NFL playoffs: Schedule, preview, how it works, who to watch, bracket, predictions & Super Bowl 2025 favourites

The big question this post-season concerns whether Patrick Mahomes and his Chiefs can become the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row.

They have questions to answer despite having the same 15-2 record as the Lions, because whereas Detroit blew teams away with a +222 points difference, the Chiefs were clawing and scraping wins with just a +59 points difference in their favour.

Most of their top starters last played on Christmas Day, so by the time they walk out in the second round they will have had three weeks off. Will they be well rested or ring rusty?

They did make the Super Bowl in 2020 with a similar plan, though, and there are no style points, so whether winning one-score games or on the last play, all they do is win.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has 26 play-off wins, the second most in history, so knows exactly what he is doing.

Mahomes has reached four Super Bowls in his six seasons as a starter, making at least the Conference Championship each year. He has as many Super Bowl rings as he does play-off losses (three) and his 15 play-off wins trail only Joe Montana (16) and Tom Brady (35).

Having been snubbed by the Pro Bowl voting, Mahomes might have a chip on his shoulder too, which is the last thing the rest of the field needs.

The Chiefs have used every trick in the book to get the job done and until someone not named Tom Brady or Joe Burrow proves they can go to Arrowhead Stadium and beat them, they remain the team everyone has to fear.