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    • Chiefs Predictions During NFL Midseason: Kansas City Will Host Ravens In AFC Title Game Rematch
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    Chiefs Predictions During NFL Midseason: Kansas City Will Host Ravens In AFC Title Game Rematch

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    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs have an unblemished 8-0 record.

    The Chiefs are in the middle of the regular season and preparing to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday. As was the case last season, the defense is the Chiefs’ best unit, allowing 18.4 points per game to opponents, fourth-lowest in the NFL.

    This time last season — a season that ended with the Chiefs becoming the NFL’s first repeat champions in two decades — we made five predictions for the rest of that year.

    Looking back, we were right with four predictions: the AFC Championship Game wasn’t played at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs defense did indeed finish in the top five in three categories (points allowed, sacks and dime personnel splash plays), the offense didn’t lead the league did not enter giveaways and the Chiefs had a rematch with the Miami Dolphins in the postseason. The only prediction we missed was that Travis Kelce finished last season with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

    Here are five predictions for the remainder of the 2024 Chiefs season:

    The Chiefs will have home field advantage in the postseason

    The Chiefs already have a significant lead in the AFC standings. Because of their season-opening win, the Chiefs essentially have a four-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens, who may be their biggest threat in the conference. Other contenders, such as the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, have two losses. The Chiefs can create even more distance in the standings with wins later this season against the Bills (November 17), the Houston Texans (December 21) and the Steelers (December 25).

    Another way for the Chiefs to secure the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed and home court advantage is to beat their division rivals. After last year’s four-game postseason run, in which Aaron Schatz, the chief analytics officer of FTN Network and inventor of DVOA, said the Chiefs faced the toughest postseason road to a championship based on their opponents’ DVOA into the regular season , Mahomes and his teammates are motivated to take a different path this year.

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    “I pride myself on being able to throw in all conditions,” Mahomes said Monday after the Chiefs’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “That’s something that’s an advantage at Arrowhead. When it’s raining, snowing, cold or hot, I want to be the best ball thrower on the field. That’s why we want home field advantage and the playoffs to come through Arrowhead, because it’s a special place and you should be able to play in any environment.”

    Travis Kelce won’t reach 1,000 meters

    Kelce, 35, and in his 12th season, doesn’t have to carry the load for the Chiefs offense. The most important factor for Mahomes and coach Andy Reid is that Kelce is healthy for the playoffs.

    In the last two games, Kelce has 24 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown. It’s hard to see him maintaining that statistical pace in the second half of the season. If the Chiefs clinch the top spot in the AFC playoffs, Kelce could rest again in the final two games of the regular season.

    Another reason why Kelce could finish closer to 900 yards than 1,000 is that opportunities for rookie receiver Xavier Worthy should increase and veteran receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (right hamstring) and Marquise Brown (left shoulder) could return to the setup.

    DeAndre Hopkins will lead the Chiefs in receiving touchdowns

    Okay, this could be a knee-jerk reaction after Hopkins’ impressive start since the Chiefs acquired him from the Tennessee Titans. At the same time, though, Hopkins is the Chiefs’ most confident receiver and can still win one-on-one games, which he did by scoring two touchdowns against the Buccaneers.

    Did you know Worthy leads the Chiefs with just three receiving touchdowns? Hopkins should see his snaps increase and his chemistry with Mahomes grow in the second half. When the Chiefs are in the red zone, most opponents will still focus their attention on Kelce or the speedy Worthy, which should provide plenty of opportunities for Mahomes to find Hopkins in the end zone.

    Trent McDuffie finally gets an interception

    As strange as this may be, this could be our boldest prediction. McDuffie is one of the Chiefs’ best players, a talented cornerback with great coverage, strong open-field tackling and five pass breakups this season. As a three-year player, McDuffie is still looking for his first career interception.

    The odds are on McDuffie’s side. At some point, an opposing quarterback will make a mistake when McDuffie is in coverage. It could be Broncos rookie Bo Nix.

    “I told him this before: He was voted All-Pro last year, and I thought that was the (highest) compliment for a DB who didn’t have an interception,” coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said in training camp. “He does a lot of things (well), and I guarantee he has his sights set on landing a few picks this year.”

    The AFC title game will be an exciting rematch against Ravens

    Let’s do this again, because the possibility is too intriguing. A rematch in the AFC Championship Game in Arrowhead could be the best game of the 2024 NFL season.

    If the Chiefs win, they will reach the Super Bowl for the fourth time in six years. The win would also put the franchise just one win away from capturing an unprecedented third consecutive Lombardi Trophy.

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    If the Ravens win, they would avenge last year’s loss in Baltimore. Quarterback Lamar Jackson would lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl for the first time in his illustrious career. And the Ravens would be the team to dethrone the Chiefs, ending their two-year reign.

    Also consider this: The game could feature as many as 13 future Hall of Famers: Mahomes, Kelce, Hopkins, Jackson, defensive tackle Chris Jones, left guard Joe Thuney, kicker Harrison Butker, center Creed Humphrey, running back Derrick Henry, kicker Justin Tucker, safety Kyle Hamilton, coach Andy Reid and coach John Harbaugh.

    (Photo of Patrick Mahomes: Denny Medley / Imagn Images)

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