They clearly can turn it on when they feel like it. They're in control of almost every game. They are loaded on offense and have a good enough D. They remind me of the 2000's Pats as they miles ahead of everyone. Difference is, I think the Chiefs are built for a 3 peat. And if that happens, we Pats fans better start sweating on the Chiefs chasing the Pats 6 Lombardi's. And it won't take 20 years to do so.
There's no question they're a great team that should contend into the future.
Right now, though, they've won one championship.
Besides the Patriots, there's no team in the NFL that has consistently won championships, or even appeared in the Super Bowl, after their quarterback gets his pay day. And a major reason the Patriots are an outlier is because Brady and his 2 best offensive weapons always cost around $35-40M.
That, not Brady's slightly discounted/strangely structured contracts, is the real story.
Even with creative cap delays to Mahomes, he, Kelce, and Hill, etc., will cost about $55M next season, which is about 1/3 of the entire cap. Not many QBs are willing to part with their high-priced weapons, and not many GMs even consider that great QBs have a multiplier effect on non-elite skill players that makes them more valuable. The Patriots led the league in scoring under Brady despite being notoriously unwilling to surround him high-paid, blue chip weapons.
Maybe they'll be okay...and a large erosion in roster talent will still not be enough from preventing Mahomes getting to a conference championship game every year. Maybe not. But the fact is, this year hasn't really proved much. They were supposed to be absolutely dominant and they are. Next test is: how do you remain dominant with scarce draft ammo and a roster budget that's $40M less than before due to your QB. Your QB isn't actually better making $40M than $5M; he is the exact same guy but just costs more.
A lot of teams seem really smart when their star QB has a rookie deal. Even Jared Goff made the Super Bowl; the Seahawks seemed destined for a dynasty; the 2011 Packers were cruising towards the five championships. There's just no way to say with any confidence how the Chiefs will do when the bonus period ends. Look at all the constant *****ing in Green Bay, Seattle, Indianapolis, etc. about how management has botched their chances for multiple championships. The rosters aren't botched; it's just a natural cap consequence, and fans have unrealistic expectations that the team will suddenly hit draft picks and free agents at impossible rates.
