The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2025 season with championship expectations shadowed by lingering questions from their Super Bowl defeat.
After suffering a decisive 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in February, the Chiefs face scrutiny about whether they can bounce back from what many considered an unexpected beating rather than a close defeat.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith recently weighed in on Kansas City’s title prospects during First Take, delivering a measured but pointed assessment of their chances.
“You can’t rule out anything with Patrick Mahomes because he’s that phenomenal, he’s that great. And Andy Reid is a great coach, and Travis Kelce, even though there was some slippage last year, a lot of us are confident that he’ll resurrect himself to some degree. Give them about a 40% chance. Stops there. Here’s the reason why, I’m gonna be more direct. When you get you’re a** kicked, like they got their a** kicked, it’s a different animal,” Smith said.
.@stephenasmith gives the Chiefs a 40% chance to make it back to the Super Bowl this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/GFN4IwIuXn
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 7, 2025
Smith emphasized that Kansas City’s Super Bowl loss represented more than a typical playoff defeat.
He pointed to the third quarter image of Mahomes and Kelce sitting quietly on the bench, unable to generate offense beyond midfield through most of the game.
Their first nine possessions lasted five plays or fewer, leaving both the quarterback and head coach without answers.
The analyst drew a distinction between this loss and their previous Super Bowl defeat to Tampa Bay, which he attributed primarily to offensive line injuries.
This time, Smith argued, the problems spread across multiple units with the Chiefs appearing overmatched throughout.
Kansas City had posted a franchise-record 15 wins during the 2024 regular season before their playoff run ended in disappointment.
The defeat featured both offensive struggles and defensive breakdowns that have shaped discussions entering this season.
However, the Chiefs have faced adversity before. Last season began with similar doubts about Mahomes and the team’s championship potential, yet they still reached the Super Bowl.
With Mahomes, Kelce, and Andy Reid leading the way, Kansas City has proven capable of transforming setbacks into motivation for historic runs.
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