Which NFL playoff teams are feeling the heat, and which are just happy to be there?

Which NFL playoff teams are feeling the heat, and which are just happy to be there?

The Chiefs aren’t just chasing the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat. If Kansas City lifts another Lombardi Trophy next month, it would mark the first major American professional team to win three straight championships since the Shaq-Kobe Lakers (2000-02). It would be the greatest achievement in NFL history, a feat once-unthinkable in an era of parity.

It could not be done by the Packers, who missed the 1968 playoffs after Vince Lombardi left the sideline. It was snatched from the 1974 Dolphins in a “Sea of Hands.” Pittsburgh’s bid was snuffed out in the 1976 AFC Championship by John Madden’s Raiders. The 1980 Steelers aged out of the postseason. The 1990 49ers came closest, with Roger Craig fumbling away the three-peat, and Matt Bahr sending the Giants to Super Bowl XXV with his fifth field goal, as time expired. Barry Switzer dropped the baton from Jimmy Johnson, as the Cowboys surrendered the first 21 points of the 1994 NFC Championship in San Francisco. The 1999 Broncos never had a chance, replacing John Elway with Brian Griese. The 2005 Patriots regressed, losing as a 4-seed to Jake Plummer’s Broncos in the divisional round.

It would surprise no one to see the Chiefs’ three-peat bid end in their first playoff game. In a season that featured 11 one-possession wins, no games with more than 30 points and multiple fortuitous endings, Kansas City (15-2) survived with muscle memory, with savvy, with defense, a Hall of Fame coaching staff and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.

Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes celebrate with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LVII
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes have a chance to win a third straight Super Bowl, a feat no team has accomplished in NFL history. REUTERS

But the Chiefs’ starters will have had three-plus weeks of rest when they return for the divisional round. If any team can achieve the unprecedented, it’s the team that has repeatedly prevailed in pressure-filled moments, that has every reason to believe every game will end in its favor.

Related Posts

BREAKING NEWSTennessee тιтans sign wide receiver Tyler Lockett on eve of NFL Draft ahead of having No. 1 pick

BREAKING NEWSTennessee тιтans sign wide receiver Tyler Lockett on eve of NFL Draft ahead of having No. 1 pick

The Tennessee тιтans have reportedly signed wide receiver Tyler Lockett in free agency.  The 32-year-old announced the news himself on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday night. …

Shannon Sharpe allegedly threatened to ‘choke’ accuser in disturbing audio clip

Shannon Sharpe allegedly threatened to ‘choke’ accuser in disturbing audio clip

The lawyer for the woman suing Shannon Sharpe released a second audio clip in which you can hear what he says is the ex-NFL star threatening to…

Jets and Patriots may be battling for O-lineman Will Campbell in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

Jets and Patriots may be battling for O-lineman Will Campbell in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

The Patriots and Jets have battled over Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and (to a much lesser extent) Mike Vrabel. Now, soon-to-be first-round draft pick Will…

Kerby Joseph signs historic M Lions extension to become NFL’s highest-paid safety

Kerby Joseph signs historic $86M Lions extension to become NFL’s highest-paid safety

Kerby Joseph is now the highest-paid safety in NFL history.  The Lions star agreed to a four-year, $86 million contract extension, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday. …

Giants can’t let QB desperation be their NFL draft lodestar

Giants can’t let QB desperation be their NFL draft lodestar

When the season without reason ended, here was John Mara after deciding to keep Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll:  “That’s obviously the No. 1 issue for us…

Trump delivers shock verdict on Washington Commanders name change after NFL team dropped controversial Redskins

Trump delivers shock verdict on Washington Commanders name change after NFL team dropped controversial Redskins

President Donald Trump wouldn’t quite endorse the Washington Commanders changing the NFL team’s name back to the ‘Redskins’ – which was considered a slur by a number…