NFL power rankings, Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs keep sliding

The Kansas City Chiefs lost again this week, making this whole power rankings thing a little more interesting and a little less fun.

However, the Denver Broncos also lost this week, making this whole power rankings thing a lot more fun. With only five weeks left in the regular season, the playoff races are in full swing with teams jockeying for position. Luckily for the Chiefs, they are all but in the postseason barring the largest collapse in NFL history.

So where do they rank? Let's find out:

CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)

6. The injuries are a major concern. What will they do if they don't have Tamba Hali and Justin Houston for long periods of time?

SB Nation

7. Injuries to to pending Pro Bowlers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston crippled the Chiefs pass rush and helped cost them a golden opportunity to gain a much-needed game on the Broncos. Even a lacking pass rush wasn't a complete excuse for some terrible coverage from a normally excellent secondary - the 62-yard TD to Lardarius Green was low comedy - but it certainly didn't help. The good news was that Alex Smith and Andy Reid managed another game of actually calling and executing downfield throws, albeit against one of the NFL's most pathetic pass defenses. With Houston likely out for the Broncos' Sunday visit to Arrowhead, the Chiefs defense faces a real struggle to right itself in time. Kansas City's offense has leaned on the D for much of the season - they'll need to do some heavy lifting of their own (to the tune of at least 27 points) to keep their hope of a division title alive. Of course, a timely visit from General Winter wouldn't hurt, either. (Last Week: 5)

Mile High Report

6. Before Sunday, I had a feeling the Patriots would find a way to upset the Broncos on their own turf, which means I was really hoping for the Chiefs to choke against the Chargers. At least I got my wish and now the stage is set for either a Chiefs redemption or a Chiefs collapse. If that team drops a third straight game to division opponents, a 9-7 finish is a real possibility. Take it from a Broncos fan who watched his 8-2 Broncos in 2009 finish the season 8-8. Biggest game of the year for the Chiefs is this Sunday. Period. And I am licking my chops.

Revenge Of The Birds

6. A poor loss in a shoot-out at home to the San Diego Chargers raises more speculation that the Chiefs are a hoax. Their 9-0 start which included games against several backup quarterbacks, succeeded by a number of poor defensive performances suggests that they aren't all that. The game at Denver in Week 13 becomes pivotal.

Big Blue View

8. Suddenly, the undefeated Chiefs have lost -- to divisional foes, nonetheless. And the injury to Tamba Hali could be detrimental. (LW: 5)

Cincy Jungle

5. Could have been set up well with a division win against the Chargers, but two bad injuries allowed Philip Rivers the time he needed to carve the defense.

The Phinsider

7. Losing two weeks in a row is bad. Add in that the loss to San Diego was in Arrowhead, and it's even worse.

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