The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into the 2021 season with some high expectations once again. They have made it to the last two Super Bowls, defeating the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the most recent one.
Andy Reid and company will be looking to make it three straight Super Bowl appearances and they are among the favorites to take it home again. With their offensive line issues seemingly shored up this offseason, the Chiefs’ biggest issue from last season seems to be behind them now.
What can we expect to see from the Chiefs this upcoming season? Here are four bold predictions for Kansas City in 2021.
4. DeAndre Baker Intercepts Five Passes
DeAndre Baker was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He didn’t last long with Big Blue, as they released him in September of 2020 following armed robbery charges being brought against him.
In November, those charges were dropped as it was revealed he and Quinton Dunbar were being extorted for money by their accusers. The Chiefs signed him shortly after but it was short-lived as he broke his femur.
Kansas City re-signed him this offseason and if healthy, will receive plenty of playing time. He will take advantage of that and showcase why he was a first-round pick in the first place, intercepting five passes. The rich get richer as the Chiefs will be the ones benefiting most from Baker turning his career around.
3. Last Remaining Undefeated Team
The Kansas City Chiefs at times last season didn’t look very motivated. They would start games slowly and turn it up for periods of time to sneak away with victories, or not put teams away when they had the chance.
They still went 14-2, with the second loss coming in the regular-season finale when they rested a majority of their starters. Looking to make a statement once again as arguably the best team in the NFL, the Chiefs will steamroll teams to start the season.
Games against the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills in Week 1, Week 2 and Week 5 will give them an opportunity to show they are still the team to beat in the AFC. Those three will be stepping stones in the Chiefs being the last remaining undefeated team in the league in 2021.
2. Clyde Edwards-Helaire Breaks 1,700 Total Yards
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of LSU with the final pick of the first round in 2020. There were some high expectations for him coming out of college, but he had a pretty ho-hum rookie season.
In 13 games, Edwards-Helaire ran for 803 yards on 181 rushing attempts, scoring four touchdowns. He added 36 receptions for 297 yards and one more score. In his sophomore season, he will take those numbers to another level.
Without much competition, as Le’Veon Bell and Damien Williams are both no longer on the team, Edwards-Helaire will flourish. He will break the 1,700 total yard mark, rushing for at least 1,200 yards and reeling in at least 500 receiving yards.
1. Byron Pringle Emerges As No. 2 WR
This offseason the Kansas City Chiefs saw wide receiver Sammy Watkins depart in free agency, signing with the Baltimore Ravens. The team didn’t do much in the offseason to replace him, as they are hopeful one of their in-house options will step up to take his place.
The player who will do that is Byron Pringle. The team is high on Pringle and he will make good on that this season. Tyreek Hill is locked in as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, but Pringle will emerge this season as the team’s second option there.
He will triple his career number of receptions this season alone, cementing himself on the depth chart ahead of Mecole Hardman and Damarcus Robinson.
