Chiefs sit atop most NFL power rankings after first week of season
The Chiefs haven’t done anything to dissuade NFL experts from viewing them as candidates to return to the Super Bowl.
A convincing 34-20 win over the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium has the Chiefs atop nearly all power rankings.
Here is where the Chiefs, 1-0, were placed in eight NFL power rankings after the first week of the NFL season and what national writers were saying about Kansas City:
The Chiefs are No. 1 in ESPN’s ranking. This is part of what Adam Teicher wrote about Chiefs’ best rookie debut: “(Clyde Edwards-Helaire) added another dimension to the Chiefs’ offense with his ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Edwards-Helaire, who rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries Thursday, is difficult to knock off his feet and should continue to gain yards after contact.”
The Chiefs are No. 2 in Yahoo’s rankings. Frank Schwab wrote in part: “Drafting a running back in the first round is debatable but that was the right situation for it: The Chiefs didn’t have many other needs, it was the final pick of the first round and Edwards-Helaire adds a dangerous dimension to the Chiefs’ offense. Like the offense needed more help.”
The Chiefs stayed at No. 1 in the ranking from NFL.com.This is a snippet of what Dan Hanzus wrote: “Last season, four different teams went the whole year without scoring 34 points once ... the Chiefs do it when it feels like they’re barely paying attention.”
The Chiefs are No. 1 in CBS Sports’ rankings. Pete Prisco wrote: “They showed in the opener that they are still the team to beat in the league.”
The Chiefs are No. 1 in The Ringer’s rankings. Danny Kelly wrote: “Kansas City scaled back its typically audacious pass-first philosophy and went with a more balanced approach, dialing up more run plays (34) than called pass plays (33) in the win―something Andy Reid did exactly zero times in the team’s 19 games last year.”
The Chiefs remained No. 1 in USA Today’s rankings. Nate Davis wrote: “QB Patrick Mahomes has never lost a start in September nor thrown an INT before October.”
The Chiefs are No. 1 in Bleacher Report’s ranking. “Given how odd this offseason has been, the Chiefs coming out in midseason form in just about every facet of the game is a good sign for their chances of a repeat championship,” Gary Davenport wrote. “And it is assuredly a bad sign for the rest of the AFC.”
The Chiefs stayed at No. 1 by Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News. He wrote: “The Super Bowl 54 champions will be hard to remove from this spot all the way through Super Bowl 55.”
