Are Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs 'the worst undefeated team ever'? Debunking 'lucky' narrative in 2024

The Kansas City Chiefs are 9-0 this year, winners of 15 consecutive games going back to the 2023 season and playoffs. They are also reigning repeat Super Bowl champions.

But despite all that, the Chiefs have been labeled "the worst undefeated team ever" through this point of the schedule. They've also been seen as "lucky' throughout nearly the entirety of their perfect start.

That luck, however, is the residue of the roster's championship design. Their great fortune has been hard-earned with their personnel, coaching, and execution. 

Here's debunking the four biggest reasons for the misguided "lucky" narrative about the best team in the NFL.

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The Chiefs' margin of victory

The Chiefs have 58 net points over their nine opponents, which averages out to a 6.4 margin of victory, or less than a touchdown and extra point. Seven of the nine games are one-possession games. One win came in overtime, vs. the Buccaneers in Week 9.

But the Chiefs, even when facing a significant hole early or in a tight game late, have rarely seemed in danger of losing. They have overcome plenty of injury attrition to make one more winning play every game, either on offense, defense, or special teams. They have beaten four teams currently in playoff position and also the 49ers, who should recover to win the NFC West.

Patrick Mahomes also trailed three times in Super Bowl victories and made it look easy while erasing deficits in the end. He leads the league with three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives. Joe Montana and Tom Brady were on awesome teams that didn't lose much and have been praised as GOATs for what they did in the clutch in close games. The Chiefs deserve more credit for being so consistent in surviving-and-advancing while getting the opposition's best shot every week.

Patrick Mahomes' numbers

Mahomes shouldn't be getting any kind of MVP buzz for his season, but that's OK because the Chiefs have helped him win games as a complete team in three phases. He is the first to not care that his stats are subpar in relation to the rest of his career.

Mahomes, should he play 17 games, is on pace for 23 TDs to 17 INTs with 4,170 yards passing. Although he is completing a career-high 69.5 percent of his passes, he also has a career-low 90.3 passer rating. His numbers are a mashup of his 2019 and 2022 seasons, only with a few fewer TDs and a few more INTs. In both of those years, Mahomes went on stellar playoff runs to get two of his three rings.

But when you look closer at Chiefs' games, he makes the needed plays, passing or running, third down or red zone, whenever needed. Mahomes also hasn't been challenged much with QBs capable of dueling him, leaving little reason to pad stats. When they trail, Mahomes does his thing. When they lead, they can afford to grind games out with the running game, defense, and special teams.

Mahomes is doing a reverse Brady. Brady's big numbers came after he won his first three rings. Mahomes has done plenty of damage before getting to three championships. He's gone old school in just being a bottom-line QB. Many don't believe "wins" are a QB stat, but then again, QBs are measured most by winning rings vs. what kind of passing and running they are doing. If Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen get heat for not being able to beat Mahomes when it counts most, then Mahomes should get much more props for the one responsible for it.

The Chiefs' offensive rankings

Kansas City is No. 10 in total offense (yardage) and No. 11 in scoring offense (points). What a slacker of a team. Oh wait, you can blame the defense's dominance for that "low" ranking.

The Chiefs also are No. 4 in total defense and No. 5 in scoring defense? Wow, talk about the worst. Digging deeper, they are the No. 2 run defense in average yards per carry allowed and No. 3 in average rushing yards per game allowed. Because of those strengths, teams need to pass vs. the Chiefs more often, yet they are No. 14 in passing defense, also allowing the ninth fewest yards per pass play.

The Chiefs don't look like the team to beat

Whenever someone is asked who's the best team in the NFL, the answers vary, but the Lions and Bills have tended to get more love than the Chiefs. But with all due respect to Detroit and Buffalo, Kansas City, much like its mascot, remains the big, bad wolf.

The Chiefs had two very different Super Bowl runs the past two years, but they always threw down their biggest rivals, whether home or away. They survived big-time challenges from the Eagles and 49ers as NFC powerhouses. The 9-0 start is not just about the wins this season, but the latest extension of their dynastic dominance. Until someone buries Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs, even if they lose a little during the season, no one should think they are overrated based on the most recent history.

The worst thing that anyone has done is put a "worst narrative" on the Chiefs. As if the teammates of Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones needed any more outside motivation to play like hungry underdogs instead of the unbeatable best in show.