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NFL Power Rankings are out — and in the view of the writers, the Kansas City Chiefs are consistently within the top 5. Here is a sampling:
NFL.com: 3
(up from 4)
Here’s the scary thing about the Chiefs: They went to Jacksonville and dropped a 40-burger on the Jaguars ... and it still felt like they left points on the field. Patrick Mahomes looks like the MVP, LeSean McCoy looks like the Shady of old rather than old Shady, and Sammy Watkins looks to, at long last, be on the precipice of his breakthrough season. Watkins torched the Jags to the tune of nine catches for 198 yards and three TDs, and he’ll continue to see plenty of looks with Tyreek Hill on the shelf indefinitely with a shoulder injury. The Hill news is obviously the biggest negative to come out of the opener for Kansas City, but the team’s talent is so overwhelming that you don’t imagine the Chiefs will skip a beat. Jon Gruden thought he had a headache in Antonio Brown -- now he has to plan for the Chiefs in Week 2. Knock on wood if you’re terrified. — Dan Hanzus
ESPN: 2
(unchanged from 2)
Rookie who flashed: Juan Thornhill, S
How the newcomer starred: Thornhill stood out among Chiefs’ rookies mainly because he was the only one starting. Thornhill had been a backup throughout the preseason but was promoted on Sunday and led the Chiefs with eight tackles. Thornhill was impressive in training camp because of his range and playmaking ability. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said during camp he usually didn’t trust rookies enough to start them in the season opener, but Thornhill played well enough to be an exception. — Adam Teicher
Sports Illustrated MMQB: 2
(unchanged from 2)
If Sammy Watkins keeps playing like that, there may be no way of stopping this team.
CBS Sports.com: 5
(unchanged from 5)
The offense is again going to be dynamic with Patrick Mahomes, but this season will be about the defense Can Steve Spagnuolo turn that unit around? — Pete Prisco
The Sporting News: 2
(down from 1)
The Chiefs also were impressive in ripping apart a good Jaguars defense on the road, with Patrick Mahomes picking up where he left off in MVP form. The boom of Sammy Watkins was timed well with the unfortunate collarbone injury that will keep Tyreek Hill out for a while. — Vinne Iyer
Washington Post: 2
(unchanged from 2)
The loss of wide receiver Tyreek Hill hurts, but he should be back in a few weeks. Patrick Mahomes’s 313-yard first half against the Jaguars showed he and the Chiefs are ready to pick up right where they left off in his MVP season. — Mark Maske
USA Today: 2
Appears they’ll get nice boost from a pair of ex-Bills — RB Shady McCoy and WR Sammy Watkins. Kansas City definitely looms as most significant threat to New England. — Nate Davis
NBCSports.com: 3
(unchanged from 3)
Tyreek Hill shouldn’t be hurt right now. He should’ve been suspended. — Scott Bair
Mile High Report: 3
(down from 1)
Chiefs Twitter was celebrating the fact that Patrick Mahomes shredded the overrated Jacksonville defense. I was wondering how they allowed Gardner Minshew to slice them up with such surgical precision. The injury fill-in and fifth round rookie went 22 of 25 including 13 consecutive completions. He didn’t simply dump it off, either. The fifth round rookie out of Washington State averaged 11 yards a completion. — Just_JoRo
Bleeding Green Nation: 2
(unchanged from 2)
Patrick Mahomes is very good at football. — Brandon Lee Gowton