Chiefs secure 9th AFC West title, chasing NFL history
Porsche with no brakes and how! The Kansas City Chiefs are unstoppable in the AFC West. A gritty 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football sealed their ninth straight division title. It’s dominance, plain and simple. This streak is historic. Only the New England Patriots have a longer streak with 11 consecutive division titles between 2009 and 2019.
A DOINK FOR THE DIVISION! IT'S GOOD! @CHIEFS WIN! pic.twitter.com/RtsINqo05m
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2024
This season, the Chiefs are 12-1 and sitting pretty as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Winning close games has become their signature. Sunday’s victory marked their 10th one-score win of the season, a clear sign this team knows how to handle the pressure.
The Chiefs have now won seven straight games against the Chargers. This season, they’ve built an impressive 12-1 record, further solidifying their hold on the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The victory also marked their 10th consecutive playoff appearance, making them the first team this season to secure a postseason spot.
The Chiefs have won the AFC West how many years in a row????? pic.twitter.com/9Lim3ZxBXD
— Jason Anderson (@J810Anderson) December 9, 2024
Kansas City’s dominance within the division is unmatched. Since 2015, they hold a staggering 51-8 record against AFC West rivals, with head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes anchoring this sustained success. Reid has guided the team to all nine division titles, while Mahomes has been pivotal in the last eight, including seven as the starting quarterback.
Sunday’s win came down to the wire. Kicker Matthew Wright clinched the victory with a walk-off field goal that bounced off the left upright but stayed true. “I’m just glad it went in,” Wright said postgame. This marked Kansas City’s 10th one-score victory of the season, highlighting their ability to thrive under pressure.
Veteran defensive lineman Chris Jones emphasized the importance of these close wins.
“Getting prepared for later on in the playoffs when every game is going to be tight,” Jones said. “We know how to close.”
CHIEFS DO IT AGAIN‼️
— ESPN (@espn) December 9, 2024
Mahomes leads the Chiefs to a game-winning drive to clinch the AFC West for the NINTH year in a row 🔥 pic.twitter.com/n9JgvA7mSa
What’s more? Patrick Mahomes delivered yet another clutch performance, completing 24 of 37 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown. His connection with rookie receiver Xavier Worthy on a critical third-down play kept the final drive alive, leading to Wright’s game-winning kick. Mahomes also scrambled effectively and leaned on contributions from running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, acquired midseason, made a significant impact with a first-half touchdown. “We won the division; it’s the first step,” Mahomes said postgame. “We’ve got a lot more goals that we want to go for.”
This season has thrown plenty of challenges at the Chiefs. Key offensive weapons like Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown went down early. Isiah Pacheco missed significant time too. But the team adjusted. Kareem Hunt returned midseason, and DeAndre Hopkins was added via trade. Somehow, the machine keeps running.
Chiefs have the most voodoo magic of all time. They’re gonna 3-peat.
— Sideline Daily (@sideline_daily) December 9, 2024
pic.twitter.com/WafTXMoo9p
Chris Jones summed it up perfectly: “Every game is going to be tight… playoffs are going to feel like this. We know how to close.” That’s what makes Kansas City dangerous. Their defense ranks in the top 10, their offense can still grind out wins, and their kicking game? Rock solid.
The aim now is to create history, again. Kansas City remains focused on making history as they chase an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title. No team in the Super Bowl era has achieved a three-peat, though the Chiefs are on track to contend. They’ve reached the AFC Championship game six years in a row and have appeared in four of the last five Super Bowls.
The Chiefs’ nine-year streak is only surpassed by the Patriots’ 11-year run. The Patriots thrived during their era with elite defense and consistent offensive execution from Brady and key contributors like Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski.
That's 9 straight AFC West titles for the Kansas City Chiefs 🔁
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) December 9, 2024
The 2nd longest winning streak in NFL history https://t.co/tMrY834fHj pic.twitter.com/RwLGKFN9X0
Kansas City now stands two titles shy of matching New England’s record. With Mahomes and Reid at the helm, they appear poised to challenge that milestone in the coming years.
The Chiefs sit at 12-1 and lead the AFC. Four games remain before the postseason starts, and the goal is clear: secure home-field advantage and keep the top seed. Every team in the AFC is gunning for them, but the Chiefs know this road. They’ve been here. Six straight AFC title game appearances. Two straight Super Bowls.
“We won the division—it’s the first step,” Mahomes said. “We’ve got a lot more goals we want to go for.”
Image: © Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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