Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
We were supposed to get a Super Bowl rematch, but these two teams are vulnerable.
What a difference a year makes. Nobody was remotely as good as the Chiefs and Eagles when we closed out Week 18 of the 2022 NFL season. The class of the AFC and NFC respectively, it always felt destined that we’d hurtle towards a Kansas City vs. Philadelphia showdown, barring a major surprise in the playoffs.
Now, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, on paper the 11-6 Chiefs and Eagles might appear to be good teams, but the concept of a Super Bowl rematch seems laughable. In fact, it might be safe to say that these two teams are the most disappointing teams who have limped their way into the postseason.
This goes much deeper than two 14-3 teams a year ago, now sitting at 11-6. It’s more about inherent structural issues that turned these proud, world-beating organizations into shadows of their former selves. The shared DNA? Hubris, which has caused them to push their talent too far and asked them to do too much.
The precipitous decline of the Chiefs offense
From a long-term organizational perspective, 2022 was one of the worst things to happen for the Chiefs. That is ridiculous to say when a team wins the Super Bowl, but succeeding in a season where people said Patrick Mahomes didn’t have enough weapons led to Kansas City developing a chip on their shoulder, and running it back again with an even worst set of weapons for the all-world quarterback.
The loss of Eric Bieniemy at offensive coordinator was paired with an inherent belief that Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney could step up the depth chart and render JuJu Smith-Schuster obsolete. It also worked off the assumption that Travis Kelce’s production would stay, with no possibility of a drop off.
Everything this team did on offense between the two seasons was a mistake. It left Mahomes on an island, without anyone who could bail him out. The drop in quality of this Chiefs’ offense is so profound it almost defies belief — considering they kept their most important players.
Mahomes has thrown for 1,067 fewer yards and 14 less touchdowns
The Chiefs fell from 1st in the NFL in points scored, to 12th
They dropped from being the No. 1 offense in the NFL, to No. 9
The only silver lining is how sneaky good the Chiefs’ defense has been this season, but Steve Spagnuolo’s No. 3 ranked unit is a little bit of fool’s gold with the Chiefs playing against some of the most hapless offenses in the NFL in the AFC West this season after the Chargers and Raiders lost their starting quarterbacks.
This feels like an organization that lost its identity by not stocking the shelves. This Chiefs team could, and should be even better — but not getting reliable weapons for Mahomes has come back to bite this team.
Now they’ll get to see if they can hang with Tyreek Hill returning the Arrowhead. It’ll be cold, they could definitely win — but it’s difficult to see them going much further.
The Eagles’ hard nose gets soft
A lot is made of Jalen Hurts’ turnovers this season, and we can’t ignore that he’s been significantly worse under center in 2023 — but the real story of this Eagles team taking a step back is how profoundly sad their defense has become.
The move from Jonathan Gannon to Sean Desai at defensive coordinator was far more damaging than anyone imagined. For the most part this is the same unit the team had in 2022. The most notable chance along the defensive line was the loss of Javon Hargrave to free agency, and without his pressure in the middle the Eagles’ pass rush has more or less collapsed this season.
This was a team who had FOUR double-digit sack players along their defensive line a year ago. The pressure they generated up front defined this team. Now they have just one, Haason Reddick — and even then his production has fallen from 16.0 sacks to 11.0 this season. On the whole this team fell from 70 team sacks to 41, while also recording nine fewer interceptions.
That has had a mammoth effect on how scary this unit is, and as a result the Eagles fell from 8th in the NFL in points allowed, to 29th. When this is compounded with the offense taking a step back we’re left with a team that lacks its teeth.
Luckily for the Eagles they get a very easy game on Super Wild Card Weekend. They will head to Tampa Bay to face the NFC South winning Buccaneers, which might be the easiest playoff game of the entire weekend.
Where do these team go from here?
Home, probably. I mean, they might win their opening playoff game — but nothing about either organization indicates that they’re built for a deep run this year.
It’s been a weird season, and the collapse of these two once-proud teams is just part of this.
Winner: C.J. Stroud, DeMeco Ryans, and the Houston Texans
It really can’t be understated what an incredible job this team has done in the last eight months. In the days after the draft this team was widely regarded to be heading back to the Top 3 in the draft, even with their additions — now they’re out here winning the AFC South.
Every single move this team has made since firing Lovie Smith has been a stroke of genius. This team got the most impactful rookie quarterback in the draft, they have two of the most promising young receivers in the NFL by adding Tank Dell with Nico Collins — and they have ample space to keep adding to this team.
Houston has already built something special. Now they’re poised to take the AFC South by a stranglehold unless the Jaguars can get it together.
Loser: Jacksonville Jaguars
I mean, what’s left to say? This team was 8-3 on December 3rd and poised to become the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and since that point they lost five of their final six games — with their lone win coming against the pathetic Panthers.
The Jaguars are allergic to taking a step forward. Just when it seems they’ve finally turned a corner they retreat behind a pillar, then run three blocks away from the intersection. Now this team has major soul searching to do, about Trevor Lawrence, about Doug Pederson, about their entire future.
What a mess.
Winner: Carolina Panthers fans
Panthers fans have nothing to think about regarding this team until day two of the NFL Draft at the earliest. That is for the best. Ignoring this team exists is the best possible thing a Panthers fan can do for their health.
Winner: Antonio Pierce
The Raiders’ interim coach has done such a brilliant job with this team that he should absolutely be the long-term coach for Las Vegas. It won’t happen, of course. The Raiders will push for a flashy hire that will explode in their face — but we can dream, can’t we?
Pierce leaving the field after beating the Broncos and being embraced by fans is one of the great videos of the season.
Dude went 5-4 with a flawed roster and being forced to lean on a rookie QB who wasn’t fully ready. Unbelievable.
Winner: Buffalo Bills
Any time you get to rip the heart out of a division rival it’s a good week. Josh Allen’s second half was the stuff of legend — and Miami will have to wait another year to see if they can win the AFC East.
