Latest news with #SuperBowls
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Are the Chiefs following Tom Brady's mid-career slump before bouncing back with another ring?
Chiefs' Super Bowl reign might be over—analyst draws shocking parallel with Tom Brady's fourth ring wait (Getty Images) After years of dominance, the Kansas City Chiefs have become a familiar fixture on the NFL's grandest stage. But following a crushing 40-22 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, questions are beginning to swirl. Have the Chiefs finally hit a wall, or are they simply reloading for another run? Is this the beginning of the end for Kansas City's dynasty led by Mahomes and Kelce? For Fox Sports analyst Jason McIntyre, the answer seems clear. 'It's over for the Chiefs, guys. You had a great run… Tom Brady won in 2004, had three Super Bowls at the time. It took him a decade to win another one. This stuff is not easy. Just because you have Mahomes and Reid does not guarantee you a spot in the Super Bowl,' he stated on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Why Mahomes, Kelce & Chiefs are DONE being contenders | THE HERD NFL McIntyre is not alone in his skepticism. He believes Kansas City is entering its own version of the Brady-Belichick drought—an era marked by regular-season success but postseason disappointment. 'Again, history is just a guide here, but it took Brady a decade before winning another. They were favored against the Giants in two Super Bowl trips, they lost both of them,' he added. The doubts don't stop at Super Bowl expectations. McIntyre even went as far as to claim that the Chiefs might not make the playoffs at all this season. A bold prediction, especially considering the talent still on their roster. But his reasoning stems from the meteoric rise of their AFC West rivals. The Denver Broncos have potentially struck gold with quarterback Bo Nix. The Los Angeles Chargers have retooled their offense, adding high-impact rookies like Joe Alt and Omarion Hampton. Even the Las Vegas Raiders, desperate to turn things around, are starting the 2025 season with a completely new trio at head coach, quarterback, and running back. It's become evident that Mahomes and the Chiefs have inadvertently ignited a divisional arms race. Teams are no longer content with second place—they're building specifically to topple the reigning kings. On top of that, the dreaded 'Super Bowl hangover' looms large. 'The recent history of Super Bowl losers ain't pretty. Go ask the Niners, who fell apart after that overtime loss. The Chiefs beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl. And what happened to the Eagles? They fell apart the next year. There is a bit of a curse for the Super Bowl loser. Oh, and by the way, 12-0 in one-score games last year. Good luck duplicating that one,' McIntyre pointed out. The loss to the Eagles wasn't just a defeat—it was nearly historic in its margin. Had it not been for two late touchdown passes from Mahomes to rookie Xavier Worthy, the game could've gone down as the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history. The Chiefs, once praised not just for their on-field talent but also for their off-field sparkle thanks to the Taylor Swift buzz, are suddenly facing criticism from all corners. Yet, if there's one player you don't bet against, it's the man known as 'Magic Man.' Patrick Mahomes has rewritten the rules of quarterback play since entering the league. And now, with the 2025 season approaching, the Chiefs are hungry for redemption. The offseason saw plenty of roster movement. While Kansas City lost several key contributors, they also made strategic additions aimed at solving last year's problems. Veterans like Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, possibly entering their final season together with Mahomes, are laser-focused on one mission—getting back to the Super Bowl and finishing the job. Pro Football Network's latest power rankings placed the Chiefs at No. 5, a respectable spot but not where reigning champions want to be. According to simulations, the team has only a 21.2% chance of reaching the AFC Championship Game. But those are just numbers—and Mahomes has always been more than stats. For a team that's lived under the brightest lights, the pressure is nothing new. The 2025 season could mark a turning point—either the beginning of the end, or the start of a bold new chapter in the Chiefs' dynasty. One thing's for sure: doubting Mahomes has never been a good bet. Also Read: Why the Jets are lucky to have avoided the unpredictable Aaron Rodgers situation this offseason
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
NFL ownership rankings entering the 2025 season
NFL ownership rankings entering the 2025 season The teams on the field determine whether the seasons are success. However, organizations can only do what their bosses allow moves that are made and money to be spent. Because a team wins games and titles doesn't always correlate with great ownership. In many cases, the better the owner, the more likely a team is to succeed. However, there are owners who do their all to make the team and organization thrive but don't see the results on the field. How do the owners rank? You don't have to delve too deep into the team's history and moves to understand how Gang Green finishes on the bottom. This team's brass is a merry-go-round, and that spin comes from one person: Owner Woody Johnson. In this case, an owner's personality and meddling definitely impact the product on the field. The hedge fund owner would be far better off leaving decisions to the front office and coach Dave Canales. Just because you know what to invest in doesn't mean you can recognize football talent. Many stories about the Cardinals front office and bosses have been less than flattering. That matches their play on the field … until last season. Giants management needs to find this generation's version of George Young to get the team on the right track. Otherwise, it will continue throwing darts with blindfolds on. It isn't as easy to win divisions and Super Bowls when you don't have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Owner Robert Kraft already swung and missed with his first hire after Belichick's exit. Will Mike Vrabel be able to restore the Patriots' winning ways? Time will tell. It is almost impossible to believe the Haslams aren't in the bottom three. There is always an opportunity to sink when it comes to this franchise. Why is everyone in the picture smiling? Have they not been told part of their responsibilities will be taking part in AEW storylines that the Khan family owns? 25. Tennessee Titans Decisions have not been favorable in the past few years for the Titans. Their quarterback situation has been awful. Mike Vrabel was shown the exit as the team flopped. It is easy to point fingers at those below, but at some point, ownership makes calls. 24. Dallas Cowboys When a team hasn't won a championship in decades, and the owner has his hand in every decision, there is only one person to blame: Jerry Jones. 23. Cincinnati Bengals Mike Brown will never be thought of in NFL history as Paul Brown. The football sometimes falls far from the gridiron. 22. Las Vegas Raiders In the same thought process as the Browns, Mark Davis will never be another Al Davis. 21. New Orleans Saints The Saints' success was more a product of Sean Payton and Drew Brees than its ownership. 20. Miami Dolphins Stephen Ross is no stranger to controversy, and none of those questionable moves helped make Miami a better team. 19. Houston Texans There have been a couple of successful drafts and seasons, but that won't erase all the bad years and poor choices made in Houston. It's almost a miracle DeMeco Ryans has turned this team around. 18. Chicago Bears Bears ownership remains in the McCaskey family after the death of matriarch Virginia McCaskey. It will be intriguing to see if ownership gets what it wants in a coach (next up: Ben Johnson). Previous decisions have been flawed. And will they ever settle on a place to build a new stadium, officially? 17. Pittsburgh Steelers The Rooneys are old school. Pittsburgh is old school. However, most of the NFL has left that behind and is finding ways to thrive by adapting. 16. Kansas City Chiefs Questionable decisions regarding some of the talent— and, in one case, a front office person—drops this team despite all of its success on the field. The Hunts have all sorts of money, and should do better job investigating character of players. 15. Seattle Seahawks When the owner is reviewed as moderately contributing to team culture, the Seahawks land in the middle of the rankings. Moderately isn't good enough to rank better. Owner Stan Kroenke is another who is viewed as moderately contributing to team culture. Is it because he has too many other teams and investments to worry about? One positive is the Rams' decision to move training facilities to Woodland Hills, California, and build a strong campus. For that to be completed, it will take some time. 13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ouch. The NFLPA review said the owners weren't committed to investing in facilities. They also haven't sold everyone whose input was sought, and they are interested in building a competitive team. It seems odd, given some of the big contracts they gave out, including Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans. 12. Los Angeles Chargers Owner Dean Spanos took a lot of grief when the team moved from San Diego to Los Angeles. He has been considered stingy. The Chargers may never be the most popular team in the City of Angels, but Spanos is doing what he can to make his Bolts home. 11. Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay, who passed away recently, meant much more to the NFL and the city of Indianapolis than just being a team owner. He will be greatly missed at Colts games and elsewhere. The Pegulas have done a fine job keeping the Bills atop the AFC East with their decisions. They are doing all they can to get Buffalo a first Super Bowl. Add the new stadium in the mix, and you will have a team in the Top 10 for ownership. Another team in search of its first Super Bowl ring. Owner Zygi Wilf does good work on and off the field. When will he and the Purple see the fruits of their decisions with a Super Bowl win? 8. Detroit Lions After decades of failure and futility, owner Sheila Ford Hamp and her team have the Lions going in the right direction. Consider that almost entirely thanks to hiring Dan Campbell. 7. Baltimore Ravens Steve Biscotti and the Ravens have not been without their share of controversies, Justin Tucker being the latest. However, the action has been taken, and this organization is soundly structured from the top down. It's a solid organization that rebranded years ago with John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan and has seen success sans a Super Bowl win. Don't be surprised if the Niners rebound from a poor season because ownership and management do what it needs to build and rebuild. 5. Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank runs one of the top shops in the league. He tries his best to show loyalty but the results on the field have not been there. Still, one of the classier owners in the league and deserves to see his team thrive. A team that would have been dead last a couple of years ago under previous ownership -- it was so bad that Washington actually belonged outside the No. 32 spot -- has been invigorated under Josh Harris. 3. Denver Broncos The Walton-Penner Group has done a strong job since taking ownership of the Broncos. The best move made was hiring Sean Payton as coach. Jeffrey Lurie is assertive and makes moves with executive Howie Roseman swiftly and decisively. It will be fascinating to see how seeing so many players exit from the Super Bowl champs turns out in 2025. Who needs a billionaire owner to run a successful NFL team? The Packers and their fans show everyone how it is done the right way.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN predicts the Chiefs returning to the Super Bowl in a rematch vs. the Eagles
ESPN predicts the Chiefs returning to the Super Bowl in a rematch vs. the Eagles ESPN's Seth Walder recently revealed the latest 'Football Power Index' rankings. He lists the Kansas City Chiefs second, behind the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. 'Two of the past three Super Bowls have been between Kansas City and Philadelphia,' wrote Walder. 'Will it be three of four? The 4.2% chance of a Super Bowl LIX repeat is the greatest of any combination of teams in our Super Bowl matchup projections, slightly besting the 3.6% chances of Ravens- Eagles and Bills- Eagles matchups. Top combinations are listed below and rounded to the nearest whole number.' ESPN's 'Football Power Index' is an early rating and projection model for the upcoming season, with all indications suggesting that last year's Super Bowl will be repeated in 2025. Last season, the Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to reach five Super Bowls in a six-season span. Both teams made significant roster changes during the offseason, so the early prediction will likely change by midseason.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs receive a favorable AFC West prediction ahead of the 2025 season
Kansas City Chiefs receive a favorable AFC West prediction ahead of the 2025 season CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin is the latest to weigh in on the Kansas City Chiefs' odds of repeating as AFC West champions. He gathered a list of last season's division winners and explained which teams are the most vulnerable going into the 2025 season. "All three of their rivals should theoretically be better: the Denver Broncos have a promising gunslinger in Bo Nix, the Los Angeles Chargers are physical under Jim Harbaugh, and the Las Vegas Raiders now have Pete Carroll and Geno Smith running the show." wrote Benjamin, "Are any of those clubs ready to unseat a Chiefs team that's been to five of the last six Super Bowls? Yes, Kansas City was steamrolled in its last big game, but Patrick Mahomes' weaponry should be healthier and sprier this time around. It's just hard to bet against a dynasty." Kansas City has won nine consecutive division titles, the second-longest streak of division championships for any team in league history. Only the New England Patriots, who won 11 successive AFC East titles from 2009 to 2019, had a longer streak. The Chiefs' dominance at home has contributed to their success. Last season, they finished with a perfect 10-0 record at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the first undefeated year in franchise history that included the playoffs.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lou Anarumo on Charvarius Ward, Cam Bynum and Indianapolis Colts' new-look secondary
Lou Anarumo on Charvarius Ward, Cam Bynum and Indianapolis Colts' new-look secondary Lou Anarumo recently highlighted what the additions of Cam Bynum and Charvarius Ward can bring to the Cotls' new-look secondary. The additions of cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts' defense provide the secondary with proven high-level players as well as flexibility for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Ward is just one year removed from an All-Pro performance in 2023, where he allowed a completion rate of just 54% and came away with five interceptions and a whopping 17 pass breakups, per PFF. Ward is comfortable covering a variety of wide receiver skill sets and working on an island. Depending on the opponent and what the matchup dictates, Anarumo has said that he is comfortable with having Ward follow the opposing top wide receiver over the course of a game. "He's been a really good player," said Anarumo of Ward. "A really consistent corner in our league for a long time. He can matchup on the best receivers, he's got length, he guards bigger guys but he's quick enough to handle short, faster guys, and he's a good tackler. He's a full package, for sure." Bynum brings a ball-hawking presence to the back end of the Colts' defense. This includes tallying seven interceptions and 13 pass breakups over the last three seasons. Along with that production, his versatility allows for Anarumo to move him around the formation and disguise coverages, which is an important element of this defensive scheme. "Another guy that's got a bunch of different skill sets that can help us," Anarumo said of Bynum. "He started out as a corner, so he's got some coverage ability. He's always been able to take the ball away. He's been a consistent tackler. He's super smart. He's played in a few systems, so he has a good feel for a little bit of everything, just in terms of not one particular defense." In addition to what Ward and Bynum bring on the field, both bring winning experience to a Colts team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2020. Bynum has playoff experience from his time in Minnesota, while Ward has appeared in two Super Bowls over his career, winning one of them when he was with Kansas City. With Bynum and Ward now in the mix, along with having Kenny Moore, Nick Cross, and Jaylon Jones all returning, the Colts have some valuable experience now in their secondary after what had been a relatively inexperienced group in past seasons. Having that experienced presence could prove to be vital, especially in a defense where the ability to adjust on the fly is a key factor in how Anarumo operates. "It's great," Anarumo said of the experience on the secondary. "They've seen the fastballs, they've seen the curveballs, it's not like they're going to be starstruck when they get out there. Things are going to change throughout games, and we're going to have to adjust as the game goes along. You always have good plans that you think are going to work well, and then all of a sudden, there's something that you have to adjust to. Having guys like that, veteran guys, just makes it that much easier."
