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    KC Chiefs are improving, not consensus no. 1 more

    Online Niel Posted on

    Another week, another win for Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champions enter this weekend 9-0, though Andy Reid’s team will soon face its biggest test yet. While it’s a huge opportunity for Kansas City to make a statement and extend its lead in the AFC, it could also serve as a step back if things go south.

    Where do the back-to-back Super Bowl champions stack up against their peers? Let’s take a look at some Week 11 NFL power rankings from the major outlets as Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills approaches.

    No change in this set of power rankings from The 33rd team. That being said, the Chiefs should be on their toes after their narrow win over the Denver Broncos.

    It takes a lot of luck to win a Super Bowl, and it usually requires a few odd wins in the regular season. The Kansas City Chiefs have had their fair share of odd wins this season, but Week 10 takes the cake. The Broncos only needed to make a short field goal to beat the Chiefs in regulation, but the kick was blocked and Kansas City survived another dreadful performance by its offense. The Chiefs are 9-0, and 14+ wins is not out of the question. Something is off about this team though, as they feel more defeated than ever. – Marcus Mosher

    So far in the season, it’s hard to argue that anyone other than Kansas City is the best team in the AFC. However, Week 11 could change that trajectory, writes Maurice Moton in The Bleacher ReportHis weekly power rankings.

    Last week, Patrick Mahomes shook off an ankle injury, and then the Chiefs blocked the Broncos’ potential game-winning field goal. Kansas City looks like a team destined to at least make it back to the Super Bowl for a shot at the three-peat. The Chiefs’ biggest test against the Bills will tell us more about how they match up against the AFC’s top contenders. – Maurice Moton

    Conor Orr lifts the Chiefs from third to second in this week’s power rankings. He credits the Kansas City coaching staff for putting the team in good positions to succeed late in games.

    In all seriousness, even if these games are fixed, we should stop punishing bosses for finding different ways to win games. The downfield blocking team was largely a selection of – and to me, an extension of – the excellent defense they put together. The coaching staff, from Steve Spagnuolo to Dave Toub, is aces behind Andy Reid. – Conor Orr

    The Athletic also sees Kansas City make the jump, this time from second place to No. 1 over the Detroit Lions. The outlet takes a closer look at all 32 starting quarterbacks, and while Patrick Mahomes isn’t playing his best football, Josh Kendall doesn’t seem concerned about his (statistical) level of play.

    Patrick Mahomes is 12th in the league in EPA per dropback (.12), 17th in passer rating and has thrown nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns (nine-for-12). His passer rating is on pace to be the worst of his career. It doesn’t matter. He’s still the player every team in the league would trade their guy for in a minute. Two more wins will give him 100 for his career counting the regular season and playoffs. He’s also a three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time MVP and the reason the Chiefs are the title favorites again this year, regardless of his numbers. – Josh Kendall

    Unlike The Athletic, NFL.comThe weekly set of power rankings still has Detroit above Kansas City. Eric Edholm throws conventional wisdom out the window when it comes to Reid’s team.

    It wasn’t quite the breakout talent the Lions displayed Sunday night in Houston, but the Chiefs won a game in which the defense didn’t force any turnovers, the running game blocked hard and the red-zone execution of missing Leo Chenal’s blocked field goal was the latest clutch play in Chiefs lore, with Kansas City pulling yet another rabbit out of another hat. KC is 9-0 with eight comeback wins and seven one-score wins. This shouldn’t really be possible, but we’re throwing out the rules with this team, this quarterback and this coaching staff. That said, it should be concerning that the Chiefs’ defense has allowed an opposing quarterback to march in a late, productive drive against them two games in a row at Arrowhead Stadium. That unit also hasn’t turned the ball over in the last two games, and the Chiefs now have a minus-4 turnover differential and the ninth-best point differential in the league (plus-58). They could stand to reverse those trends in next Sunday’s big showdown in Buffalo. – Eric Edholm

    Bucky Brooks tips his cap to the Chiefs, keeping them first overall. The former NFL defensive back recognizes the clutch gene that back-to-back champions seem to consistently display when it’s needed most.

    Winners find ways to win. That’s why the Chiefs remain atop the list with a 15-game winning streak that has proven their versatility as back-to-back champions. While blocking field goals to get wins isn’t a sustainable strategy, the Chiefs’ ability to rise to the occasion in crucial moments makes it difficult to count them out in any contest. – Bucky Brooks

    It’s another short and sweet review from Pete Prisco this week. He knows that duplicating his Week 10 performance probably won’t be enough to take down a talented Bills team.

    It’s not pretty, but they keep finding a way. Now comes the real test against the Bills on the road. They will have to score in that game. – Pete Prisco

    Read more: Andy Reid discusses Wanya Morris injury update if KC calls up Donovan Smith

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