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Week 4 NFL power rankings: for the Chiefs, it’s almost unanimous

The national writers are almost all in agreement about the Kansas City Chiefs

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NFL: SEP 22 Ravens at Chiefs Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s (almost) unanimous: The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL’s second-best team — behind you-know-who.

Here’s a sampling of the Week 4 NFL Power Rankings from national writers — and a couple of our sister SBNation sites:


NFL.com: 2

(unchanged from 2)

Patrick Mahomes continues to dominate all comers. The Chiefs quarterback was brilliant again on Sunday, lighting up the Ravens for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-28 win. Mahomes needed just 10 quarters to go over 1,000 yards passing for the season, a feat accomplished on a day in which the Chiefs were missing No. 1 wide receiver Tyreek Hill, left tackle Eric Fisher and running back Damien Williams. Even with the injuries, Mahomes has plenty to work with. Demarcus Robinson (an emergent playmaker) made a beautiful, lunging touchdown grab, and Mecole Hardman reached 21.7 mph on his 83-yard touchdown catch, according to Next Gen Stats, the fastest a ball carrier has run on any touchdown this year. Mahomes’ game-icing third-down conversion to Darrel Williams sent Arrowhead into a frenzy and wiped away any chance Lamar Jackson would steal Mahomes’ spotlight. — Dan Hanzus


ESPN: 2

(unchanged from 2)

What we got wrong: Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu will be impact defenders.

The Chiefs traded for Clark and signed Mathieu for that purpose, but it hasn’t happened yet. Clark has one sack -- and it was a big one on third down in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Ravens -- but otherwise hasn’t generated much of a pass rush. Mathieu also had his most productive game of the year against Baltimore by breaking up three passes. Otherwise, his presence has been minimal through three games. Adam Teicher


Sports Illustrated MMQB: 2

(unchanged from 2)

Each week someone new emerges on this offense. Against the Ravens, we got a good taste of how LeSean McCoy fits in.


CBSSports.com: 3

(unchanged from 3)

Can anybody stop their offense? I doubt it. Patrick Mahomes wasn’t as sharp as usual last week, but still rolled up big numbers. The defense does need to be better. — Pete Prisco


Yahoo! Sports: 2

(up from 3)

A Jalen Ramsey trade to the Chiefs makes too much sense for Kansas City. The offense is great again and maybe even better than last season, which is insane. The window to win a Super Bowl is wide open but it will still be hard to knock off the Patriots. — Frank Schawb


The Sporting News: 2

(unchanged from 2)

Patrick Mahomes is everything for this team. He is headed toward running away with MVP again with even bigger numbers. He is in complete command, and he is putting his team in position to win every week, taking the pressure off any other potential problem areas, namely the defense. — Vinnie Iyer


USA Today: 2

(unchanged from 2)

Through 20 career games, Patrick Mahomes is greatest quarterback statistically in NFL history, and it’s not even close. Includes 60 TD throws, 115.3 rating. Nate Davis


The Washington Post: 2

(unchanged from 2)

Patrick Mahomes is so good that a 27-for-37, 374-yard, three-TD, no-interception passing day seems, ho hum, rather routine for him by now. Mahomes and the Kansas City offense roll on even with Tyreek Hill out of the lineup. — Mark Maske


Mile High Report: 2

(unchanged from 2)

Because of the Broncos game I didn’t get a chance to watch [the Ravens-Chiefs game] live, but it will be fascinating to break down how the Chiefs defense managed to slow down Jackson. On the other side of the ball, it sure is starting to look like the “he only played one year” crowd is going to need to find something else to critique.

— Just_JoRo


Bleeding Green Nation: 2

(unchanged from 2)

Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs are just too good. Who’s gonna be able to beat them? — Brandon Lee Gowton

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