The Kansas City Chiefs are still a top five team according to most NFL power rankings after Week 8. The Chiefs are 6-2 on the season after starting 5-0 so I think they deserve to be in the top five at this point.
Clearly, they have flaws. But so do the other teams. Once you get that perspective you realize the Chiefs are in a good spot (... as long as they don’t draw Pittsburgh in the postseason).
Let’s take a look at power rankings this week...
The Chiefs stay parked in the cleanup spot after a respectable -- if not overly impressive -- win. On a night when Alex Smith and the offense looked like they had eaten too much barbecue, the defense and special teams stepped forward -- particularly, Justin Houston and Harrison Butker, who has a great name. (First name.) Also notable: The moves from Terrance Mitchell to Kenneth Acker and Phillip Gaines to Steven Nelson. They paid off. Still feel for Mitchell, who has been picked on by some excellent quarterbacks this season: Tom Brady, Carson Wentz, Philip Rivers, Kirk Cousins, Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Carr. So the struggling Trevor Siemian comes to town and Acker gets the assignment. That sucks.
The Chiefs are winning, but their defense hasn't been helping the cause. They've allowed 392.3 yards per game, the third-most in the NFL. Eventually, Alex Smith will throw some interceptions, and when he does, the defense might not be able to hold.
They bounced back in style against the Broncos Monday night to take command of the division race. They face a tough one at Dallas this week.
Kareem Hunt hasn’t scored since Week 3, and Monday night was his third game of the last four averaging less than four yards per carry. Hunt is still impacting every game but his pace from the first few weeks had to slow down, and it has.
There are some of the usual suspects up top, with the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Seattle Seahawks are playing well.
Why they’re here: On offense they're explosive, with playmakers at every level (Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill is a trio every team would love to have). On defense, they can rush the passer and have players who should improve in their secondary. I'm definitely going to need a DNA test or 3 to prove it's the real Alex Smith playing like the clear MVP favorite.
The Chiefs regrouped with Monday night’s victory at home over the Broncos after two straight losses. They go to Dallas on Sunday and face the Cowboys in what could be the first game of RB Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension.
Andy Reid's club snapped a two-game funk by forcing a boat load of turnovers and kicking a boat load of field goals. A showdown in Dallas awaits.
Kansas City has playmakers all over its roster. The defense was better against the Broncos than it has been the past couple of weeks. The Chiefs have to keep improving on defense if they hope to beat a team like the Steelers or the Patriots in the postseason.
You are Casper. People don’t recognize you yet, but they will and they’ll think you’re absolutely adorable just like me. Ghost it.