Five Biggest Threats to De-throne the 2019 Super Bowl Champions – The Kansas City Chiefs are on a goal to #runitback this season. Furthermore they are on a quest to become the next dynasty in NFL history. A repeat Champion has not been accomplished since the N.E. Patriots did it in the 2003 -and-2004 seasons. The ironic part is, Andy Reid was on the losing end of that second win for the Pats. I will cover in depth the 5 teams with the highest odds in Vegas, to win the Super Bowl.
Reason the Chiefs Can Be Beat: The Chiefs
Losing focus on any single one of the following objectives, is why teams do not repeat as Super Bowl Champions. So, the Kansas City Chiefs are there own toughest roadblock.
- They must not become egotistical
- They must not become complacent
- They must stay motivated and driven in unison, all with 1 common goal
- They must expect to get everyone’s A-1 effort, and remember it is also their opponents Super Bowl
- The offense must protect the QB all season, every play
- The defense must maintain their level of intensity and toughness (which they had at the end of 2019 season) for every game, all year long
External Reasons: Opponent’s Efforts
What type of effort and game will it take to dethrone the Champs? Well, last season we saw the losses and tough opponents had good running games and top quality QB play. They had tough defenses that we’re able to put pressure on the QB as well as cover the WRs. Not many teams have all of the right ingredients to outlast the Chiefs for 60 minutes. However, as we’ve witnessed all year long and ending in the Super Bowl: the Chiefs will tire you out, causing you to lose focus and the ability to stop their last minute wins. So, opponents endurance must outmatch the Chiefs.
The Vegas Odds
Before getting into the Five Teams who could threaten to dethone our Chiefs, let’s take a peek at the Las Vegas odds for winning the coming Super Bowl.
#1 Threat: AFC Baltimore Ravens
“With an MVP quarterback, a 1,000-yard running back, a rebuilt front seven, and a Pro Bowl secondary, there’s justified optimism that the Ravens will again be the class of the AFC North.”
There is only one team with favorable odds from the AFC. Baltimore is a very talented squad, in some media circles, they are rated better than the Chiefs. However, K.C. has been Baltimore’s kryptonite. They have caused the Ravens to play beyond there element and adjust the normal team strategies. The last 2 years in 2 games at Arrowhead, the Chiefs have reduced Lamar Jackson and the Ravens run game ineffective; putting the onus on Lamar’s arm to win the games. Plus, the the Ravens defense did not handle Mahomes well at all.
Additions/Subtraction for the 2020 Baltimore Ravens
Additions:
- EDGE Calais Campbell (via trade)
- EDGE Matthew Judon (franchise tag)
- C Matt Skura (original-round tender)
- CB Jimmy Smith (re-signed for one year, up to $6 million)
- S Anthony Levine (re-signed)
- G D.J. Fluker
- E Derek Wolfe
Losses:
- DI Michael Pierce
- S Tony Jefferson (cut)
- CB Brandon Carr
- TE Hayden Hurst (via trade)
- DI Chris Wormley (via trade)
#2 Threat: NFC San Francisco 49ERS
Additions/Subtraction for the 2020 49ers
Additions:
- EDGE Arik Armstead (re-signed for five years, $85 million, $48.5 million guaranteed)
- S Jimmie Ward (re-signed for three years, $28.5 million)
- C Ben Garland (re-signed for one year, $2.25 million)
- EDGE Ronald Blair III (re-signed for one year)
- OT Trent Williams (via trade)
- CB Jason Verrett (re-signed)
- WR Travis Benjamin (*opted out)
- OL Tom Compton
Losses:
- DI DeForest Buckner (via trade)
- WR Emmanuel Sanders
- TE Levine Toilolo
- WR Marquise Goodwin (via trade)
- OT Joe Staley (retired)
- G Mike Person
- RB Matt Breida (Traded)
- Covid -19 opt outs: Travis Benjamin, Jake Brendel, Shon Coleman
“Their 2020 edition still boasts elite talent: Bosa, Sherman, Kittle and Williams are among the NFL’s best at their positions, and Warner and McGlinchey could soon join them. If Garoppolo can make a leap into the league’s elite QBs, that could easily compensate for what’s been lost elsewhere with Buckner and Sanders. Shanahan, the offensive coordinator when the Falcons lost a 25-point lead to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, has endured two crushing Super Bowl losses in the past four seasons. This roster will give him another chance to appear in the NFL’s biggest game.”
The 49ers returned 18 of 22 starters. What they lost, they replaced with equal value. They had the 4th ranked Offense in the NFL in 2019 and were 13th in passing. On the ground they were much better and were 2nd in rushing, 2nd in scoring, and 6th in Yards after catch. Kyle Shanahan is excellent at scheming his skill players into the open field to be able to gain yards after catch. They added 2 more rookies WRS in Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings that created good YAC in college. Jimmy Garoppolo is skilled in the play action pass game, but he needs to learn to limit his TOS. They need to develop more depth at RB and WR positions. The OL is top notch at 4 positions, but they are searching for a starter at RG. Tom Compton and Daniel Brunskill are competing there.
The 49ers Defense was ranked 2nd in the league in 2019. They were 1st against the pass, 17th against the run, and 8th in scoring D. Their ability to consistently put pressure on the opponent’s QB was there biggest reason for their overall winning percentage. GM John Lynch said:
“One of the most tangible reasons we were in a Super Bowl last year, was because when we were healthy, we overwhelmed people from a defensive-line perspective.”
While the front 7 is loaded with talent across the board, the defensive backfield has several question marks. They have Richard Sherman still playing at a Pro Bowl level at CB, but the other CB and Slot CB needs to be solidified. The 2 safeties are Tarvarius Moore FS, and Marvell Harris SS, but with no depth behind them. The 9ers do not possess enough overall team depth to survive a high amount of injuries, so for them to have a successful season they need to keep the starters relative healthy. Kyle Shanahan and the team must not let the past haunt them, or it will eat them alive. Also there is the old adage of SB loser hangover.
#3 Threat: NFC New Orleans Saints
Additions/Subtraction for the Saints:
Additions:
- QB Drew Brees (re-signed for two years, $50 million)
- QB Taysom Hill (first-round tender)
- S Malcolm Jenkins (signed for four years, $32 million, $16.25 million guaranteed)
- DI David Onyemata (re-signed for three years, $27 million)
- G Andrus Peat (re-signed for five years, $57.5 million)
- WR Emmanuel Sanders (signed for two years, $16 million)
- RB Ty Montgomery
- OT James Hurst
- QB Jameis Winston
Losses:
- Vonn Bell
- CB Eli Eli Apple
- LB A.J. Klein
- G Larry Warford
The New Orleans Saints have been trying to get back to the Super Bowl since 2009 season. The last 3 years they have been unable to make it over the huge hump of unluckiness — Minneapolis Miracle; the No-Call against the Rams; then blindsided by Vikings at Superdome last year — and the disheartening part for the Saints is that all 3 losses came on the last play of those games. The New Orleans Saints:
“… have owned the NFC South lately, clinching three straight division titles, but the division should become a bit tougher this season with the additions of Tom Brady and others in Tampa. New Orleans had to keep pace by keeping core players and adding talent in the areas that needed it…”
This year’s team is loaded for success yet again. On offense, 8 out of the 11 projected offensive starters have made a Pro Bowl since 2016. Drew Brees’ accuracy remains top-notch and there’s not much he hasn’t seen from under center. It is concerning that Brees has taken fewer deep shots while his game has regressed down the stretch in each of the past two seasons. From Athlon Sports:
“There are certain elements of Brees’ game that have taken a hit as he’s aged; arm strength, for one; but he has held off decline by honing his already sharp cerebral components. Brees diagnoses defenses faster, gets rid of the ball quicker and makes fewer mistakes. Though it was shortened five games by injury, Brees enjoyed one of the better regular seasons of his career in 2019, establishing career-best marks in passer rating (116.3) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (27:4).”
With Michael Thomas record breaking numbers catching passes in 2019 (185 targets; 158 receptions, 1,725 yards, 11.57 per catch, 9 TDs, 107.8 yds per game). Then the acquisition of Emmanuel Sanders. These two receivers are paired with a big, fast tight end who can stretch the field vertically in Jared Cook who an average of 19.2 yards per catch, as well as one of the NFL’s top pass-catching running backs in Alvin Kamara. So, we see why there’s so much optimism surrounding the Saints offensive attack in 2020. They can hurt you at every level.
Then of course they now have a new competitor in a the division in the way of Tampa Bay and Tom Brady. The game of football at the Championship level is largely mental. The Saints must get past the negative point of what is going to happen next. They must move on to a positive mindset and re-create the Championship level they were at in 2009. Mind over matter!
#4 Threat: NFC Dallas Cowboys
The most talented team not to make the playoffs resides in Dallas, which will most usually result in a head coach being fired. So, out with Jason Garrett and in comes Mike McCarthy (125-77-2, and 1 Super Bowl win in Green Bay). Which… means a new high level of expectations. In the 26 years since Dallas last appeared in a SB they have only made the playoffs 10 times, with only 1 win in 3 separate years. Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones says:
“One of our primary goals in selecting the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys was to focus on a proven team-builder and winner. Someone who’s got a proven track record of winning not only consistently, but at the highest level. [In] Mike McCarthy, we found a coach who not only checked those boxes, but also has the experience of taking an NFL team to the biggest stage, the Super Bowl, and completing the job.”
Additions/Subtraction for the Cowboys:
Additions:
- Kellogg Moore hired as OC
- QB Dak Prescott (excl. franchise tag)
- WR Amari Cooper (re-signed for five years, $100 million, $60 million guaranteed)
- CB Anthony Brown (re-signed for three years, $15.5 million)
- TE Blake Jarwin (re-signed for four years, $22 million)
- LB Sean Lee (re-signed for one year, $4.5 million, $2 million guaranteed)
- OL Joe Looney (re-signed)
- DI Gerald McCoy (signed for three years, $18.3 million)
- K Kai Forbath (re-signed)
- S Darian Thompson (re-signed)
- S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (signed for one year, $4 million)
Losses:
- CB Byron Jones
- EDGE Robert Quinn
- WR Randall Cobb
- DI Maliek Collins
- S Jeff Heath
- TE Jason Witten
The Cowboys have the big three set at QB, RB, WR: Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Amari Cooper. Prescott had his best career numbers last year. With his current contract status he must prove playoff winning capabilities to earn more years in Dallas. If his play does not improve Dallas playoff results, I can’t see them willing to pay at his wanted level of play, which is top 5 QB level. Ezekiel Elliott, after a preseason contract holdout, had a subpar year. He must produce his normal stats this year. Amari Cooper had high level stats at home, but did not produce the same on the road, so he must become more consistent. Good new for big D, 2nd WR Michael Gallup produced 1,000 yds receiving last year. There #1 rookie WR CeeDee Lamb who gives the Cowboys 3 quality playmakers in the passing game. Add to them TE Blake Jarwin, who was limited because of Jason Witten ahead of him, but Jarwin must improve on the potential that he has shown, at full time level. Their OL, which used to be strong, now needs work. They still have 2 Pro Bowlers in Zack Martin and Tyron Smith and while La’el Collins mans the right tackle spot well, they need to establish solid starters at Center and LG.
Dallas defense has many question marks to reach Championship level. DC Mike Nolan must find starters that can stay healthy. Demarcus Lawrence, Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, Everson Griffen. Tyrone Crawford, Alison Smith, and Randy Gregory are all competing for DL positions. The Cowboys have a solid trio of starting linebackers in MLB Jaylon Smith, SLB Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch: when they are healthy.
They drafted Alabama’s Trevon Diggs and Tulsa’s Reggie Robinson II, for the CB position. Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown are their top returning cornerbacks. The Cowboys have too many questions for me, to have this high of odds. New Head Coach, new #88, Dak on a Designated Franchise tender… all speaks volumes in Vegas, I guess.
#5 Threat: NFC, Tom Brady in Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the 2nd longest NFL Playoff drought at 12 years (the Browns are at 17). So, it’s only fitting that they went out and got TB to rectify that issue. Oh Yeah, and TE Rob Gronkowski.
Additions/Subtraction for the Buccaneers:
Additions
- QB Tom Brady (signed for 2 Yrs 50 million)
- EDGE Shaquil Barrett (franchise tag)
- EDGE Jason Pierre-Paul (re-signed for two years, $27 million)
- OL Joe Haeg (signed for one year, $2.3 million)
- LB Kevin Minter (signed)
- DT Ndamukong Suh (signed 1yr 8 million)
Losses:
- QB Jameis Winston
- WR Breshad Perriman
- DT Ndamukong Suh
- EDGE Carl Nassib
- NT Beau Allen
Brady will have a pair of 1,100-yard receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to go with tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. Plus, a couple of days before the NFL draft, the Bucs traded for the rights to Rob Gronkowski. The 3rd WR position will be competed for by Breshad Perriman and rookie Tyler Johnson. The Bucs have an explosive running back in Ronald Jones II, but he only had 31 catches in the passing game. So, the Bucs took Vanderbilt running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the 3rd round, and HC Bruce Arians was scared he wouldn’t fall to them and said:
“Aw, man! I can’t tell you how long I was waiting on that one… I was shaking on that one.”
In recent past few years Brady was throwing to RBs a lot because he didn’t have options viable downfield. With Bruce Arians theme of “no risk it, no biscuit,” which is to say he likes to take a lot of shots downfield, things could get interesting in Tampa, especially with Byron Leftwich is the OC. The OL has 4 of 5 starters returning, and they’re not as bad as some might think.
The Bucs DC is Todd Bowles and with Shaquil Barrett leading the NFL in sacks with 19.5, the defense is a good one. OLB Jason Pierre-Paul helped Barrett a lot and although LB Devin White got off to a slow start, he finished strong. Bowles runs a pressure defense so White can be used more to blitz which allows vet LB Lavonte David to drop into coverage more.
If Brady can protect the football, the question becomes: can the Bucs protect Brady? If Father Time has not caught up to TB his Last Dance could be at Raymond James Stadium in Super Bowl LV.
Five Biggest Threats: Summary
If the Chiefs are going to #runitback this season, they’ll likely have to deal with one or more of these teams this year. At least they’ll only have to deal with one NFC threat in the Super Bowl, should they make it that far. First, they’ll have to overcome themselves.
Alan Haupt — ArrowheadOne
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/five-biggest-threats-to-de-throne-the-2019-super-bowl-champions/#disqus_thread)