Let’s look at a couple of NFL power rankings for the 2017 season and especially for Week 1 as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the New England Patriots in the opener.
As expected, the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots are in the No. 1 spot at pretty much all the power rankings that you’ll see. I haven’t seen every single one but if you don’t put the Patriots at No. 1 then I have to question what you’re doing.
The KC Chiefs are a top 10 team according to SB Nation’s power rankings. SB Nation puts the Chiefs at No. 8 while the Raiders are No. 3. Yuck. The Raiders are way too high.
SB Nation’s power rankings have the Chiefs as the fourth best AFC team.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are a top 10 team at ESPN. ESPN’s season preview came out today and they had the Chiefs ranked No. 7, which was one spot ahead of the Oakland Raiders. That feels good as a Chiefs fan to be ranked ahead of the team that you have owned in recent years. (Take a hint, SB Nation)
ESPN’s power rankings have the Chiefs as the third best AFC team.
The Chiefs main competition in the AFC this year - besides the Patriots - appears to be the Steelers and Raiders, which sounds about right. If the Chiefs make the playoffs, I would bet they’re playing one of those three teams.