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Can Anyone Stop Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs From Completing the Threepeat?

The Kansas City Chiefs have embarked on the 2024 NFL season with the task of becoming history makers and completing the first three-peat in history. The Missouri outfit has reached the Super Bowl four times in the last five seasons, winning three of them, including the last two on the spin. Now, they sit on the brink of greatness.

The three-peat is something that has remained elusive on the gridiron. While the likes of Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls, as well as Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers, have both romped to three straight championships on the basketball court, such a feat has never been achieved in the world of football. But that hasn't been for the want of trying.

Failed Three-peat Attempts

Only three teams in history have ever made it to the Big Game in three straight campaigns. The Miami Dolphins achieved the elusive feat in 1971, 1972, and 1973, losing the first but winning the latter two. They then went for the three-peat in 1974 but were downed in the Divisional Round by the Oakland Raiders.

Two decades later, the Buffalo Bills memorably made four straight Super Bowls, but inexplicably, they lost all four. In 2024, they remain without a maiden Lombardi. The New England Patriots also reached three straight between 2016 and 2018, winning the former and the latter of the three but losing the middle clash to the Philadelphia Eagles.

There have been plenty of other teams that have won back-to-back championships, but they were never quite able to claim the third. The Brady-Belichick Patriots won two on the bounce in the early 2000s but were downed in the 2005 divisional round by the Denver Broncos. Those same Broncos had their own three-peat ambitions derailed in 1999 but didn't even make the postseason after amassing a paltry 6-10 record.

Before that, the likes of the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), Miami Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers have all lifted consecutive Lombardis but were unable to go on and make history. Will the Chiefs suffer the same fate this term?

Opening Week Insights

The Chiefs headed into the new campaign as the frontrunner to claim the Lombardi, and started strong. After a 27-20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens on week one, the latest NFL odds make them the +475 favorites to reign supreme once again. In their kickoff game victory, the mercurial Patrick Mahomes was once again the linchpin of his side's offense. The former Texas Tech star racked up relatively modest stats for his standards, securing 291 throwing yards and a crucial touchdown, en route to the victory.

Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy was the star of the show, however. He made an explosive debut and immediately endeared himself to the Arrowhead faithful, contributing two touchdowns and displaying lightning speed which will be a problem for the rest of the league to deal with in upcoming games. His 35-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter highlighted the potential for dynamic playmaking that the Chiefs will likely rely on throughout the season.

Defensively, while the Chiefs managed to contain the Ravens' late-game surge, there were cracks visible. Lamar Jackson's ability to scramble and extend plays posed challenges, as evidenced by his 122 rushing yards. Had he not missed a wide-open Zay Flowers and had Isiah Likely not had a toe out of bounds deep into the fourth quarter, then last season's AFC top seed may well have emerged with a victory.

Potential Challengers

In the AFC, several teams pose credible threats to the Chiefs' quest for another title. The aforementioned Ravens certainly gave the reigning champions all they could handle in week one, and they will be aiming to build on their impressive showing in the coming weeks. However, no matter how well they perform throughout the regular season, question marks still linger over Lamar Jackson's ability to lead a team to a deep postseason run.

The Cincinnati Bengals were also supposed to be a threat. Superstar quarterback Joe Burrow has returned from injury and completed his first full preseason since his maiden campaign in the NFL. But that didn't matter on week one as Cincy was upset by the underdog New England Patriots on home turf in their opening game, and they must bounce back fast if they are to provide a credible threat.

Over in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers appear to be the biggest challenge. Led by upstart quarterback Brock Purdy as well as powerhouses in the form of tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey, the Niners can dismantle opponents at will both on offense and defense. They began their campaign with a comfortable win against Aaron Rodgers' New York Jets, and they will be aiming to put last season's Super Bowl LVIII heartbreak firmly behind them.

The 2024-25 English Premier League season is still in its relevant infancy, with all 20 teams completing only 10 of their 38 scheduled games. Manchester City remains the firm favorite to lift the Premier League trophy for the fifth consecutive year. However, now could be the perfect time to back Arne Slot’s Liverpool to capture their 20th league title; you are about to find out why.

This season is Liverpool’s first with the talismanic Jurgen Klopp pulling strings from the dugout since October 2015. Klopp won everything at Anfield and rightly has legendary status among the Anfield faithful. Whoever replaced Klopp had big shoes to fill. Dutchman Arne Slot was given that unenviable task and it is fair to say he has hit the ground running so far. Liverpool tops the Premier League table by two points, having won eight, drawn one, and lost one of their opening ten fixtures. Yet this isn’t the primary reason you should check the betnow online sportsbook review before placing a bet on Liverpool becoming champions of England, although it is one of them.

Liverpool Has a String of Winnable Fixtures

Image courtesy of Ben Sutherland (Flickr)

Although I firmly believe Manchester City will win the Premier League for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year, now is the perfect time to back Liverpool to win the league. As a sports bettor, you should always look for value in any bets you make. Liverpool’s current Premier League title odds make them second favorite, but those odds will only become shorter in the coming weeks.

Liverpool play nine Premier League games between now and the end of the year. They should win at least five, but perhaps as many as seven, including the fixture against Manchester City on December 1. They host Aston Villa on November 9, with Villa reeling from a 1-4 defeat last time out. Liverpool then travel to struggling Southampton after the international break before inviting Manchester City to Anfield.

City manager Pep Guardiola continually harps on about his star-studded squad being down to the bare bones. Recent Ballon d’Or winner Rodrigo is out for the season with an ACL injury, while Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and John Stones are unlikely to feature until the New Year. Now is the ideal time to play Guardiola’s all-conquering team, especially after Sporting Lisbon demolished them 4-1 in the Champions League on November 5.

Considering City plays Brighton away and Tottenham Hotspur at home before taking on Liverpool, should Slot’s men beat Villa, Southampton, and City, Liverpool could realistically find themselves seven or eight points clear at the top of the table heading into the busy Christmas period. Liverpool then have winnable games against Newcastle, Everton, Fulham, Leicester City, and West Ham United.

Making Allowance for Liverpool Injuries

We should applaud Manchester City for holding second place in the Premier League table as Guardiola works through an injury crisis. Although Liverpool has seen several key players sit out games through injury, a spate of injuries could completely alter the direction of their season.

Slot’s starting XI is undoubtedly one of the strongest in the Premier League. However, the Liverpool squad does not have the same strength in depth as Manchester City's. An injury to captain Virgil van Dijk would be devastating for the Anfield boys because they do not have anyone of note to cover him. It is a similar situation in midfield and attack.

Should Luis Diaz or Mohamed Salah face a spell on the sidelines, it is difficult to see where Liverpool’s goals will come from. Darwin Nunez has only one goal from his seven Premier League appearances, with only Diogo Jota scoring more than once outside of Salah and Diaz. There is every chance Liverpool will strengthen their squad during the January transfer window, but everyone knows it is challenging to reinforce your team at this time of year.

Of course, Liverpool's players could stay match-fit throughout the season, but that is an unlikely scenario.

Manchester City Will Welcome Back Players and be Hungry for Success

City are second in the standings even though injuries are ravaging their squad. The fact they are only two points behind Liverpool is a testament to the quality Guardiola has at his disposal. Traditionally slow starters, City have been fast out of the blocks and will only get better as they see players return from the treatment room.

By the time the New Year begins, City should have a full-strength squad to choose from, including Kevin De Bruyne, who has missed ten games this season and has struggled to regain his form and fitness. The Belgian superstar is a vital cog in the well-oiled City machine, scoring 103 goals and creating 171 assists in his 389 appearances.

What is the Best Bet to Make?

All things considered, the best bet to make is to back Liverpool to become the 2024-25 Premier League champions and make that bet now, especially if your chosen sportsbook allows cashouts. Liverpool’s title odds will not be longer than they currently are and are highly likely to dramatically shorten in the next four to six weeks, removing all value from selecting them. If Slot’s men defeat Guardiola’s Citizens on December 1, they will become firm favorites to capture their 20th league title.

If you don’t fancy Liverpool’s chances of glory and believe City will win their fifth straight Premier League trophy, you should hold off backing the boys in Blue for a few weeks. There’s a good chance they will drop a few points between now and the end of December, significantly lengthening their odds. However, place your bets before the January transfer window opens because there is zero chance of no new faces arriving at the Etihad Stadium in January. Good luck!

Many people looking for enjoyment the online find great attraction in online slot games because of their brilliant displays and instant wealth guarantee. However, often the simplicity of their gameplay causes players to make typical mistakes that could reduce their enjoyment and limit their prospects of getting higher wins.

Though each spin's result is finally controlled by chance, knowledge and avoidance of these common mistakes will help players to make more wise decisions, control their bankroll, and size of their payouts over time. This article will explore five main mistakes that players often make while interacting with online slots and offer ideas on how to prevent them for a more strategic and profitable gaming experience.

Ignoring the paytable and game rules

Failing to carefully review the paytable of the game and grasp its particular regulations is the most basic mistake a slot player might make in HELLOBET. The paytable is the indispensable guide to a slot game that outlines the value of each symbol, the winning combinations, the number of paylines, and any unique features, including wild symbols, scatter symbols, and bonus rounds.

Ignorance of this knowledge could result in lost chances and ineffective optimization of possible gains. Before spinning the reels, smart players usually take the time to study the paytable so they are completely educated about the mechanics and payoff possibilities of the game.

Ignoring the bankroll management plan

Engaging in HELLOBET without setting a budget or using a sensible bankroll management system is another typical mistake for slot gamers. This can cause chasing losses, impulsive betting, and, far faster than planned, deplete of cash. Even in the field of chance, successful slot play is defined as rigidly following clear boundaries on your expenditure. It also includes selecting wager amounts fit for your whole bankroll.

Players should gamble a small portion of their total money on every spin to enable a longer playing session and raise their chances of triggering possible bonus rounds or bigger prizes. One major error that can rapidly reduce any possible gains and cause a poor gaming experience is ineffective control of your cash.

Chasing losses

Particularly in a losing run, the appeal of recovering losses might be great. But a common and usually bad mistake in online slot play is chasing losses. In a slot game, every spin is an independent event controlled by a Random Number Generator (RNG); hence, past events do not influence present outcomes.

Consequently, raising your bets following a loss does not raise your chances of winning. Smart players know when to stop when they have reached their set loss limit.

Ignoring the Return to Player (RTP) Percentage

Though the result of individual spins is arbitrary, knowing the Return to Player (RTP) % of a slot game will enable players to make wise choices. Over a large number of spins, the RTP indicates the average amount of money a slot game will reimburse to players.

Though selecting games with greater RTP percentages provides a better statistical advantage over time, it does not guarantee individual results in the near term. Ignoring the RTP and playing any slot game without considering its possible long-term payout rate is a mistake that can lower your total odds of obtaining better results.

Ignoring Bonus Terms and Conditions

While many online casinos provide bonuses, a common error is accepting these offers without understanding the rules attached. Wagering rules, game restrictions, time constraints, and withdrawal caps usually define bonuses.

For instance, earnings from free spins might only be redeemable on some slots and should be placed many times before withdrawal is permitted. Ignorant of the fine print, players run the risk of losing possible earnings.

Before claiming any promotion, always look over the complete bonus policy to make sure it fits your expectations.

Though online slot games are games of chance, avoiding these five typical blunders would greatly enhance a player's whole experience and increase their chances of winning. Making wise decisions depending on knowledge of the game mechanics and efficient use of your resources.

Clinching its first European trophy, the Greek club defeated the Italian side in extra time with a goal from Ayoub El Kaabi. 

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