Trump takes NFL, NBA to task about kneeling during national anthem
President Donald Trump did not mince words when discussing his feelings about NFL and NBA athletes taking a knee during the National Anthem.
The Kansas City Chiefs led by Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes are ready to be the face of the NFL, and they have the potential to be the league's next dynasty.
A year after his regular-season MVP campaign, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl title for the first time in 50 years. During the regular season, Mahomes threw for 4,031 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and only five interceptions. After missing two games midseason due to a knee injury, Mahomes came back in Week 10, and the Chiefs fell to the Tennessee Titans, 35-32. That would be the last loss Kansas City would suffer that year.
The Chiefs won their last six regular-season games and finished with a 12-4 record, which was good enough to earn the No. 2 seed in the AFC. In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Chiefs fell behind to the Houston Texans, 24-0, but stormed back and ended up winning, 51-31. It was Kansas City's largest comeback in franchise history. The Chiefs scored 41-straight points and became the first team in NFL history to win a playoff game by at least 20 points after trailing by at least 20.
In the AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs got revenge against the Titans. Mahomes threw for 294 passing yards, added 53 yards on the ground, and had four total touchdowns in a 35-24 win. And in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes led the Chiefs to three touchdowns in the final six minutes of the game to overcome their third double-digit deficit in the postseason, and they beat the 49ers, 31-20, to claim the Lombardi Trophy.
How about an encore in 2020? The Chiefs are already talking about running it back.
Here's what else you need to know about the Chiefs this year.
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5 THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS' ALL-TIME MOUNT RUSHMORE: 4 BEST PLAYERS IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 2020 SCHEDULE: 3 INTRIGUING MATCHUPS
- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: EACH NFL DRAFT 2020 SELECTION
- PATRICK MAHOMES, CHIEFS AGREE TO 10-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WORTH UP TO $503M: REPORT
- CHIEFS GET BETTER, FASTER AS AFC WEST RIVALS TRY TO CATCH UP
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NEW ADDITION HIGHLIGHT: CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE
LSU Tigers running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) runs with the ball against the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Is it crazy to say that the Chiefs may have gotten better in the offseason?
Well, with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who will immediately step into a featured role in the high-powered offense.
Edwards-Helaire put together a fantastic 2019 season for the Tigers, which set records as an offense with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow leading the way.
He rushed for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns on 215 carries, which is good for a 6.6-yard per carry average. Edwards-Helaire started in 14 of 15 games for LSU, which went undefeated and claimed the national championship trophy. He was a fantastic receiving option as well. Edwards-Helaire had 55 receptions for 453 yards and a score, and as a kick returner, he had 10 returns for 214 yards.
At the team’s awards banquet back in December, Edwards-Helaire was named LSU’s MVP.
Edwards-Helaire led the SEC in rushing touchdowns with 16, he finished No. 2 in the conference in rushing yards, fourth in rushing yards per game (99.23), and he tied LSU’s single-season record for receptions by a running back with 50 catches. He rushed for 100 or more yards six times, all coming in the conference, and the Tigers were 6-0 in those games.
Edwards-Helaire will become the latest LSU running back to try and have some success at the NFL ranks. Others on the list over the last 15 years? Joseph Addai, Stevan Ridley, Spencer Ware, Alfred Blue, Jeremy Hill, Leonard Fournette, and Derrius Guice.
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PROJECTED STARTERS
Offense: Patrick Mahomes (QB), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB), Tyreek Hill (WR), Sammy Watkins (WR), Mecole Hardman (WR), Travis Kelce (TE), Eric Fisher (OT), Kelechi Osemele (OG), Austin Reiter (C), Andrew Wylie (OG), Mitchell Schwartz (OT)
Defense: Tanoh Kpassagnon (DE), Chris Jones (DT), Derrick Nnadi (DT), Frank Clark (DE), Willie Gay Jr. (LB), Anthony Hitchens (LB), Damien Wilson (LB), Rashad Fenton (CB), Tyrann Mathieu (S), Juan Thornhill (S), Charvarius Ward (CB)
Special Teams: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P)
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2020 CHIEFS SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Week 1: Texans (9/10, 8:20 pm)
Week 2: @ Chargers (9/20, 4:25 pm)
Week 3: @ Ravens (9/28, 8:15 pm)
Week 4: Patriots (10/4, 4:25 pm)
Week 5: Raiders (10/11, 1 pm)
Week 6: @ Bills (10/15, 8:20 pm)
Week 7: @ Broncos (10/25, 4:25 pm)
Week 8: Jets (11/1, 1 pm)
Week 9: Panthers (11/8, 1 pm)
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: @ Raiders (11/22, 8:20 pm)
Week 12: @ Buccaneers (11/29, 4:25 pm)
Week 13: Broncos (12/6, 8:20 pm)
Week 14: @ Dolphins (12/13, 1 pm)
Week 15: @ Saints (12/20, 4:25 pm)
Week 16: Falcons (12/27, 1 pm)
Week 17: Chargers (1/3, 1 pm)
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ODDS
To win the Super Bowl: +600
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Odds courtesy of Vegas Insider.