Team: | Kansas City Chiefs |
Year: | 2018 |
Record: | 12–4 |
Division Place: | 1st AFC West |
Coach: | Andy Reid |
Owner: | The Hunt family |
Stadium: | Arrowhead Stadium |
Playoffs: | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Colts) 31–13 Lost AFC Championship (vs. Patriots) 31–37 |
Mvp: | Patrick Mahomes |
Roy: | Andrew Wylie |
Shortnavlink: | Chiefs seasons |
The 2018 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 59th overall, their sixth under head coach Andy Reid, and their second under general manager Brett Veach. The Chiefs finished 12–4 and won their third consecutive AFC West title, made their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the AFC Championship in overtime. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the AP NFL MVP award, becoming the first Chiefs player to ever be named MVP.[1]
In the offseason the Chiefs had several major changes, including trading 2-time Pro Bowler Marcus Peters, as well as Alex Smith. The team also voided the final year of the contract of their longest tenured player Derrick Johnson and they released long time linebacker Tamba Hali.
Under first year starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs would start the season 5–0 for the second consecutive year before losing to the New England Patriots. The Chiefs then won their next four games before losing again to the Los Angeles Rams. A Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens clinched the Chiefs' fourth consecutive playoff appearance. After defeating their rival, the Oakland Raiders 35–3 in Week 17, the Chiefs clinched their third consecutive division title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since 1997.[2]
In the playoffs, the Chiefs advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993 by defeating the Indianapolis Colts, 31–13 in the divisional round. This win ended the Chiefs' 6-game home playoff losing streak dating back to 1993. It was only the Chiefs' second win in their last 13 playoff games. In the AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, 37–31 in overtime. Two days after the loss, defensive coordinator Bob Sutton was fired following multiple NFL analysts criticizing his lack of adjustments in the AFC Championship Game, as well as other games throughout the season.[3]
The Chiefs had three players ranked in NFL Network's annual Top 100 players countdown, the fewest the team has had on the list since 2012.
See main article: article and NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
Rank | Player | Position | Change | |
---|---|---|---|---|
24 | TE | 2 | ||
33 | Kareem Hunt | RB | NR | |
40 | WR/PR | 4 |
See main article: 2018 NFL draft.
Trades
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Houston Texans | L 10–17 | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap | ||
2 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 28–14 | 1–1 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | ||
3 | at Chicago Bears | L 20–27 | 1–2 | Soldier Field | Recap | ||
4 | Green Bay Packers | W 33–21 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |
Notes
This game was Patrick Mahomes’ home debut at Arrowhead Stadium, which also happened to be against the team Mahomes would eventually defeat in his first Super Bowl victory.
With this win, head coach Andy Reid eclipsed win number 200, becoming the seventh coach in NFL history to do so (with Don Shula, George Halas, Bill Belichick, Tom Landry, Curly Lambeau, & Marty Schottenheimer).[11]
With this win, head coach Andy Reid won his 201st regular season game, passing Marty Schottenheimer to move to 6th most regular season wins in NFL history.
See main article: 2018 Kansas City Chiefs–Los Angeles Rams game.
With this win, head coach Andy Reid won his 206th combined regular season & post season game, passing Marty Schottenheimer to move to 7th most combined wins in NFL history.[12]
See also: 2018–19 NFL playoffs.
Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wild Card | First-round bye | ||||||
Divisional | Indianapolis Colts (6) | W 31–13 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap | ||
AFC Championship | January 20 | New England Patriots (2) | L 31–37 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |