It is that time of year again where articles that provide the top 5 (usually) bold predictions (usually) for their team for the upcoming season which (usually) ends up with said team winning the Super Bowl, flooding the internet and inundating their fan base.
While thinking about writing this article, I almost decided against it. After all, everybody is doing it, right? However, upon further thought, I figured why not? I mean everybody is doing it, right?
However, my 2019 Chiefs Prediction article will be different. I have always been a little ‘different,’ so this is nothing new. Do you remember the Sesame Street segment where three of the kids are doing the same thing, and one of those kids is doing his own thing? That was me! My whole life!
So here goes. Rather than the perfunctory five predictions, this article has six predictions. While most predictions end with the writer predicting that his home team winning the Super Bowl, I guarantee you… that is not what I will predict.
Let’s get started.
#6 – The Chiefs will have a top ten defense in 2019
I know this one is hard to swallow for most. Even my fellow Arrowhead One writers and Chiefs fans find this prediction rather difficult to fathom. However, hear me out.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had all of last year off. Anyone who has ever been laid off or out of work for an extensive period of time will tell you that they had plenty of time (too much time, really) to reflect. What did I do right? What did I do wrong? How could I have handled this situation better? Thoughts like these are never-ending during our employment drought. Don’t think that it was not the same for Spags.
Spags is an aggressive coach. Look for blitzes, fake blitzes, unorthodox pushes and pulls on the defensive line which will frazzle opposing quarterbacks and coaches alike. Better yet, he has new and improved defensive players to make happen those plays and schemes he envisioned during his sabbatical year.
Rookie Juan Thornhill will soak up the knowledge that ex-Houston Texans Tyrann Mathieu passes on to him, and will make plays… a lot of them. Holdout Chris Jones will be home soon (however it works out) and will continue to make plays with the newly-acquired Frank Clark holding down the fort on the other side.
Ex-Jet Darron Lee will lead his fellow linebackers to hold the middle. Moreover, cornerback Kendall Fuller will do likewise with his cornerback corps. Charvarius Ward will continue his progression to becoming a tier one CB.
Last year, the Chiefs had a league-high (tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers) 52 sacks with only 15 interceptions. I contend that this year, they will maintain their sack count and… double their interception rate.
#5 – Patrick Mahomes will repeat as MVP
This is hardly a bold prediction, as I have read the same on many other sites. However, this one differs in that I think Mahomes will match our beat his record-setting 50 touchdowns, 5,000 yard passing season. What’s that you say? No quarterback has ever had back-to-back seasons of 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yard passing season? No quarterback has ever had 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards passing in their first season, either.
I’m not sure that Mahomes is concerned about what no quarterback has ever done. He’s focused only on what the Chiefs quarterback can do. And, make no mistake, the Chiefs quarterback, can do!
#4 – The Chiefs regular season record will be ____.
Most prognosticators have the Chiefs winning anywhere between 12 to 14 games and dropping a couple or few. They are even kind enough to tell us what games the Chiefs will win or lose. I won’t get into that. I will say only that the Chiefs will sweep the AFC West this season, and will win their December 8th matchup with the Patriots in Foxborough. Moreover, I dare say that a Tom Brady quarterbacked team will never again beat the Chiefs.
#3 – Mecole Hardman breaks the record (both of them)
With Tyreek Hill back in the lineup (and he will be back, we just don’t know when), Mecole Hardman will have fewer opportunities at wide receiver. However, his loss — Hill — will be, special teams coach Dave Toub’s gain. Hardman showed flashes of brilliance as a kick returner in his years with Georgia. However, I don’t think the Bulldogs took full advantage of his skills as a returner. Toub won’t make that mistake.
Not only do I think that Hardman will break the current single-season record of four punt returns for touchdowns, but he will also break the single-season record of four kick return touchdowns in the same year.
Christmas comes early for Coach Toub this year!
#2 – Mecole Hardman nabs Rookie of the Year
As for my reasoning, please see #3. His only real competition will be Juan Thornhill. Please see #6.
#1 – I am not predicting that the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl but…
As promised, I will not predict that the Chiefs win the Super Bowl in February 2020 this year. I will, however, say that although the Chiefs will have the most players selected to the Pro Bowl this year, none will be in attendance due to other obligations.
I further predict that Patrick Mahomes will win the Pete Rozelle Trophy in February 2020 along with a new car and a trip to Disney World.
Finally, I predict that the City of Fountains will hold a red and gold themed parade on Tuesday, February 4, 2020.
Many will read this and dismiss as simply a. deluded over-optimistic Chiefs Homerism. That’s OK. I stand firmly behind each and every prediction that is contained herein.
In the highly unlikely event, I am wrong, I will have to learn to type and eat crow at the same time. If, however, I am right (which I am), I will have to work very hard not to finish each article I write afterwards with “I told you so.”
Sorry for the inconvenience. 😮
Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
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