Just over half a decade ago, the Chiefs were the newcomer among the AFC elite. Now, they’re standing alone.
Kansas City is preparing for its fourth trip to the Super Bowl in the last five years, having won two already. That has come amid a run that has seen them reach six straight AFC Championship Games, their latest a victory over the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens.
This postseason was supposed to be the one where the AFC was up for grabs because the Chiefs hadn't been as dominant as years past in the regular season. Instead, Kansas City has run roughshod through the Dolphins, Bills and Ravens, and now it will face the NFC’s top team, the 49ers, in the title game.
As any Patriots fan will tell you, the public perception of a team changes once they become a mainstay at the top. That’s what the Chiefs are undergoing now.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino appropriately dubbed it the Chiefs’ “villain era” during an appearance Tuesday on Cody & Gold.
“A lot of people were getting on Mahomes for when they lost against the Bills and he got mad after the game, and it’s like you have to be gracious in defeat and victory," Pasquantino said. "Screw that. That’s what you want in your guy. I’m going to go attack this win no matter what, I’m not OK with losing. People keep saying Lamar (Jackson) is going to get one, Josh Allen is going to get one. Well they have to do it, right? And (the Chiefs) have a guy that’s leading (his) team that is just like 'I’m going to do this every year,' and it’s working and it’s awesome to see.
“It’s been great because at first six years ago it was finally, someone is going to take down the Patriots, let’s go Chiefs, the whole country. Now it’s the Batman thing, you live long enough to become the villain. The Chiefs are in their villain era and it’s fun to watch.”