The Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to make another deep run in 2025.
Kansas City was the best team in the AFC once again in 2024, despite pretty low buzz throughout the campaign. Like the New England Patriots of old, it seems as though some have gotten sick of the Chiefs winning.
The Chiefs went 15-2 in the regular season and made it all the way back to the Super Bowl before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. Other teams like the Detroit Lions, Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, or even the Minnesota Vikings got a lot of buzz throughout the regular season last year, but the Chiefs were the best regular season team once again.
Kansas City has a chance to the same again in 2025. But, the Chiefs will need some guys to step up, especially in the offensive line. Because of this, Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman called offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia the team's biggest "X-Factor."
"Biggest weakness in 2024: Patrick Mahomes‘ supporting cast," Chadwick and Wasserman said. "Mahomes ranked just eighth among quarterbacks in PFF overall grade (83.9) last season, making it just the second time in his seven years as a starter that he graded below 90.0 or was outside the top five in grading. Much of that had to do with the Chiefs' relatively average offensive environment. Kansas City placed just 17th in PFF pass-blocking grade, 15th in PFF receiving grade and 15th in PFF rushing grade in 2024.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
"X-factor for 2025: G Kingsley Suamataia. The Chiefs traded All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Bears this offseason, leaving a gaping hole at left guard. That spot will likely be manned by 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia, who struggled in his rookie season at left tackle before getting benched after two games. Among tackles with at least 190 snaps, he earned the second-worst PFF overall grade (37.9). Now, he’ll need to fill Thuney’s massive shoes while learning a new position."
It should be another big year in Kansas City and Suamataia will be needed to take the line to another level.
More NFL: Chiefs' Super Bowl champion making case for NFL comeback after prior release