The Kansas City Chiefs have established a dynasty in the AFC West with 6 consecutive titles. However, the division grew stronger this offseason with the Denver Broncos upgrading at quarterback, the Chargers strengthening their defense and the Raiders bringing in more offensive weapons. And the most notable move by the Chiefs this offseason was trading away Tyreek Hill. Are the Chiefs on their way to their 7th division title? Or could the dynasty be over?
Kansas City Chiefs breakdown
2021 record: 12-5
2021 ATS record: 8-9
2021 O/U record: 10-7
Key players in: Ronald Jones (RB) Jerick McKinnon (RB), Corey Coleman (WR), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR), Justin Reid (S)
Key players out: Darrel Williams (RB), Tyreek Hill (WR), Byron Pringle (WR), Demarcus Robinson (WR), Mike Remmers (OT), Kyle Long (OG)
2022 Draft class: Trent McDuffie (CB), George Karlaftis (DE), Skyy Moore (WR), Bryan Cook (S), Leo Chenal (LB), Joshua Williams (CB), Darian Kinnard (G), Jaylen Watson (CB), Isiah Pacheco (RB), Nazeeh Johnson (CB)
Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL season odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl odds
The Chiefs have 4th-best odds to win Super Bowl 57 at +1000.
Kansas City Chiefs AFC Championship odds
Kansas City is the 2nd favorite to win the AFC at +600, only trailing the Buffalo Bills at +300.
Kansas City Chiefs AFC West odds
The Chiefs are the favorites to win the AFC West division with +175 odds, but the Chargers are close behind at +220.
Kansas City Chiefs win total odds
The Chiefs’ win total is set at 10.5, with -115 odds on them to win 11 or more games in the 2022 NFL season and -105 for them to win 10 or fewer games. They are -210 to make the playoffs and +170 to miss out.
Head to our NFL Odds page for odds on all the main NFL betting markets
Kansas City Chiefs schedule 2022
at Arizona Cardinals, September 11
vs San Diego Chargers, September 15
at Indianapolis Colts, September 25
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, October 2
vs Las Vegas Raiders, October 10
vs Buffalo Bills, October 16
at San Francisco 49ers, October 23
BYE
vs Tennessee Titans, November 6
vs Jacksonville Jaguars, November 13
at Los Angeles Chargers, November 20
vs Los Angeles Rams, November 27
at Cincinnati Bengals, December 4
at Denver Broncos, December 11
at Houston Texans, December 18
vs Seattle Seahawks, December 24
vs Denver Broncos, January 1
at Las Vegas Raiders, January 8
We’ll have NFL picks for EVERY matchup of the 2022 season
Kansas City Chiefs 2021 season recap
Since the Patrick Mahomes era began, it has become normal to expect the Chiefs to have a good season and make a playoff run. But to everyone’s surprise, Kansas City started the 2021 season 3-4, and Mahomes did not look himself. His incompletion rate was the highest of his career, he was throwing more interceptions and he seemed off with his receivers. However, it was only a matter of time before Mahomes went back to who he was and took the Chiefs out of a 3-4 hole and brought them one win away from the Super Bowl. Kansas City finished the regular season on a 9-1 run and looked like the best team in football during that 10-game span. That marked the 6th consecutive year the Chiefs were crowned AFC West Champions.
Read our Super Bowl 57 predictions and best bets, including a +4500 longshot
Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL season predictions
First off, the elephant in the room. The fastest receiver in football and one of Mahomes’ favorite targets, Tyreek Hill, was traded to the Miami Dolphins. In a shocking move that sent five draft picks back to Kansas City, Mahomes lost a valuable weapon on offense. It won’t be easy to replace Hill, but Kansas City brought in JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and drafted speedy receiver Skyy Moore from Western Michigan.
Compared to the rest of the AFC West, the Chiefs’ offseason was lackluster. The Broncos acquired Russell Wilson, the Raiders acquired Davante Adams, and the Chargers brought in J.C. Jackson and Khalil Mack. Even with the AFC West becoming one of the strongest divisions in football, Kansas City still has one of the best quarterbacks in the game, an above-average receiving group, and the best tight end in the league.
Best bet: Kansas City Chiefs win AFC West (+175)
It should be a close race between the Chiefs and Chargers for the AFC West in 2022, but the Chiefs can continue their dynasty for another year. Both offenses are very similar, but the Chiefs have a slight advantage with Travis Kelce. The defenses are very similar, and it’s hard to confidently say one is better than the other. However, the Chargers don’t have Mahomes. Don’t get me wrong, Herbert is an excellent quarterback and will likely throw for 4,600+ yards again in 2022. But the Bolts always seem to falter towards the end of the season, and that is when Mahomes and the Chiefs are at their best. Their dynasty in the AFC West may be starting to crumble, but it’s not falling apart just yet.
Kansas City Chiefs season record predictions
The Chiefs have a difficult schedule in 2022, but that shouldn’t stop them from going 12-5. It’s possible for them to go 13-6 if they win a toss-up game or win more games in their division than expected. However, 12 wins is the safer bet. I expect another dominant season in Kansas City en route to their 7th straight AFC West title.
Check out our best bets to win the AFC this season
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