:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67927157/1287219278.0.jpg)
The Kansas City Chiefs took care of business on Sunday Night Football by defeating their AFC West division rival Las Vegas Raiders 35-31. According to our friends at Odds Checker, that all but wraps up the division. But where do the Chiefs stand compared to the rest of the league?
Will we see much national power rankings movement given the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0) stayed undefeated by dispatching the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-3?
Let’s find out:
NFL.com: 1
(unchanged from 1)
We should all try to appreciate the unimpeachable greatness of an Andy Reid offense piloted by Patrick Mahomes. On a night when Derek Carr threw the NFL QB equivalent of a no-hitter, Mahomes tossed a perfect game in the Chiefs’ 35-31 win over the Raiders. After Carr put Vegas ahead with a touchdown pass to Jason Witten with 1:43 to play, Mahomes took over and calmly marched the Chiefs 75 yards on just seven plays, culminating with a touchdown strike to Travis Kelce to break the Raiders’ hearts and earn payback for Kansas City’s sole defeat this season, back in Week 5. The win all but locks up another AFC West title for the Chiefs, who now turn their attention to trying to catch the undefeated Steelers for the No. 1 seed.
— Dan Hanzus
ESPN: 2
(unchanged from 2)
What they’re thankful for: Coach Andy Reid
Sure, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and several others would be appropriate here. But Reid is the one who turned the franchise around. The Chiefs have a winning streak of at least five games in each of Reid’s eight seasons. They won no more than four games in four of the six seasons before his arrival. And there’s also last season’s Super Bowl win to break a 50-year championship drought.
— Adam Teicher
Sports Illustrated MMQB: 1
(up from 2)
Last week: Win at Las Vegas 35–31
This week: at Tampa Bay
The defense has allowed 30-plus points in back-to-back games, which would be a problem for a non-Mahomes team. K.C. has won 18 of 19 (including postseason). They’re going to win the Super Bowl again and when they do, try to look surprised.
— Gary Gram
CBSSports.com: 2
(unchanged from 2)
They made it interesting against the Raiders, but Patrick Mahomes was outstanding on the final drive. The defense has to be better.
— Pete Prisco
Yahoo! Sports: 1
(unchanged from 1)
We really don’t need to have MVP conversations anymore. Patrick Mahomes is the MVP until further notice. All other discussions regarding other players being in the race are just time-wasters.
— Frank Schawb
The Sporting News: 1
(unchanged from 1)
The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the league doesn’t. That means it doesn’t matter what else they have when he’s playing so when with everything starts to count a little more.
— Vinnie Iyer
USA Today: 2
(unchanged from 2)
Including last year’s postseason, they’ve scored at least 23 points in 24 consecutive games ... and that’s a league record. The Bucs must step in front of this freight train Sunday afternoon.
— Nate Davis
The Washington Post: 2
(unchanged from 2)
Patrick Mahomes pulled out the win Sunday night in Vegas with a late TD pass to Travis Kelce. The Chiefs were fortunate. They couldn’t have afforded another misstep against the Raiders with road games remaining against the Buccaneers, Dolphins and Saints.
— Mark Maske
Mile High Report: 2
(unchanged from 2)
As for the rest of the league, it is clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs are the two teams that are dominating at this point. The New Orleans Saints appear to be pretty good too, but with Drew Brees out a long time there is some doubt there. After those two AFC juggernauts, there is a a large pool of playoff contenders. Seven other AFC teams are in the mix there, but in the NFC there are six good teams before a bit of a drop off into sub-.500 teams there.
— Tim Lynch
Bleeding Green Nation: 2
(unchanged from 2)
The Chiefs were in danger of getting swept by Jon Gruden but thanks to that Patrick Mahomes guy they were able to get the win. Unfair. The bad news for KC is their defense is a concern.
— Brandon Lee Gowton