Kansas City Chiefs: Biggests threats in the AFC in 2019
By Gage Stagner
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the favorites in the AFC for the 2019 season. Who could threaten them when the playoffs come around?
Football is back, but is the 2018 Kansas City Chiefs defense back with it? Though there are many new faces, the first preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals looked all too similar to the abysmal Dee Ford led unit last year.
For the Chiefs to take that next step and reach the pinnacle of the National Football League, Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark will have to be at least serviceable this year against a stacked AFC.
The five biggest threats to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC in 2019 may be a little harder to guess than one would imagine. After ruling the AFC West for three consecutive seasons, the Chiefs may struggle to reign supreme once again.
Let’s start with a team that is being hyped like crazy this offseason.
THE HYPE TRAIN – Cleveland Browns
Now, now, I know what you are saying, but this is solely based on a feeling that Baker Mayfield will take a big leap in year two. That leap will be assisted by one of the best receivers in football, some guy named Odell?
It’s not just Beckham though that should scare a putrid Chiefs secondary, it’s the entire Cleveland offense. Nick Chubb is also primed for a second year leap and was sensational in his rookie campaign; Jarvis Landry is a stud and will actually benefit with Beckham taking some premium coverage off of him; David Njoku is another breakout candidate and then there’s Kareem Hunt who will be available from week ten on into the potential playoffs. Kansas City fans remember how good he is.
This offense is loaded with sky-high potential, and while they may not have the high floor of teams as consistent as the division rival Steelers, but their ceiling is why the Chiefs should be very worried to see them in the playoffs. All those new and improved toys are too much for many defenses to handle, let alone Kansas City’s.