Points-machine Mahomes eyes Super Bowl glory and only Packers can stop him

NFL teams not yet in the playoffs have one more game to scramble for one of the 14 lifeboats.

Once the knockout phase begins on January 9, it may not matter however. Because one team stands head and shoulders above the rest.

The Kansas City Chiefs are clear favourites to win the Super Bowl, and while the old adage says ‘defence wins championships’, this year the NFL’s most potent offence is blowing teams away.

The fulcrum of the Chiefs’ success is MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes (above).

He is flanked by the best tight end in football, Travis Kelce, and the league’s most dangerous wide receiver in Tyreek Hill.

Both Kelce and Hill are in the NFL’s top five receivers in terms of total receiving yards and touchdowns scored.

Indeed, if it wasn’t for their mesmerising quarterback overshadowing them, both could be deserving of mention in the MVP conversation.

If any team is to beat the Chiefs, they are going to have to put up a big score because no defence seems capable of stopping Mahomes.

Rivals have sacked him, caused incomplete passes and even forced multiple interceptions – but he just keeps coming back. No one has been able to tie him down for all four quarters.

In his 51 NFL starts, he has only failed to put up at least 20 points on one occasion.

On the AFC side, while I think the Buffalo Bills are the best of the rest, the Tennessee Titans pose a more awkward match-up for the Chiefs.

They have the best running back in the league in Derrick Henry while quarterback Ryan Tannahill looks in the form of his life.

Ultimately though, I don’t think the Titans would have enough and I expect the Chiefs to come through the AFC unscathed and return to the Super Bowl on February 7.

So it will be down to someone from the stronger NFC to knock them off course and the team with the best shot is Green Bay.

The Packers boast the eighth best rushing offence in the league but unlike the Titans they are incredibly well balanced offensively.

They have future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback and top receiver Davante Adams – meaning they are dangerous in the air too.

The Buccaneers on their day could do it and don’t count out the Rams or Saints.

But if anyone is going to beat the Chiefs, it will be the Packers.