Chiefs' Reid: 'I never feel like an underdog'

Andy Reid has no qualms with the San Francisco 49ers being the favorites to win the Super Bowl after an inconsistent season from the Kansas City Chiefs, but the coach will never call himself an underdog.

"I understand why we're the underdog - I get that - we had some ups and downs during the season," Reid said Thursday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "I never feel like an underdog going into a game, but I understand why it's been situated that way. It is what it is."

Kansas City has produced its best defense of the Reid-Patrick Mahomes era. The unit ranked second in both yards and points allowed in the regular season before hitting an even higher gear in the playoffs, allowing just 41 points through three games.

However, the previously dominant offense has struggled to match its usual standard. Mahomes and Co. were just 15th in points per game after five straight top-six finishes, including two league-leading results.

The Chiefs are also much younger than their other three recent Super Bowl appearances, but Reid doesn't believe his inexperienced players will be impacted by the pressure of the big game.

"When you get through all of this, it's a game," Reid said. "It's faster than most games. It's crazy how, in the playoffs, every game's a little faster the higher you go up in the playoffs.

"So, it's fast, but it's still the game. So, you're professionals, arguably one of 32 guys at your position in the whole world, so you go play and do your job."

Reid could become just the fifth NFL head coach to win three Super Bowl titles after Bill Belichick (six), Chuck Noll (four), Bill Walsh (three), and Joe Gibbs (three).

Despite taking the title of the league's oldest coach with Belichick and Pete Carroll leaving their respective jobs, the 65-year-old Reid said Tuesday that he isn't considering retirement.