What Are the Odds for LIX? Long or Short, I’m Betting on the Chiefs Anyway!

David Bell

The Chiefs are on the cusp of potential greatness in the 2024 season. Will they make it happen?

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I say it’s possible. Maybe it truly is improbable, but I am leaning on the structure that it very well could happen.

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What Does Vegas Say?

The Kansas City Chiefs captured Super Bowl 58 and the team is listed as a +650 betting choice — bet $100 to win $650 — to three-peat in February of 2025. I’d say those odds are good for a shot at it!

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• San Francisco 49ers +500
• Kansas City Chiefs +650
• Baltimore Ravens +900
• Detroit Lions +1200
• Buffalo Bills +1200
• Dallas Cowboys +1500
• Cincinnati Bengals +1500
• Philadelphia Eagles +1700
• Miami Dolphins +2000
• Houston Texans +2500
• Green Bay Packers +2500
• Los Angeles Rams +3000
• Los Angeles Chargers +3000
• New York Jets +3000

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* Listed only the top 14 teams among the 32 in the NFL

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What’s the truth in the story? We can only anticipate. The Chief’s schedule is daunting and you have already read around the kingdom what the difficult prospect it truly is. The NFL stacked the deck against the Chiefs — out of the gate. The question becomes: has Andy Reid planned his campaign to address the capable foes the Chiefs will face?

The first two games of the season see the Chiefs facing off against two very capable teams: The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals in weeks one and two. Not only that, they meet the LA Chargers on September 29th before facing the 49ers on the road. The Chargers are “supposed” to be a real challenge this year with new HC Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers are sure to be prepared for the LVIII rematch. This gets us to the Bye — far too early in the process of trying to get back to the Super Bowl. DRAT!

Even if I included the Chargers as a contender, which I think they will be, I’d judge the first five games as being against post-season contenders (Ravens, Bengals, 49ers) as a very tough opening segment of the 2024 season. I am not listing the Chargers in this list, because I think the LA team will still be trying to find itself with a new HC, Jim Harbaugh. On the other hand, I think the Chargers have a very good roster — and it’s possible that in the two games against LAC, one of them will result in a loss.

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The 2024 Regular Season Schedule

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Yellow Circles – indicate the day of the week the games are played.

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My First Answer

The Ravens and Bengals are going to be tough outs. Both will be teams vying for the post-season Bye. I am sure that the Chiefs will be prepared for those two games. This question then becomes can they pull off wins against two top-contending teams to open the season?

Despite the opening schedule, I see the Chiefs as being 4-1 going into the bye week. If KC achieves that record, I’d say the odds are good for winning the division with a leg up on the postseason. Soon after the Bye Week, K.C. faces the Raiders on October 27, and then the Broncos on November 4th. I cannot believe that either opponent is a contender for the AFC West Title. I also do notch up a win vs. the Chargers in the early part of the season.

Following that mid-season Bye Week (week six), the Chiefs face the 49ers first, another top-level foe, followed next by the Raiders. At that point on the schedule, I can anticipate possibly a second loss, but they should bury the Raiders, giving them a game up on two of three AFC West opponents.

I think at that juncture, the opposing teams to be faced would appear to fall in line with normal scheduling — that is until we get to the stretch where the Chiefs play three games within 10 days: on December 15th, the Chiefs play the Browns, then the Texans on December 21st, followed by the Steelers on December 25th. That is a tough deal all the way around and it’s an indication that the NFL has tried to stack the deck against K.C.. Also, I think the Browns and Texans are formidable opponents.

If the Chiefs can pull off two of three wins in this stretch, they will be in a position to take the west again and end up with at least a 12-win season. However, I am predicting the Chiefs finish with a 13-4 record. In week 18, they will eliminate the Broncos who probably by that time will have completely flunked the test of having an improved team.

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My Reason for Optimism

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1. A much improved aerial game with Brown, Worthy, and Rice provides a very good WR crew.
2. The Chiefs use Jared Wylie more extensively as he gets his NFL legs. 13-personnel is going to be a renewed threat.
3. Isiah Pacheco will have a 1,000-yard rushing season.
4. The Defense is a bit different, but I am confident that our LB crew will be top-drawer.
5. The front four will develop and Felix Anudike-Uzomah will step up. When we get DE Charles Omenihu back from rehab, things will look drastically better. It would be great to see Malik Herring step forward, too.
6. This roster is replete with playmakers, some of whom are young or newcomers to the roster–players will emerge in 2024.
7. The Secondary lost L’Jarius Sneed but the talent is there, especially with versatility–plus, we have an obvious Ace in the Deck in Dave Merritt.
8. The K.C. Safety crew will be among the top groups in the NFL. I look forward to Bryan Cook’s return and have a ton of faith in Chamarri Connor! Justin Reid provides veteran experience and leadership.

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What the Pundits are Saying

Can the Chiefs Do it? or Not?

Let me start off with a video from RGR with Ryan Tracy and Daniel Harms, titled “Chiefs Chances for a World Champion 3-peat are Rising“. I encourage you to watch this video. See it here:

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It’s no secret that I follow RGR closely. I think the view of the pending opportunity that they present is valid, so judge for yourselves.

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Next up? Travis Kelce himself:

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If Kelce has confidence, then so do I. Rich Eisen does a nice job — see below — of looking at the Chiefs Schedule and the potential tasks ahead of the team. See his episode, here (3:48):

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Eisen, and guest Jim Nance, present a realistic view of the Chiefs shot at a 3-peat.

Get Nick Wright has a good segment on the 3-peat. I am thankful for the unabashed support that Wright has about the Chiefs. See the segment here:

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This pundit on First Things First believes it will be Travis Kelce who stops the 3-peat? Right! If that is not enough, search on “Chiefs 3-peat” on Twitter. You can find many views with that search. You can pick and choose and click.

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My Final inclusion brings me to Travis Kelce… again.

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I should leave it here. If I were a betting man, I would wager money on the Chiefs in 2024. I no longer play the horses and haven’t been to Vegas in more than 20 years. There is a “But”! I am going to ignore my own rule.

The Vegas odds gave the Chiefs an advantage due to experience and the previous Lombardi Trophies during the Mahomes era. I do not believe in Travis Kelce’s anticipated decline — he will have another great season. Add in the Mahomes factor and our WR Corps and I can see it coming. Wait for it. Have fun watching a great team in 2024!

Me? I am betting on the Chiefs to set a record and become a dynasty. I might break my own rule and bet on this game which I believe will occur — Super Bowl LIX — and the good part is, it will happen before our very eyes.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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