Fansided

NFL Playoffs: Five reasons Kansas City Chiefs will win AFC West

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid yells to an official during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid yells to an official during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
Nov 29, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) drops back to pass against the Buffalo Bills in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 30-22. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) drops back to pass against the Buffalo Bills in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 30-22. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

The AFC West is up for grabs, and the Kansas City Chiefs are in the hunt. Here are five reasons why we’ll see them sit atop the division come January.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the hottest team in football not named the Carolina Panthers recently. They have won their last five games and currently sit at 6-5 and in the No. 1 Wild Card position in the AFC.

The Denver Broncos have dominated the AFC West for years. Ever since Peyton Manning waltzed in to Denver, they have utterly owned the division. The Chiefs haven’t won the division since 2010, with only Denver winning in between those times, and this year started like many others before them.

Kansas City struggled to a 1-5 record in the opening weeks and it looked as though their season was over before it had begun. The campaign started with a convincing win over the Houston Texans, and in Week 2, everything looked good until a fourth quarter collapse and a late Jamaal Charles fumble allowed the Broncos to snatch victory. It was a cruel loss and truly knocked the stuffing out the Chiefs’ players. They went on to lose the next four games, including blowing a 14-point halftime lead at home to the Chicago Bears.

It was a poor run, but has since led to a five-game winning streak in which the Chiefs have dominated defensively, excelled on special teams and kept their team from losing on offense. Alex Smith is a limited quarterback, but he hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 3 and his careful play allows Kansas City to ride the play of a tough, aggressive defense.

It is this recipe that has put the Chiefs in position to challenge for a postseason berth. Currently holding a Wild Card place, Andy Reid and his Chiefs will look towards playing some January football. However, they could be looking at much more than that. Here’s five reasons why the Chiefs may well yet win the AFC West.

Next: 1. Chiefs' Defense

Home/Kansas City Chiefs