The NFL’s ‘evil empire’? ‘People hate the Chiefs!’

Historically, perennial supremacy in the NFL has entailed villainous portrayals. The New England Patriots experienced it, and now the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs face the most hunted ruler in American football.

Andy Reid’s Chiefs are two wins away from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Tremendous Bowls after beating the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday to reach a seventh AFC Championship Game. consecutive, where Josh Allen’s Buffalo Payments await.

Patrick Mahomes is seeking his fourth career Tremendous Bowl crown after leading the Chiefs past the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas last February to confirm the dynasty.

The Chiefs, once the league’s most explosive, trick-seeking offense, have become a tough winning machine that relies on Steve Spagnuolo’s dogged, shifting defense, having also gone 11 one-score games this season. .

“We watch the Chiefs, and I think there is Chiefs fatigue in the general public,” Sky Sports NFL’s Neil Reynolds said on Contained in the Huddle.

“They have become the Patriots. Only Tom Brady and Invoice Belichick went to more consecutive AFC Championship Games, took a repeat and restarted as the Patriots.

“Now, everyone thinks they get calls every week. “I think Patrick Mahomes got a couple calls in his favor that he probably shouldn’t have gotten.”

Log on to your social media platform of choice this season and you may have come across accusations of favorable referee calls, referee protection for Mahomes and even claims of Chiefs voodoo. All mere opinion, of course.

Ask Texans kicker Kaʻimi Fairbairn, who kicked a field goal and an extra point on Saturday, while seeing another late field goal blocked.

The Chiefs, however, benefited from controversial passer calls against Will Anderson Jr. and Henry To’oTo’o in their Divisional Round win over the Texans, which extended sequences that ended in crucial points.

“I can see the frustration from the sidelines with the occasional call, but I think people should enjoy and recognize, what I did with Brady, the greatness, the historic greatness,” Reynolds added.

“I enjoy other teams getting to the Tremendous Bowl, but this is a very good run for the Chiefs, a historic run, the best seven-year stretch in history, but they get some calls from time to time.

“When they took down the Patriots dynasty, they were the good guys!”

The Chiefs entered the playoffs ranked 11th in point differential during a common season in which they blocked a last-second field goal to beat the Denver Broncos, were bailed out by a botched snap in the final seconds against the Las Vegas Raiders. and they won because of Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Probably’s overstretched toe.

All of this has added to his survival through major injuries, constant pass protection issues, and the stuttering efficiency of Mahomes and his offense to strengthen a sense of inevitability. They’ve been anything but convincing at times, and still went 15-2 to clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

“After the game I listen to the radio and everyone who calls says it’s fixed, Mahomes understands this and that,” Jeff Reinebold added.

“What is starting to be expressed is that people hate the Chiefs! For decades they were the team in middle America that no one thought much about.

“They were the small market that no one thought much about. “Now they are the evil empire and we must banish them.”

Travis Kelce came to life with the arrival of his favorite time of year over the weekend, leading the Chiefs with 117 receiving yards and a touchdown to pass Jerry Rice for most 100-yard receiving games in the postseason in the history of the NFL.

He averaged 16.7 yards per reception that day, having managed just 8.5 during the regular season, which also saw him record 823 receiving yards, a career-low but still a team-high.

“If you had frozen me in a cryogenic chamber for 10 years, taken me out and plugged me back in, and I saw Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, I would know it was January,” Reynolds said.

“It’s ridiculous. Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce, how is that happening?

“It’s the Chiefs. 212 yards of offense, the fewest yards of offense in a playoff win since 1991. There should be concerns, but here they are again in the Championship Game, because of Mahomes, Kelce, the usual suspects.

“He caught a pass down the middle of the field and I’ve seen cruisers spin faster.”

All four of the weekend’s Divisional Round losing teams finished their respective games with superior offensive yards compared to their opponents, the Chiefs managing just 50 yards on the ground while watching Mahomes throw for a measly 177.

“Houston outperformed Kansas Metropolis in first downs, third down efficiency, total plays, total offense, yards per play, passing; “We’re talking about Mahomes, racing… and they won the football game.” Reinebold said.

It marked the 300th career victory for Chiefs head coach Reid, who is now just four playoff wins away from tying Belichick’s all-time record of 31.

Would a third straight Tremendous Bowl victory rival the Patriots icon for the right to be considered the greatest coach of all time?

“I don’t know how he can’t be there as the best, being in that special class with the handful of the best among the best,” Reinebold said.

“If he can somehow drag this team to another Tremendous Bowl victory and turn it into a third title, something no one has ever accomplished, including Belichick, then how can you not put him on the same pedestal?

“I think about Belichick’s picky nature, Andy wants to spread the good and wants everyone to feel like they’re the reason they’re winning, the Patriots culture was never like that.

“He’s not like that. “His defense is what wins football games, not his offense, and that doesn’t bother him.”

What’s next?

It’s the NFL Conference Championship on Sunday, January 26: Live NFL Sky Sports – The Philadelphia Eagles will first host the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game starting at 8:00 p.m., and then the Chiefs will face the Payments starting at 11:30 p.m.

Tremendous Bowl LIX will take place on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. live on Sky Sports activities NFL.