The roadblocks to the Chiefs winning the rest of their 2020 games

On our weekly mailbag edition of the AP Laboratory, we were asked if the Kansas City Chiefs would run the table in the regular season and finish 15-1.

We had mixed feelings on if they could do it.

The schedule is easy — save for a couple of difficult NFC opponents. But the Chiefs know that, and you’d expect them to be up for the matchups — with A-plus game scripts — as they were for Baltimore. One might consider the Raiders a potential roadblock, but I’ll be stunned if the Chiefs let that happen again.

Here are the biggest roadblocks to the Chiefs ending the regular season 15-1:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A road game against Tom Brady and the new-look Buccaneers is the clear-cut toughest game remaining on the schedule. While the Bucs’ offense is coming off a poor performance against the Giants, the skill position talent is undeniable around Brady. The group will potentially get a boost as well when Antonio Brown returns to the NFL this week. Rob Gronkowski is starting to shape into form — things are looking positive moving forward. There is a lot to like about the defense — highlighted by a deep and athletic back seven that should present a unique challenge for the Chiefs. On the road against a good football team is a good formula to lose. Then again, this team will be up for that challenge.

New Orleans Saints

It goes Tampa Bay — sizeable gap — and then the Saints in the roadblock rankings.

Another road game presents a challenge late in the year against a quality team vying for an NFC West title. The Chiefs could play a big role in determining who wins that division — if either the Saints or Buccaneers do beat the Chiefs, that will create a significant advantage. The Saints are well-coached and talented on both sides of the football. Drew Brees is certainly nearing the end of his career but has been able to move the football with success. Wide receiver Michael Thomas has missed significant time this season but should be back for the home stretch. Alvin Kamara continues to be the ultimate dual-threat in the run and pass game. The Saints are on a four-game win streak — two of them went to overtime — and all ended as one-score games. They’re figuring out how to win football games, but it hasn’t been easy or pretty. Don’t overlook New Orleans late in the year — they could hand the Chiefs a loss.

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