Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 1689 The Real Impact
Until the season was nearing its end, until the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the New Orleans Saints in a key matchup, until the title of "Kings of the Road" was bestowed upon them.

People suddenly realized that everything had been foreshadowed at the beginning of the season, not after the loss to the Las Vegas Raiders; the timeline was wrong. Clearly, after an unusual offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs had turned their attention to the long road trip early on.

At the start of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the young and ambitious Los Angeles Chargers and the formidable Baltimore Ravens, both away games.

From the outset, the Kansas City Chiefs anticipated that they would be public enemy number one, with every team willing to do anything to defeat, challenge, and destroy them. This season's title defense is more difficult and perilous than ever before, and they need to pull themselves together.

then.

The title of "King of Away Games" was born.

Buzz, buzz buzz buzz.

Looking back on the entire season now, people belatedly realize all of this and shudder to see the true terror of the Kansas Chiefs.

From on the field to off the field, from before the season to after the season, this team is fully equipped in every aspect, truly showing the style of a dynasty team.

In the two decades since the beginning of the new century, challengers have come and gone, including Brees' New Orleans Saints, Rogers' Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants who defeated the New England Patriots twice in the Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers who won the Super Bowl twice, Harper's Baltimore Ravens, Big Manning's Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, and so on. Yet, no one has ever been able to truly shake the New England Patriots dynasty.

Until the Kansas Chief appeared.

Now people finally understand why it was the Kansas City Chiefs, and why the Kansas City Chiefs were able to accomplish what other teams had never been able to do!
Previously, it was generally believed that it was a coincidence.

The Kansas City Chiefs are undeniably capable, but the aging Brady, the escalating conflict between Brady and Billitcher, and the rigid operations of the New England Patriots are also undeniable realities. As the saying goes, the new generation surpasses the old, and the old generation dies on the beach; the Kansas City Chiefs simply rose to prominence at the right time.

It was just a coincidence, nothing more.

But upon closer reflection, it wasn't just luck. The Kansas City Chiefs' ability to defeat the New England Patriots and reach heights the Patriots never achieved was foreshadowed long ago—

Viktor. Reed. Plus Levi and Mahomes.

Then, boom!

Just like the Big Bang, a tremendous sound gave birth to a brand new universe.

Over the years, there have been different schools of thought within the league regarding the philosophy of building a championship team.

From the players' perspective, one type believes in the superstar effect, with teams built around their cornerstone quarterback, as seen with the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans; the other type believes in the team effect, with teams built around their head coach, as seen with the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Looking at the salary cap, one type believes in the rookie bonus, with teams primarily composed of rookies, aiming to build a championship team within the four-year rookie contract period, as exemplified by the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals; the other type believes in the money principle, employing mercenaries as the main force, quickly building a team to contend for the championship within one or two years, as typical examples of the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There are two forms and four methods, but they are not independent of each other. Different strategies are intertwined and run in parallel, and team managers and head coaches need to consider different possibilities.

Different owners, coaches, and team managers all have their own beliefs, build teams based on their own philosophies, and strive to reach the Super Bowl.

However, things have now changed slightly—the Kansas Chief.

The Kansas City Chiefs, unique and far ahead of the competition, have demonstrated not only the ability to reach the top but also the potential for a virtuous cycle. More importantly, they have opened up new possibilities at the tactical level. For three seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs have consistently delivered surprises on both offense and defense, offering the league new insights in every aspect.

And who could refuse?
This is the true impact the Kansas Chiefs have had on the League—profound and far-reaching.

At this point, some might say, "Is the team planning to draft a running back with a high pick in the first round? No way! Running backs are unpredictable; they're practically disposable. Judging from current practices, running backs acquired in the fifth or sixth round aren't that bad, so why risk searching in the first two rounds?"

Opponents argue that the same applies to quarterbacks; after all, the Cleveland Browns have already rebuilt their team eleven times in the past decade.
In fact, taking a risk in the first round to pick a quarterback can come at a much higher price, while choosing other positions is often less risky.

Moreover, the draft is inherently a gamble; choosing anyone is a gamble, as evidenced by this year's Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers.

Joe Burrow, the number one draft pick whom everyone firmly believed in, was the Cincinnati Bengals' natural choice for quarterback without any hesitation.

Justin Herbert, despite his many accolades, is far less celebrated than Burrow, who joined the Los Angeles Chargers as the sixth overall pick in the first round and the third quarterback selected this year.

What about now, after the season has ended?
The Cincinnati Bengals have a record of 4 wins and 12 losses, while the Los Angeles Lightning have a record of 7 wins and 9 losses.

Moreover, the Los Angeles Chargers held their own against the Kansas City Chiefs in both of their draft matches, so who will ultimately win the draft?

So, since it's all gambling anyway, why not try taking a risk like Vickić did in the 2017 NBA Draft?

Choosing Borrow, who is favored by everyone and has no risk, still requires time and space for Borrow to grow in the league. And what is the cost?

Top Scholar!

However, choosing Levi, Mahomes, or Herbert may seem risky, but in reality, the risks are reduced, and the team can gain more room for adjustment.

Everyone knows that the draft is an art, but now the Kansas City Chiefs have developed their own theory within this art, and have changed their philosophy of building a team accordingly. The number one draft pick is very important but not that important, and the quarterback is very important but also not that important. Rather than betting everything, they should take a holistic view.

Of course, the same applies to running backs. The league needs to recognize the importance of running backs, but it doesn't necessarily need to devote all its energy to them. A more accurate statement would be—

The idea that "only quarterbacks matter" is outdated.

Never forget that football is a team sport. There are many paths to Rome, and the Super Bowl isn't the only one that leads to the Super Bowl, which is the most exciting, entertaining, and captivating part of the sport. The league shouldn't ignore this essential aspect for the sake of commercial promotion.

The profound impact of the "Kansas Chiefs model" on the league is now finally surfacing, and the league's landscape and direction seem to be ushering in a new era.

got windy.

Twenty years after the league painstakingly cultivated the era of passing as king, American football is once again ushering in a new trend, all stemming from an American football team.

(End of this chapter)