The Kansas City Chiefs have lost several key pieces this season.
Wideouts Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice are out for the season, while Isiah Pacheco needed surgery on a fractured shin.
But despite the blows, the three-peat train is rolling full steam ahead and the Chiefs are 5-0.
Kareem Hunt returned to the team as a free agent and took over the running back duties from Pacheco as if he never left.
Juju Smith-Schuster has seamlessly slotted in to fill the void left by Rice, who was the Chiefs’ leading receiver before he went down.
NFL analyst Jason Bell thinks Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce can take a lot of the credit – as well as highlighting an area that is often overlooked.
“When you talk about teams and you talk about franchise players, obviously we’re speaking of Patrick Mahomes,” he told talkSPORT’s Jack Savage.
“And this is the result of that. When you pay a guy that much money, it’s supposed to be a situation where he can carry the load.
“Now, we know he needs weapons around him, and it’s all about building the best team and assets around his skill sets.
“But if he has to make it happen, it’s him. And that’s what you see. The continuity of him, Travis Kelce.”
The Chiefs made Creed Humphrey the best-paid center in the NFL with a four-year deal worth $72million in August.
Only the Indianapolis Colts can top Kansas City’s $67m investment in the offensive line this season, per Over the Cap.
Anyone order some @creed_humphrey pancakes for brunch this morning? 🥞 pic.twitter.com/eb8lTbAYH7
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 7, 2024
And Bell says the stability they provide up front has allowed Andy Reid to overcome the injuries.
“Remember, they invested a lot in this offensive line, and that’s where you hold up in the NFL,” he explained.
“I know all the flashy toys are on the outside, but it’s the big dudes in the middle that make it happen. And they’re holding it together.
