The Chiefs are the club that everyone loves to hate—the new Patriots

In the unchanging rhythm of American sports, there’s a familiar pattern: admiration on the rise, applause at the peak, and disdain for overstaying. Welcome to the realm of antipathy, Kansas City Chiefs. Once a charming narrative, now America wearies of you, your star quarterback, your amiable coach, your famous partner, and above all, your persistent presence in the Super Bowl.

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Congratulations, Kansas City. You’ve inherited the role of the Patriots.

The NFL thrives on having a common adversary, and for almost two decades, the New England Patriots embraced that position, appearing in Super Bowls in nearly half of those seasons and securing six victories. Kansas City seems destined for similar success – four Super Bowls in five years, with two already claimed and a potential third just around the corner. That’s the formula for earning everyone else’s disdain.

Admittedly, the Chiefs haven’t yet reached the level of deep-seated anger and aversion that the Patriots once provoked. While Tom Brady embodied the archetypal ’80s movie jock who bullied nerds, Patrick Mahomes exudes, both in vibe and speech, a strong resemblance to those same nerds – albeit a nerd with the extraordinary ability to launch a football into the stratosphere. In their respective commercials – the contemporary gauge of athletes’ public image – Brady consistently projects the image of a former high school bully putting on a friendly act for the cameras, whereas Mahomes never appears entirely at ease in his own skin to mock anyone else.

Then there’s the matter of the sidelines. While Bill Belichick emanated a stern presence throughout every triumphant Super Bowl campaign, Andy Reid exudes a more amiable demeanor, from his frosty mustache to his affable, slightly goofy television persona. Despite Reid possessing the fortitude of a formidable coach – exemplified by his sly jab at Baltimore’s “hospitality” after defeating them on their home turf – he doesn’t evoke the image of an eternally unsatisfied boss or a distant, disapproving father.

Yet, what the Chiefs excel at is winning. And not just winning, but winning in a manner that shatters your heart, winning in a way that prompts you to question why you bother attempting at all. Miami, with your commendable regular season, now brace for the icy inferno. Seeking retribution for those 13 seconds, Buffalo? Not this year. So, Lamar, as the likely MVP, expect us to intercept those desperation passes. Thanks for participating.

The Patriots were known for this, as were other dynasties led by all-time greats – the ’90s Chicago Bulls, for instance, come to mind. A whole generation of NBA players, including Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and Karl Malone, lacks a championship ring due to Michael Jordan’s enduring dominance. The NFL has its 2020s equivalent, easily identified when considering how many Super Bowls Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson might have amassed if Patrick Mahomes had chosen baseball over football.

Then there’s The Taylor Swift Thing, a quintessential example of the internet’s life cycle: a star gains exposure, people grumble about the star’s visibility but continue clicking on stories about them, leading to more exposure. The cycle perpetuates, with people complaining even more yet still engaging, and the loop continues indefinitely.

The NFL has always thrived on narratives as much as scores, emphasizing storytelling over on-field events. This is evident in the two-week hiatus before the Super Bowl and the inundation of media coverage leading up to the game. If Taylor Swift were romantically linked to someone from, let’s say, the Carolina Panthers, she would still garner the same attention, but her January and February would be relatively uneventful.

There’s no compelling argument against Swift’s perceived overexposure – as the current world’s most popular entertainer, it’s expected that she captures the camera’s attention consistently. Moreover, does it really matter if her visibility is a meticulously orchestrated production for the cameras? As long as Swift’s presence doesn’t interfere with actual gameplay, let the broadcasts continue, and disregard the detractors.

The challenge with hatred is that it isn’t logical and doesn’t respond to reasoned arguments. In essence, the Chiefs are a captivating team to watch, guided by a quarterback who might already be considered one of the game’s all-time greats. Witnessing their ability to elevate their game in the postseason and use that prowess to dominate opponents is impressive, unless you find yourself on the opposing side. The only lament is that it seems to occur too frequently.

Had the Detroit Lions emerged victorious on Sunday, there would be no uncertainty about which team America would be cheering for in the Super Bowl. The 49ers, while not exactly an underdog, aren’t perceived as a hard-luck team merely happy to be in the championship. Nevertheless, if the Chiefs secure the win, brace for a surge in Kansas City fatigue during the 2024 season – it’s the cost of triumph in America.