Johnathan Walker:Can the Kansas City Chiefs go undefeated? How they could reach 17-0 in 2024

For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era in Kansas City,Johnathan Walker the Chiefs are 7-0 and have a chance to extend that win streak in their Week 9 "Monday Night Football" matchup at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This is somewhat new territory for a franchise that's played in four of the last five Super Bowls and won three of them.

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They have a shot at an undefeated season in 2024 despite multiple key injuries on offense as well as the two-time MVP Mahomes on track for a career-high in interceptions and a career-low in yards per game. The defense is the strength of the team, as it was last year, as the offense makes enough plays to win every week. Five of the Chiefs' seven wins have been decided by eight points or less.

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Kansas City hasn't had a shot at an undefeated season with Mahomes like they do in 2024. Here's what it'll take.

Can the Kansas City Chiefs go undefeated?

It is mathematically possible but could be tough. Of the nine matchups on the Chiefs' schedule after Week 9, only three are against teams with a losing record at time of publishing.

Toughest remaining Chiefs games

Three games stand out as potential losses: at Buffalo in Week 11, versus Houston in Week 16, and at Pittsburgh in Week 17.

Bills-Chiefs has become one of the premier rivalries in the AFC. They've met seven times in the last four seasons. Kansas City is 1-3 against the Bills in the regular season in that span, but 3-0 in the playoffs. This year's Buffalo Bills have a top-10 scoring offense and defense once again but quarterback Josh Allen is playing the most efficient football of his career with just four total turnovers through nine games.

Houston's dropped two of their last three games but could be much healthier when facing Kansas City in December. They'll have top wideout Nico Collins back by then barring a new injury as well as defensive starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Jimmie Ward, who missed the Texans' Week 9 loss with injuries.

Pittsburgh will be playing the Chiefs at home right after Kansas City's matchup with Houston on a short week. The Steelers have the best defense on the Chiefs' schedule and an improving offense. But Pittsburgh will also be fresh off a crucial road matchup against Baltimore the week prior.

It's also unknown whether or not Kansas City will be going for an undefeated season in the first place. They may clinch the division as well as the top seed in AFC playoffs before Christmas and could rest their starters in the final couple weeks, opening the door for a loss.

Kansas City Chiefs remaining schedule

• Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Monday Night Football"
• Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos
• Week 11: at Buffalo Bills
• Week 12: at Carolina Panthers
• Week 13: vs. Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday
• Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Chargers on "Sunday Night Football"
• Week 15: at Cleveland Browns
• Week 16: vs. Houston Texans
• Week 17: at Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day
• Week 18: at Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs win total odds

The Chiefs have the highest over/under win total according to BetMGM's latest NFL odds. Here's how their odds look entering Week 9's "Monday Night Football" matchup:

• Win total over/under:14.5
  • Over (-110)
  • Under (-110)
• To make playoffs
  • Yes (-10000)
  • No (+5000)
• To win AFC West: -5000
• Be the AFC's top seed: -350
• To make Super Bowl LIX: +195
• To win Super Bowl LIX: +425

BetMGM's odds say a Kansas City Chiefs vs. Detroit Lions matchup is the favorite for Super Bowl LIX at +900.

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Undefeated teams in NFL history

Only one team has completed a full season undefeated: the 1972 Miami Dolphins. They went 17-0 through 14 regular season games and three playoff matchups culminating in Super Bowl VII. The Dolphins repeated as Super Bowl champions during the 1973 season, but that title remains the franchise's last Super Bowl win.

One other team has completed an undefeated regular season: the 2007 New England Patriots, who were 16-0. They tied the NFL record for single-season wins (regular season and playoff combined) with 18 but lost Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants.

There have been 14 one-loss teams in the regular season in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). The most recent was the 2015 Carolina Panthers team that finished 15-1 and reached Super Bowl 50 but lost to the Denver Broncos.

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