This week’s NFL power rankings sees the Kansas City Chiefs rise up a few spots. The win over the Chargers was really a great win. They were playing as well as anyone in the league and the Chiefs came in and held them to 13 points. That’s something the Chiefs should be proud of as they prepare to try and clinch the division this weekend against the Dolphins.
Let’s take a look at the power rankings this week.
They can win the division, but can they win in the playoffs?
Darrelle Revis (7): The Chiefs have had Revis for three games this year, but his midseason signing made him the most decorated player on the roster. He has only one pass breakup in those three games, but the rest of the team has five picks in that same stretch.
The Chiefs defense is still below-average, but Kansas City has at least been mixing up coverages and doing some different things. I don't believe the Chiefs are one of the best teams in the AFC, but they have some explosive playmakers who can make Kansas City dangerous in the postseason.
Kansas City Chiefs (8-6; 14): Are the Chiefs back? Probably not, but handing the ball to Kareem Hunt should help get them back on the right track. The rookie back rushed for 155 yards and a score while adding 51 yards and a touchdown through the air in the Chiefs’ 30-13 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The middle of this Chiefs season could eventually just be looked at as a blip on a successful season. Andy Reid's team will be a tough out in a home playoff game.
Andy Reid’s team is probably going to win the AFC West. Maybe the struggles are truly over for KC.
Andy Reid's team has seemingly re-found their mojo after a mid-season swoon. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt looks a lot like the guy we saw in the first month.
They’ve righted themselves with two straight wins and were clearly the better team in the “showdown” (by the modest standards of the AFC West) Saturday night with the Chargers. But it’s difficult to simply forget that 1-6 stretch of miserable play.
Maybe Marcus Peters just needed a wake-up call? A week after a team-imposed suspension, he had a marvelous game against the Chargers. We’ve seen a focused Peters be one of the best cornerbacks in football, and if he is past this season’s slump, it would help the Chiefs defense immensely.
It turns out a rejuvenated running game and a little bit of Tyreek Hill cures all, and back-to-back wins put the Chiefs’ magic number to clinch the AFC West at 1. So maybe just take that eulogy you were writing, cross out “Chiefs” and put “Titans.”