Ranking of the NFL Chiefs’ Greatest Rivalries

Editor’s Note: For the next two weeks, it is NFL Rivalry Week at SB Nation. We will have articles that take a look at Kansas City Chiefs‘most hated opponents.

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Professional football rivalries occur in a variety of circumstances. Some are based on the fact that their franchises have played with each other for a long time, some since the 1930s. Others exist simply because two good teams often collide in the postseason. Either way, a true rivalry game feels remarkably different than any other contest.

For the Chiefs, there are some obvious historical rivals, and then there are fresher rivalries born out of fighting other elite teams. Of course, you know which of these is which, but here are six current rivalries ranked by their current strength:

one) Baltimore crows

Force of rivalry: upward trend

Photo by David Eulitt / Getty Images

One consequence of the Chiefs’ recent dominance over the AFC West is the lack of competitive rivalry in the division. That’s why I think the team’s biggest rival currently is the Ravens, even though Kansas City has won the matchup in each of the past two seasons.

There’s a reason NFL.com ranked this rivalry as the league’s biggest in 2020. The two teams are clearly the elite teams in their conference. Baltimore fans may have a bad taste in their mouths after their 2019 postseason loss, but their unprecedented 14-2 regular season was no accident. They have established themselves as AFC contenders for the upcoming season and beyond.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s MVP season was no accident, either. He dethroned Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as reigning MVP, and he still has plenty of room to improve his game. Both have won the award once, and their individual battle for that award in the coming seasons will only add to the rivalry.

In week 3, Kansas City will travel to Baltimore to Monday night football. It will be the first nationally televised game in the Mahomes vs. Jackson series, and also the first outside of Arrowhead Stadium. Another exciting contest will take your individual rivalry one step closer to becoming Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady of this generation.

two) Denver Broncos

Force of rivalry: upward trend

Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Speaking of Manning … as a Chiefs fan, the Broncos were my most hated opponent while he was their quarterback. His dynamic offense neutralized what we consider an elite defense, dominating the Chiefs with a 7-1 record during his era.

But now, things have changed. the Bosses They are now the team with an unstoppable offense, and have won the last nine games. In their two games in 2019, the Chiefs outscored Denver 53-9, indicating that the competitive gap between franchises is large.

But I think Denver has a franchise quarterback in former Missouri Tigers interlocutor Drew Lock, and they must also believe it because they have amassed young and dynamic game makers in their other offensive skill positions. It won’t be long before the Chiefs-Broncos games consistently turn into exciting shootouts that will be heartbreaking, but fun to watch.

3) Las Vegas Raiders

Force of rivalry: slightly downward trend

Photo by Daniel Shirey / Getty Images

As a Chiefs fan, it’s hard not to give the Raiders a higher place on this list. During the 1990s, former head coach Marty Schottenheimer instilled hatred for silver and black in the team and its fans, and the Oakland Coliseum became no more hateful than when the Chiefs arrived in town. But moving the Raiders to Las Vegas could do different things.

What we hope for a more corporate vibe at the Raiders’ home games at Allegiant Stadium will likely hinder the intensity of the annual showdown. No more Dungeon filled with raised middle fingers for the Chiefs players to confront. No more outdated facilities for equipment and media. No more dirt field to complain about playing on.

For me, all of that will take away the essence of Chiefs vs. Raiders, and it doesn’t help that lately, the team has been mediocre. That being said, Las Vegas head coach Jon Gruden is determined to build a contender. I think they will eventually get there, which will obviously add to the long historical rivalry.

4) New England Patriots

Force of rivalry: downward trend

Photo by Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

While the battle between the great head coaches of all time, Andy Reid and Bill Belichick will continue, the loss of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will take great advantage of this seemingly annual showdown; In recent years, Mahomes challenged Brady as the league’s best quarterback has been the driving factor in this rivalry.

But on Sunday, the Patriots did their part to restore some of the excitement when they signed former NFL MVP quarterback Cam Newton. Regardless of how he felt about New England a week ago, they automatically improved with the possibility that a healthy Newton could return to his elite level of play.

If that happens, the Patriots have a chance to return to Super Bowl form, and get in the way of the Chiefs in their quest for a repeat. But with Brady out of the picture, the long-term rivalry has taken a hard hit.

5) Los Angeles Chargers

Force of rivalry: downward trend

Photo by Peter G. Aiken / Getty Images

I’m sure I’m not the only Chiefs fan who loved to hate former Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. His antics on the field with the referees and opposing players made it easy to root against the veteran gunman, but his never-giving-up mentality and willingness to shoot any shot made him a respected opponent as well. While the Chiefs have dominated the series recently, Rivers has still managed to break into Arrowhead and ruin some games.

Now that he’s signed with the Indianapolis Colts, it will be really weird to see another quarterback take photos of the Chargers in 2020. Once Los Angeles solidifies the quarterback position, they could be competitive, but Rivers’ absence will require a lot of fun outside of their games against the Bosses.

6) Houston Texans

Force of rivalry: slightly upward trend

Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images

This is not a rivalry because the Chiefs play the Texans so often. Instead, it is the entire career competition that will exist between Mahomes and Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Since they were drafted two points apart in the 2017 NFL Draft, they will always be compared against each other.

Unlike Baltimore, Houston is not yet an established AFC contender; in fact, they may have gotten worse this offseason. But as long as he’s his quarterback, Watson’s talent will make them a threat to the Chiefs AFC’s supremacy.