NFL Network analysts explain why Chiefs always peak in the second half of the season
That dreadful Chiefs loss to the Colts last season dropped quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ record in September games to 13-3.
Any NFL team would take that kind of success in the opening month of the season, but don’t call Mahomes Mr. September. That’s because the Chiefs have also played extremely well in the second half of a season, too.
Here’s a closer look.
- A year ago, the Chiefs won their final five games of the regular season and the subsequent three playoff games.
- In 2021, the Chiefs had a 3-4 record in October but won nine of their final 10 games.
- The Chiefs lost just two regular-season games in the 2020 season, including the finale when they rested most of their regulars.
- In the 2020 season, the Chiefs ripped off six straight victories to close the season, then three more in the playoffs as they won Super Bowl LIV.
The Chiefs have a 22-5 regular-season record in games played in December and January since Mahomes became the starter. That includes one loss in which he was rested.
That late-season success was a topic of discussion on the NFL Network for analysts Brian Baldinger and Steve Wyche.
“They’re one of the teams that actually learn from their defeat, their last loss during the regular season last year was to the Cincinnati Bengals, and everybody just said the Bengals have their number,” Baldinger said. “They beat them three times in a row including the AFC Championship Game (in 2021). They got their number. The Chiefs were playing almost six rookies on defense at that time and they had to figure some things out. They figured out Trent McDuffie was better for the team in the slot that he was outside. ...
“I think when they lost, it made them regroup and go, ‘We’re good. This is what we’ve got to do to be great.’ They never lost another game. The same thing happened a year before when they lost the Buffalo at home and then they beat them in that great shootout game in overtime. And so I think this is a team that just learns from their defeats.“
Wyche noted how pundits and fans once questioned the Patriots when they would have slow starts.
That included 2014 when the Chiefs hammered the Patriots 41-14 at Arrowhead Stadium. That defeat dropped New England’s record to 2-2, but they ended up winning the Super Bowl that season.
“Think about the Patriots during their run,” Wyche said. “They would start out 3-3 (and people would say), ‘Oh my God, the Patriots are they done?’ and end up winning the Super Bowl. These are teams that may try things, right? The one thing that we see Andy Reid do over and over is they have significant personnel turnover year after year. ‘Oh my gosh, what are they gonna do with out Tyreek Hill? ‘Oh my gosh, their offensive line is jacked up.’ ‘Oh my gosh, all the secondary players are hurt.’
“They find ways to develop players, they find ways to fill in those blanks and build on it. They peak at the right time. and that’s what I think is an indelible trait of Kansas City. It almost seems like you know, they get bored at times if they’re winning in the first half.”
You can see that discussion here.
And they talked about Mahomes said at “The Match” when he joked about keeping things close until the end.
