The myth of the Super Bowl hangover might be true for some, but don't tell that to the Kansas City Chiefs. While teams like the San Francisco 49ers have certainly felt the sting after their Super Bowl losses, the Chiefs seem to buck the trend.
It's why Kay Adams from "Up & Adams" had something to say about the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. With the Chiefs curiously ranked with the third-best odds to win another AFC Championship, Adams was puzzled.
“Are we really doing this?” she asked with a hint of disbelief.
"Sportsbook wizards, analysts who are clearly smarter than us, are we seriously not going to talk about the fact that they have Patrick Mahomes?”
Patrick Mahomes, for those keeping track, is the guy who rallied the Chiefs after their tough 31-9 Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And let’s not forget, they were just a field goal away from another big game appearance in 2021. Historically speaking, in 14 out of the past 17 seasons, the Super Bowl runner-up has bounced back with a winning record.
Chiefs are currently behind the Ravens and Bills to win the AFC Championship 🤯
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 8, 2025
Should Kansas City be the favorites in the AFC?@heykayadams | @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/Q4muenghho
Looking at the numbers, Super Bowl losers have clawed their way back into the playoffs in 12 out of the last 17 seasons. Take the 2008 New England Patriots, for example.
They lost Tom Brady to an injury early on but still managed to earn an 11-5 record under Matt Cassel. But while the Patriots showcased resilience, teams like San Francisco have struggled post-Super Bowl.
In fact, only four teams in that 17-season stretch failed to return to the postseason, including the 49ers in their recent outings. For the Chiefs, as Adams points out, health is paramount—particularly when it comes to Mahomes and his array of targets.
Last year’s injury woes are a cautionary tale, but Adams insists, “Let’s not forget, we’re talking about perhaps the best cast of pass-catchers Mahomes has had, assuming they stay healthy.”
The Ravens and Bengals, don’t count them out either—they’ve shown offseason improvements that could make them formidable AFC foes. However, Adams firmly believes the Chiefs rightly deserve the favorites tag. “It’s honestly irresponsible, even a bit foolish, to think otherwise,” she contended.
Here's how teams have performed after their Super Bowl letdown over the years: 11-6 with an early playoff exit, 12-4 getting deep into the playoffs, 11-5 capturing the Lombardi Trophy, and several other impressive showings.
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