![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.oklahoman.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/images\/smg\/2025\/02\/07\/SMGW\/78343563007-70-186283.jpeg?width=1200&disable=upscale&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")
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On Wednesday, ESPN <\/em>rolled out its latest \u201cfootball power index\u201d rankings \u2014 which sees the Kansas City Chiefs ranked second (+5.4), behind only the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (+5.5). The \u201cfootball power index\u201d is a ratings and projection model.<\/p>\n The football power index projects a 4.2% chance of a Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl rematch.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo of the past three Super Bowls have been between Kansas City and Philadelphia,\u201d wrote ESPN\u2019s <\/em>Seth Walder. \u201cWill it be three of four? The 4.2% chance of a Super Bowl LIX repeat is the greatest of any combination of teams in our Super Bowl matchup projections, slightly besting the 3.6% chances of Ravens- Eagles and Bills- Eagles matchups. Top combinations are listed below and rounded to the nearest whole number.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n There is a popular quote most often attributed to ESPN\u2019s <\/em>Chris Berman: \u201cThat\u2019s why they play the games.\u201d<\/p>\n Right now, of course, a Chiefs-Eagles rematch seems to be the most likely outcome; yet, even in these sophisticated projections, there is still a 95.8%<\/strong><\/em> chance it\u2019s something else. I can confidently assume that the 30 other NFL cities hope it falls that way.<\/p>\n The one thing I do <\/em>think holds some weight is the separation that still exists between Kansas City and the other AFC West teams. At this time of year, it\u2019s common for national analysts to favor up-and-coming teams rather than the status quo. Frankly, bold statements are more fun \u2014 and the chances of anyone remembering them by mid-February are slim.<\/p>\n There is no doubt that Kansas City\u2019s AFC West foes all improved, but what is sometimes lost is that the Chiefs did as well. Kansas City may be healthier at receiver this year, and they added key pieces in both free agency and the NFL Draft. Left tackle Jaylon Moore and cornerback Kristian Fulton are likely starters. High-upside rookie Josh Simmons could take over the tackle position midseason, and defensive linemen Omarr Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillottee had some of the best pass-rush numbers in the draft.<\/p>\n Analytical projections eliminate the legitimacy of the hot take. While I do believe the division might be highly competitive as early as next year, my stance has always been that we\u2019re still a year away. These projections reflect that, with Kansas City at +5.4<\/strong>, the Los Angeles Chargers at +2.1<\/strong>, the Denver Broncos at +1.3<\/strong> and the Las Vegas Raiders at -2.0<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In summary, I don\u2019t think we\u2019re in for a Chiefs-Eagles rematch. But I feel very comfortable saying I like Kansas City to win a 10th straight division title.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Could Kansas City play Philadelphia in the Super Bowl again next year?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":65439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nA Super Bowl rematch?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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My take<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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