The Kansas City Chiefs are again expected to be one of the top dogs in the NFL.

All offseason, we have heard how the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominance over the NFL is coming to an end after the Super Bowl loss…yet some still aren’t ready to give up the ghost.

And in truth, I’m not either.

While the roster has undergone some changes, and there is a question mark over how well the offensive line will mesh together, the Chiefs still have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid as one of the best quarterback/head coach duos in football.

Did some of their aura get rubbed off against the Philadelphia Eagles? Sure. But the Chiefs are still one of the teams to beat in the AFC until they are pushed off the proverbial cliff.

And for Matt Verderame in predicting the records for every AFC team now that the schedule has been released, he has the Chiefs finishing with a 13-4 record, joining the Buffalo Bills, and the Baltimore Ravens as the only teams in the conference with such a record.

“Kansas City routinely plays one of the more challenging schedules in the league, and this year is no exception,” he writes. “While the AFC South provides a nice respite, the Chiefs will host the Broncos, Chargers, Eagles, Lions, Ravens and Commanders, all playoff teams from a year ago. On the road, the slate is much easier, although a trip to Buffalo awaits.”

Yes, the AFC West has gotten stronger, with the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers all expected to be better, but make no mistake—the Chiefs are still the measuring stick.

How the franchise bounces back from the Super Bowl loss will be a fascinating watch, and with a host of tough games, we will get a good indication early on if Kansas City is again “for real” in the Super Bowl hunt with the Chargers, Eagles, and Ravens in their first month.

The jury is out for some on the Chiefs in 2025, with the thought of the once dominant AFC franchise showing some cracks in their armor, but until they are on the canvas, unable to make the 10 count, there will be believers that another Lombardi Trophy is well within their wheelhouse.

And Chiefs fans still have every reason to believe.