Can The Kansas City Chiefs Break The 17-Year Curse That Began In 2007?

Can The Kansas City Chiefs Break The 17-Year Curse That Began In 2007?
Total Pro Sports Total Pro Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to high-pressure situations, but they’re about to face a bigger challenge than the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship. They’re fighting against a bizarre and almost supernatural NFL trend: the 17-year curse of the final unbeaten team. Since 2007, no team that was the last to lose a game during the regular season has gone on to win the Super Bowl. Could Kansas City finally end this streak?

Here’s everything to know about the curse, the Chiefs’ position, and why history might be against them, even as they prepare for their biggest game of the year.


The Curse in Numbers: A Look Back at the Final Undefeated Teams

Over the past 17 seasons, the final unbeaten team has repeatedly fallen short of claiming the Lombardi Trophy. This unlikely streak started with the 2007 New England Patriots. The Patriots dominated that season, going 16-0 in the regular season and cruising to two playoff wins before falling in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. The underdog New York Giants stunned them 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII, despite New England being a 12.5-point favorite.

Since then, other final unbeaten teams have shared similar fates. Teams like the 2009 Colts and 2018 Rams made it to the Super Bowl but fell short. Others, such as the 2011 Packers, 2013 Chiefs, and 2021 Cardinals, didn’t even make it past the divisional round. Across 17 seasons, the final unbeaten team has reached the Super Bowl 12 times but won just once — the 2006 Colts led by Peyton Manning.

17 years ago today, the Patriots took a 21-3 lead in the AFC Championship

Peyton Manning and the Colts came all the way back to seal the victory 😤pic.twitter.com/7vcwexqyrb

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) January 21, 2024

The Colts are the outlier. They started 9-0 that year, lost their first game in Week 10, and went on to win Super Bowl XLI, defeating the Chicago Bears 29-17. But that success hasn’t been replicated since, creating an increasingly infamous NFL storyline.


AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills

The Chiefs started their 2024 season with a perfect 9-0 record, becoming the NFL’s last unbeaten team. That streak ended in Week 11 when the Buffalo Bills handed them a 30-21 loss. Now, these two powerhouses are meeting again, this time with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Kansas City’s dominance this season, coupled with Patrick Mahomes’ MVP-caliber performance, puts them in a strong position. However, the weight of history looms large. The Chiefs’ previous encounters with this curse haven’t ended well.

In 2003, they started 9-0 but lost in the divisional round to Peyton Manning’s Colts. Similarly, in 2013, Andy Reid’s first season as Kansas City’s head coach, the team went 9-0 only to collapse late in the season and lose a wild-card game to the Colts after blowing a 38-10 lead. Sunday’s game isn’t just about advancing...