ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith: Chiefs are probably going to be in Super Bowl LIII
The Chiefs may have lost 43-40 at New England on Sunday night, but they certainly impressed some national pundits.
Among them is ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who said on his podcast Monday that the Chiefs look like contenders to reach the Super Bowl.
“What we saw was the New England Patriots escape, I repeat, escape Foxborough with a 43-40 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on their home turf,” Smith said.
“You should walk away thinking two things: the Kansas City Chiefs are legit, and ladies and gentlemen, they are probably, I didn’t say possibly, I didn’t say maybe, I said they are probably, not 100 percent sure, but more like 75, 80 percent sure, they are probably going to be representing the AFC in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. It’s time to start talking about these Kansas City Chiefs in that light. It’s time to get to that point. It’s time to recognize what the truth is.”
Smith also that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks like the best player in the NFL. The Chiefs’ 31-point second half against the Patriots impressed Smith.
“We understand why Alex Smith is no longer the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs,” Smith said. “Patrick Mahomes 23 of 36, 352 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions. We understand what’s going on here ... Patrick Mahomes has looked like something special. ...
“Right now, if league MVP honors were handed out, he would win. He would win. We can sit up there and bring up (Rams running back) Todd Gurley, we can bring up Tom Brady if you want to say the way New England is looking right now, but right now the leading candidate for league MVP — I ain’t saying rookie of the year, I didn’t say that, I said league honors for league MVP — Patrick Mahomes is at the top of the list.”
Smith also lavished praise on receiver Tyreek Hill, running back Kareem Hunt and tight end Travis Kelce, and how special the Chiefs offense is performing.
“Right now when you look at the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s just hard to ignore what we’re witnessing,” Smith said. “And it makes me look at the Jets and Giants and I’m like, damn, we ain’t had a team like this in New York in quite some time. One could argue you’ve got it in LA and the way the Rams are playing ... ladies and gentlemen, it’s more probable than not that Kansas City will face Los Angeles, as in the Rams, in Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII and could you imagine what that game would be like?”
You can listen to the podcast here.
On Monday morning, former NFL receiver Nate Burleson also proclaimed the Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC. His reason: the defense will get an upgrade when safety Eric Berry returns from injury.
“Just wait until he gets back. Remember the last time he came back on the field and he made an immediate impact? You know what time of energy and feeling this team is going to have?” Burleson said on “Good Morning Football.”
“Imagine that team having Eric Berry, one of their leaders, one of the pillars of the organization on the field. You don’t think they’re gonna play at a higher level? That defense will play at a higher level.”
Here is that clip:
This story was originally published October 16, 2018 at 8:58 AM.