Chiefs tumble in all but one of these 10 national NFL power rankings
The Chiefs were bound to fall in the NFL power rankings following Sunday’s 43-40 loss to the Patriots.
That was the case in all but one of the major power rankings that were released after week six of the NFL season.
A week ago, the Chiefs were ranked second behind the Rams in all of the major power rankings.
Here is where they stand now that the record is 5-1:
The Chiefs fell one spot in the NFL.com rankings to third. Elliot Harrison wrote: “Kansas City went toe to toe with the Patriots in front of New England’s nutso crowd, and Patrick Mahomes kept pace with Tom Brady and the New England offense. Yet, in the end, a suspect defense and the rulebook ruled the day. Breeland Speaks’ non-sack of Brady was clearly a case of a pass rusher not wanting to get the Clay Matthews treatment from the officials. The sad part is, had Speaks tackled Brady, it would’ve been his second career sack – and, quite possibly, it would have allowed K.C. to win the game.”
ESPN also knocked the Chiefs back to No. 3. They give the Chiefs a 95.2 percent chance of making the playoffs. Sterling Xie wrote: “The best news is that the bulk of the heavy lifting is done, as the Chiefs have the fourth-easiest remaining strength of schedule according to FPI.”
The Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback group put the Chiefs at No. 4. It wrote: “It’s understandable that the Chiefs would fall behind the Patriots in these rankings, but we also shouldn’t kill them for a 3-point loss in New England. It looks like our voters didn’t.”
Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports kept the Chiefs ranked second behind the Rams. “There’s no shame in a last-play loss at New England, and their entire body of work is still very impressive. I can’t imagine someone watching the Chiefs play Sunday night and thinking less of them afterward. They were good, the Patriots were just slightly better at home.”
USA Today ranked the Chiefs No. 4. Nate Davis wrote: “As long as Eric Berry, Justin Houston are out, this defense — it’s allowed 500 yards three times — will continue to put Patrick Mahomes and Co. in tough spots.”
CBS Sports had the Chiefs at No. 4. Pete Prisco wrote: “The defense is historically bad right now. That has to change — or else. Even Patrick Mahomes won’t be able to overcome that.”
Mark Maske of the Washington Post dropped the Chiefs to No. 4. He wrote of the defensive problems: “Getting injured standouts Justin Houston and Eric Berry back will help. But there are no excuses. The Chiefs simply must play better on defense with the players they have.”
The Sporting News had the Chiefs at No. 4 also. Vinnie Iyer wrote: “Patrick Mahomes had an imperfect night in New England and was lifted by Kareem Hunt, but given how poor the defense keeps playing, the Chiefs still have little margin for offensive error.”
Bleacher Report put the Chiefs at No. 4. It wrote: “Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the offense were their usually lethal selves —Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill peeled off long touchdown catches.”
The Chiefs fell just one spot to No. 3 in the SB Nation ranking.