Kansas City start Super Bowl defense with Patrick Mahomes looking to inspire the first repeat since the Patriots in 2005… but can Jared Goff and Lions spoil the NFL Kickoff party?

The Kansas City Chiefs will hoist a Super Bowl championship banner tonight for the second time in three years as the AFC West franchise begins to run up the gauntlet to another Lombardi trophy and further immorality.

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, led by Andy Reid, form a virtually unstoppable three-headed offensive monster, but what awaits them is uncertainty – both within the organization and beyond, with many desperate to hold back a more fashionable version of the Patriots. dynasty.

The wolves wait in both conference and division; a revamped Denver led by Sean Payton, a Los Angeles Chargers team with a head coach on NFL death row and the eternally chaotic Raiders.

Joe Burrow’s Bengals, Josh Allen’s Bills, Trevor Lawrence’s Jags, and maybe even Lamar Jackson’s Odell Beckham Jr.-boosted Ravens will all be on the hunt for the Chiefs as well.

But before the wolves arrive, the lions prowl. Detroit has forgotten the arrival of Aaron Rodgers in New Jersey and has been the trendiest team in the National Football League this season.

Jared Goff has experience in a shootout against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs

Andy Reid is looking at his third Super Bowl to become the first team to go back-to-back since ’05

The Lions may not care about the newfound media scrutiny and interest, but there are expectations for this team to take control of the obvious NFC North and position themselves as a legitimate playoff team capable of mayhem.

A run of eight wins in the last ten games, including extended victories against Jacksonville, Minnesota and the New York Giants, has brought Detroit back into fashion. Experts and fans are also wondering what this season has in store for Dan Campbell’s men.

So much so that the Lions have the 9th best chances of winning the Super Bowl and the 4th best of becoming NFC champions.

Obviously there is more certainty about what the Chiefs will bring. As usual, his attack will jump through the television, even if his outer weapons aren’t what they once were.

Two years ago KC parted ways with Tyreek Hill and this season the same with Juju Smith-Schuster. They survived post-Hill and one would imagine Smith-Schuster will be replaced in a similar if not easier way.

Eight of the offensive starters have returned for the 2023 season, with LT Orlando Brown Jr. has been replaced by free agent Donovan Smith, with former Jags star Jawaan Taylor likely on the other side.

As revealed during the Super Bowl, Kansas City’s weakness—as it has been for years—is on the defensive side.

Challenges for a place on top of the professional football mountain may very well come from within. Currently, there is a 310-pound issue that swings the AFC pendulum in favor of Cincinnati and Co.

All-Pro d-tackle Chris Jones had 15.5 sacks in 2022 but stands firm amid contract dispute

The Chiefs will face tough obstacles if they want to win the AFC, including the Bills and Bengals

An already weak defense as a unit rushing through a pass will have to do without the all-world defensive tackle of Chris Jones, who is awaiting a markedly improved contract.

Jones was asked on X last month when he would return to the Chiefs, to what he answered “Week 8.”

There is optimism that the 29-year-old, who had 15.5 sacks last season, could return much sooner, but it seems extremely unlikely that he will play in the coming weeks.

Jones – a four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler – is in the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract where he has a base salary of $19.5 million through 2023.

While the former Mississippi State star is reportedly seeking a contract that would make him “at least the second-highest-paid player at his position,” The Athletics.

Jones’ average annual salary makes him the ninth highest paid of all d-tackles. Aaron Donald and Quinnen Williams rank first and second, respectively, with $31.6 million and $24 million respectively.

Williams had a brief stint this season before agreeing to a four-year, $96 million ($66 million guaranteed) contract.

If Kansas City wants to return to the Super Bowl a year after winning it all, as they did in 2021, they must follow a schedule that includes divisional opponents in addition to the AFC East, Cincinnati and a rematch with Philadelphia.

Despite road games with the Jags and Jets in the first month, the first half of KC’s schedule is quite workable.

The Chiefs face tough road games against both the Jets and Jaguars in the first four weeks

After an impressive end to 2022, Dan Campbell and Detroit have become a trendy franchise

While games against the Dolphins, Bengals, Eagles and Bills take place in November and beyond, they’re all in Arrowhead.

The Chiefs won 9-1 at home last season — including the playoffs — only to lose to Buffalo 24-20 in October.

With No. 15, No. 87 and the man with the mustache on the sidelines, it’s hard to think that somehow Kansas City won’t decide the fate of the Lombardi Trophy.

While it is still far too early to fantasize if Mahomes can turn his two Super Bowl rings into the seven that Tom Brady has.

Still, in his seventh season, Mahomes has as good a chance as anyone to make three. But first, there’s Detroit to deal with.