning’s installment of Get Up!, ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington expressed how bullish he is on the Chiefs this season. He said he has no idea when the Chiefs could lose their first game of the year, possibly hinting at them joining the 1972 Dolphins as the only teams to go undefeated during the Super Bowl era. So should we buy into the Chiefs’ undefeated hype or not?
The 2007 New England Patriots nearly did it, but lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl 42.
"I don't know when to project [the Chiefs will lose] a game. Honestly, I am so bullish on the Kansas City Chiefs that yes, we should be wondering if this team can go undefeated this year."
—@JeffDarlington 🌾👀🌾 pic.twitter.com/bGbPQJkeU7
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 18, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs could be in the mix to go undefeated this NFL season
While Darlington’s argument of not seeing a loss on the Chiefs schedule is justifiable, nobody is going undefeated in the NFL anymore. If the 2007 Patriots couldn’t get it done, nobody ever will. Factor in the 2021 campaign having a 17th regular-season game, and that makes this all the more impossible. Keep in mind the 1972 Dolphins only played 14 regular-season games during their run.
While going 17-0 would guarantee the Chiefs the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and they would not have to play in the wild card round, they will have stiff competition in-conference this year. Teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns loom large. There are also three teams in the AFC West who would want nothing more than to ruin the Chiefs’ perfect season bid.
Look for Kansas City to win somewhere around 13-14 regular-season games this season.