Drew Brees: The Chiefs Know How to Win

Although they’ve been far from perfect, the Chiefs are the NFL’s lone remaining undefeated team at 7-0. Kansas City has managed to win a number of one-possession games – five to be exact – this season.

«They have to be,» Brees says in a one-on-one interview with DJ Siddiqi when asked if the Chiefs are the Super Bowl favorites. «How many one-possession games have they played this year? I think their first four games were one-possession games. They just find ways even when they’re short-handed.»

The former New Orleans Saints quarterback points to the team’s consistent ability to pull out close wins over the past five years.

«Over the last five years, there have been moments in each of those seasons where they went through a couple-game losing streak, or they weren’t playing really well, and there were all these question marks,» says Brees. «Everybody’s saying the Chiefs have lost it. What happens? At some point, they figure it out, they pull it together, and they just became an ascending team going into the playoffs. They have as good a defense as they’ve ever had one since Mahomes has been there.»

Despite Patrick Mahomes playing less-than-stellar football, the Chiefs remain a juggernaut. The two-time MVP has thrown an interception in eight consecutive games and currently leads the league in picks with nine.

However, as has been the norm throughout his career, Mahomes has managed to turn it on late in games and has two game-winning drives under his belt early this season. Most importantly, the Chiefs’ defense – which ranks fifth in the league in scoring allowed – has been able to make up for Mahomes’ mistakes.

«The Chiefs know how to win,» says Brees. «Patrick Mahomes knows how to win. Those guys are never out of the game. If it goes to the fourth quarter and it’s a one-possession game, chances are they’re going to find a way to win. That’s what winning teams do – it’s a winning organization. They’ve proven that time and time again.»

Despite a multitude of injuries to key players, the Chiefs haven’t been affected in the way of losses. Kansas City has already lost starting wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice to season-ending injuries – both have a slim chance of returning during the playoffs – while also losing starting running back Isiah Pacheco since Week 2 due to an ankle injury.

Making matters even worse for opposing teams looking to dethrone the Chiefs – they’ve won three of the past five Super Bowls – is that Kansas City added five-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the mix. Trading for Hopkins makes up for the void of not having Rice and Brown in the lineup.

«They’re never out of it, regardless of who’s in the lineup or who might be banged up,» says Brees. «Obviously losing Rashee Rice was a tough loss for them a few weeks back. It seems like this is a bit of an answer (Hopkins) to add some more firepower to the offense. It feels like everybody’s been banged up, big injuries on a lot of teams this year, including the Chiefs, they haven’t been immune to that.»

Brees hammers home how good Mahomes is when he needs to be despite lackluster production this season. Among all starting quarterbacks in the league, Mahomes ranks second in the NFL in passer rating in the fourth quarter. In other words, he saves the best for last and converts when his back is against the wall.

Patrick Mahomes

«I think the sign of great teams is when they’re a little banged up or short-handed, you have guys who step up, and there’s a level of expectation,» says Brees. «There’s a standard to that. When you have a quarterback like Mahomes, you just know that if the game is a one-possession game or down to the wire, you’re going to find a way to put it in his hands at the end. When that’s the case, you have a good probability of winning.»

Considering the Chiefs have a game-and-a-half lead over the next-best team in the AFC, Kansas City may be trending towards a No. 1 seed in the playoffs and home-field advantage. There’s a long way to go in the season, but if the Chiefs can clinch the top seed, it would ensure an easier path to the Super Bowl.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images; Ezra Shaw/Getty Images; Ethan Miller/Getty Images