Chiefs 2025 collapse hasn't prevented KC from ruling the decade

Prior to last season's collapse, the Kansas City Chiefs had never fallen short of the AFC Championship in the Patrick Mahomes era. For years on end, despite the injuries, bad luck, and so many factors that go into football games, the Chiefs still found a way to stay on top. And the hope going into a new year is that 2025 was simply a blip on an otherwise exceptional resume.

This was exposed by DraftKings Sports, which dialed the clock back to 2016 to see which teams had the best record since. Kansas City sits at the top of the ranking with 56 wins and is one of only two teams to have reached the 50-win mark. Kansas City accomplished this despite the year factoring in two seasons without Mahomes and last year's drop to just six victories.

Kansas City has so far and away been the league's best team that a slanted sample size isn't needed to prove this point. The Chiefs can include the final two Alex Smith seasons and last year and still have the best record. New England and Baltimore round out the top four with 49 wins each, leaning on the end of the Tom Brady era and the start of Lamar Jackson's tenure for their respective accomplishments.

Chiefs decade-long dominance proves they should not be doubted

Pundits have spent much of the summer doubting the Chiefs based simply on the fact that greatness is boring. Last year gave analysts a reason to look at different rosters and doubt the Chiefs can continue to reach their lofty standard. With that said, Kansas City has a long winning history stretching over the last decade, pointing to there being a clear downside to doubting a franchise that has had a hold on the league.

Now, the chances that the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl for the sixth time in the Mahomes-era this season are certainly lower than in most years with the signal-caller coming off a torn ACL and so many young, unproven players.

In many ways, it is fair to wonder if last season was oddly positive for the Chiefs, as it gave the franchise a chance to reset. There are no longer incredibly high expectations across the board, as the team has an elusive chance to embrace an underdog role.

One that doesn't truly fit reality when you look at the reality of what the team has been like not only under Mahomes, but also in Andy Reid's earlier days as well. The Chiefs are the best team over the last decade, and this is a fact fans and pundits would do well not to forget.

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