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Because the final Week 12 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens won’t be played until Wednesday afternoon (at the earliest), several publications have not yet published their Week 13 power rankings — including four that we usually bring you on Tuesdays: NFL.com, CBSSports.com, the Washington Post and SBNation’s Mile High Report.
But we wouldn’t want to delay your opportunity to read Brandon Lee Gowton’s weekly complaint that the Kansas City Chiefs having Patrick Mahomes is unfair. So we’ll throw in a few rankings we don’t normally cover.
Here’s our weekly sampling:
ESPN: 2
(unchanged from 2)
Most important game remaining: Week 15 at New Orleans
If the Chiefs are to catch the Steelers for the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, they might have to win out. Four of their five remaining opponents aren’t on their level, and then there’s New Orleans. So the Saints could be the team standing between the Chiefs and a first-round playoff bye. Normally, this would be one of the least important games of the Chiefs’ remaining schedule because the Saints play in the NFC, but this is not a normal season.
— Adam Teicher
Sports Illustrated MMQB: 1
(unchanged from 1)
There is no team in football I trust more than the Kansas City Chiefs. They have the best player and plenty of talent around him. They can go up big early or they can come back late. I’m not worried about the propensity to let teams hang around (and sneak in backdoor covers). The defending champs have done nothing this year to change the perception that they’re the best team out there.
— Mitch Goldich
Yahoo! Sports: 1
(unchanged from 1)
Patrick Mahomes finally got to 1,500 career passes, which qualified him for the all-time record in passer rating. His 110.7 rating is now the record. Deshaun Watson is a distant second at 103.6. Only four quarterbacks in NFL history have a career rating above 98.7. We’re watching something special.
— Frank Schawb
The Sporting News: 1
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The Chiefs kept rolling in Tampa Bay by trusting Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill to make enough big plays. Their defense was complementary and they did what they needed to do without help from the running game. It’s hard to see Kansas City losing before Super Bowl 55.
— Vinnie Iyer
USA Today: 2
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Kansas City has a very legitimate shot at a rare 15-1 record ... which may not be enough to get champs a first-round bye.
— Nate Davis
Bleeding Green Nation: 2
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The reigning Super Bowl champions might very well be the repeating Super Bowl champions. The greatness of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid has Kansas City feeling like the NFL’s version of the prime Golden State Warriors. It’s unfair.
— Brandon Lee Gowton
Pro Football Talk: 2
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If they ever play a full 60 minutes, they’ll score 100 points.
— Mike Florio
New York Post: 1
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Sunday’s explosive showing for Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill might not be the Chiefs’ lone appearance in Tampa this season if they keep rolling and make it back to the Super Bowl LV.
— Peter Botte
Minneapolis Star-Tribune: 1
(up from 2)
Patrick Mahomes had 25 completions and 359 yards. In. The. First. Half.
— Mark Craig
ProFootballNetwork.com: 1
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Tyreek Hill had over 200 yards and two touchdowns just in the first quarter in Tampa Bay, while Patrick Mahomes ended the day with 462 passing yards. Kansas City almost blew a double-digit lead and certainly has concerns on the defensive side of the ball.
But obviously, Andy Reid has extreme confidence in Mahomes, and when the chips are down, who do you trust more to come out with the win? That’s why the Chiefs are number one, once again, in my Week 13 NFL Power Rankings and one of the best teams in the NFL.
— Matt Williamson