Maybe I don't have as much pull at SB Nation as I thought I did because they continue to put the Oakland Raiders ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs in their weekly power rankings. This week the Chiefs are ranked fourth while the Raiders are third. I say this because the Chiefs and Raiders have the same record and the Chiefs beat the Raiders down in their own stadium already this season. The love for the Raiders is understandable considering how bad they've been for so long.
Onto this week's power rankings...
The Chiefs are now 17-2 in their last 19 games dating back to last season, with 15 giveaways to 45 takeaways over that span. The next best turnover differential in that time is plus-14 by the Vikings. The Chiefs take on the turnover-prone Buccaneers in Week 11.
Eric Berry won the day in Carolina. What a play. The Chiefs blitzed Cam Newton right up the gut, and when the Panthers quarterback decided to shoot the ball up the seam, Berry read it beautifully from his center field spot. After catching the ball in mid-flight, he weaved and spun his way to the game's most important score. Now, while we hate to levy a tax on the #ChiefsKingdom, this dink-and-dunk stuff from Alex Smith isn't going to get Kansas City very far. He missed Chris Conley and Travis Kelce -- both wide open -- on vertical throws that would have been certain touchdowns.
How far under radar are Alex Smith and Co.? Did you know they'd won five in a row, or realize they're in position for a playoff bye? WHAT?!
No one is paying much attention to the Chiefs, as usual. But they’ve won five straight games. They’re on an 18-3 run of success going back to last season, including the playoffs. Someone will have to contend with them in the postseason.
That was a telling victory at Carolina, coming back from down 17-0. They are as hot as any team in the league.