The Kansas City Chiefs were off last week so their 6-3 record didn’t change but their spot in weekly NFL power rankings did — at least with some media outlets. The Chiefs are still a top 10 and some outlets have them as high as No. 5. That feels about right for a team that started 5-0 and then lost three of their next four. I’m not quite sure what to make of them but I’m pretty sure they’re a good team. I don’t know if they’re great though.
Let’s check out this week’s power rankings...
It’s not an issue right now, but the Chiefs are going to have a very interesting offseason at quarterback. You don’t draft Patrick Mahomes 10th overall with the intention of sitting him two or more seasons. The Chiefs would save a whopping $17 million in cap space by cutting Smith next offseason. But you can’t cut Smith after an MVP-caliber season, right?
Projected wins: 11.0. If the Chiefs hit their current projection, it would be their third straight season with 11 or more wins. They shouldn't have much trouble getting there. They have the second-easiest remaining schedule.
Much-needed rest for the Chiefs, who screamed through the first five games of 2017, only to hit the skids over the last month. As I wrote in the Power Rankings last week, remember the difficult schedule this team has played. Now the offensive line is intact, with Mitch Morse and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif fully healthy -- well, as healthy as offensive linemen can be at this point in the season. Getting Kareem Hunt going again will be helpful, as the running back has slowed after his torrid pace early on. Perhaps he's hitting a rookie wall, though Week 10 would be a bit early for such things. Educated guess: Kansas City is probably an 11-5 or 12-4 team.
What better way to come off your bye week than facing a Giants team that has quit on its embattled head coach. My God, Alex Smith might drop a 50-Burger on Big Blue.
Why they're here: The Chiefs' bye came at a good time, because they went into it on a cold streak. They'll look to contribute to the Giants' misery in Week 11.
The Chiefs return from their bye needing to reestablish that they are among the league’s top teams. It hasn’t looked that way lately, with three losses in four games since a 5-0 start. They play Sunday in the Meadowlands against the Giants, who are in total disarray. Anything less than a decisive victory would raise further questions about the Chiefs.
Bye week. Next up for the Chiefs is a road game against an awful NYG team. We all know how good Andy Reid is after the bye.