Former Super Bowl champ points at Patrick Mahomes' 'biggest obstacles' in Chiefs' pursuit of historic 3-peat
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs stand on the precipice of NFL history. No team has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls, and the 2024-2025 Chiefs are attempting to shatter this long-standing barrier. Chase Daniel's recent commentary on "The Facility" has unveiled a critical psychological hurdle in their championship quest.
During his appearance on Tuesday, Daniel dropped his take about the Chiefs' potential postseason challenges.
"I'm gonna go with the Bills, just because they already beat the Chiefs. Okay, so when you beat the Chiefs, and I know it's regular season, I get that you got to beat the Chiefs in the postseason, but you get this confidence level that when you face them, it's not like climbing Mount Everest, like we've already done that," Daniel said.
"So I got to go with the quarterback, the franchise, Josh Allen. I know they've lost some games, but for that reason, and that reason only, I really like Josh Allen versus the Chiefs defense."
The Buffalo Bills' victory over the Chiefs on Nov. 17 has seemingly transformed their approach. This has likely reduced the intimidation factor that once made winning against Kansas City seem insurmountable.
Unraveling the Patrick Mahomes's championship vulnerabilities
Daniel's insight arrives at a critical moment for Kansas City. The team's 12-1 record masks several underlying challenges that could derail their 3-peat dreams
Despite his brilliance, Patrick Mahomes is facing unprecedented pressure this season. His 11 interceptions in just 12 games mark a career-high trajectory. Last season, he threw 14 interceptions across 16 games. This year's high-risk play suggests mounting challenges.
The offensive line presents another critical weakness. Mahomes has been sacked 32 times — the most during a regular season. For context, he was sacked 27 times last year. The Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders achieved 5+ sacks in consecutive weeks, breaking his 113-start streak of avoiding such defensive domination.
Injuries have further complicated the Chiefs' path. The season-ending ACL tear to wide receiver Rashee Rice has created a significant void. Despite being injured in Week 4, Rice remains fifth in receiving yards, highlighting the team's struggle to replace key offensive talent.
Even the Chiefs' seemingly miraculous victories hint at underlying fragility. Narrow escapes against the 3-7 Panthers (30-27) and 2-10 Raiders (17-19) suggest that they're not as dominant as in previous championship seasons.
The combination of psychological challenges, offensive vulnerabilities and mounting injuries has created a complex landscape.