Chiefs finished as contender, NFL power rankings and more
The Kansas City Chiefs have gone from favorite to forgotten after a lifeless loss to the previously one-win New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.
On a Sunday night over a month ago, the Chiefs were dominating the Houston Texans. In a game that was 42-20 before a pair of garbage-time touchdowns made the final score respectable, Kansas City improved to 5-0 while the MVP conversation was between Kareem Hunt and Alex Smith.
Finally, the world was turning for Smith, a man relentlessly labeled as a game-manager. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was being hailed as a genius who created a new offense, blending the West Coast offense with a college-style flair.
Fast forward to today, and Kansas City is in a complete tailspin. The Chiefs were beaten by the previously 1-8 New York Giants in a rancid 12-9 overtime affair. Smith threw two interceptions in Kansas City’s fourth loss in five games, which includes ugly losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, along with a thrilling 31-30 defeat to the Oakland Raiders.
At 6-4, the Chiefs likely win the AFC West. They will still host a playoff game come January and might even win it. Still, after thrashing the New England Patriots on opening night and then racing out to a 5-0 mark, this season feels both disappointing and miserable.
It also feels like a breaking point.
In April, the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes after trading up 17 spots and surrendering their 2018 first-round selection. Mahomes was brilliant in the preseason, tantalizing fans with a big arm and pinpoint accuracy. While it would be both inaccurate and irresponsible to paint Smith as the only reason for the Chiefs’ struggles over the past month, it would similarly be inaccurate to suggest a change at quarterback would be outlandish.
Kansas City is besieged by defensive issues, showcased by its inability to sack Eli Manning once. In fact, over the last five games, the Chiefs have racked up an appalling three sacks and nine quarterback hits. The secondary is also a mess with the absence of Eric Berry showing up more each week. Opposite Marcus Peters is a black hole at corner, with the trio of Phillip Gaines, Kenneth Acker and Terrence Mitchell being a donation center for chunk plays and pass interference calls.
While replaces Smith with Mahomes would fix none of the aforementioned, it may provide a spark that wakes up a team on the path to oblivion. The Chiefs aren’t winning anything significant with Smith under center, and while the same is likely true with Mahomes until their defense gets a much-needed facelift, it represents hope.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers and Patriots gaining steam with each week, the Chiefs are slipping further into the abyss. Kansas City won’t be reaching or winning a Super Bowl for the first time since 1969, extending a streak of futility that includes only a single trip to the AFC Championship Game in that span. Also in that range is a paltry four postseason wins, further stoking the rage in Kansas City when a team this talented craters this badly.
The Chiefs are likely to be in the postseason, hosting a Wild Card round game. However, instead of being a threat in the AFC, they’ll simply be place-holding until a real contender buries them.
Power rankings
Top 10 QBs you’d want in a two-minute drill
1. Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
2. John Elway, Denver Broncos
3. Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts
4. Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys
5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
6. Ken Stabler, Oakland Raiders
7. Eli Manning, New York Giants
8. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins
9. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
10. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Quotable
"“Brett Hundley is our starter. I believe in Brett Hundley,” McCarthy told reporters after the shutout loss at Lambeau. “It didn’t go very well obviously. We understand the standard that has been set here. We are all part of it. Brett Hundley is part of that too.“We will burn the tape. It’s unfortunate because of the way the team has practiced this week. You like to see the team have success when they do so well in practice. Felt great coming in here today, felt great coming off the practice field yesterday.”"
– Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on Brett Hundley following their 23-0 loss
Green Bay is showing support for Hundley, mostly because it has no other recourse. The only other option on the roster is Joe Callahan, and if you are wondering who that is, that’s exactly the point.
At 5-5, the Packers may have to win out to reach the playoffs. In related news, they play at Pittsburgh next weekend.
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Random stat
The only NFC team without a Super Bowl appearance is the Detroit Lions. The only NFL teams without any sort of title game experience are the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Info learned this week
1. Patriots steamroll Raiders in statement win
The Patriots demoed the Raiders in Mexico, showing plenty about both teams.
Oakland, coming off a bye in a desperate situation, was blown out from the jump by New England, barely forcing a single incompletion from Tom Brady. Conversely, the Patriots won with ease despite not being home in two weeks, improving to 8-2 and all but sealing the AFC East … again.
The Raiders had a chance to close within a game of the reeling Chiefs in the AFC West, but instead fell to third place with the loss. At 4-6, it’s hard to see Oakland making a run toward the postseason, something borderline unfathomable prior to Week 1.
2. AFC wild card race tightens
Maybe the Buffalo Bills should have stuck with Tyrod Taylor. Taylor’s replacement, Nathan Peterman, threw five interceptions in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, putting the Chargers only a game behind the flailing Bills.
Meanwhile, the Raiders were crowned by the Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Green Bay Packers. In Miami, the Dolphins lost on a last-second field goal to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, putting them at 4-6.
All told, the Dolphins, Raiders and Chargers all sit at 4-6, while the Bills and Ravens are 5-5. At the moment, Baltimore would be the sixth and final seed in the AFC due to a better conference record. None of these teams are particularly impressive, but somebody will be in the postseason due to a horrid conference.
3. Saints, Vikings march toward first-round bye
The New Orleans Saints continue to show why they might just be the NFL’s best team. Dowb 31-16 in the waning moments of regulation, the Saints improbably tied the game before winning in overtime, putting them at 8-2 on the year.
In Minnesota, the Vikings dispatched the Los Angeles Rams in a 24-7 win, also moving to 8-2. Minnesota continues to roll behind a punishing defense and Case Keenum, who is playing at a level previously unseen from the journeyman.
Minnesota has the tiebreaker over the Saints, so New Orleans remains in a trail position, but the NFC has an incredible race going on for the top few seeds.
4. Eagles rout Cowboys in primetime
The Philadelphia Eagles put the Dallas Cowboys down for a long winter’s nap, beating them 37-9 on national television. Philadelphia was able to stifle Dak Prescott, forcing him into three interceptions while limiting him to 145 passing yards on 31 attempts.
With the win, the Eagles stay in first place not only of the NFC East but as the conference in totality at 9-1. Philadelphia has to be feeling good with only six weeks remaining, knowing that the division is all but sewn up. Dallas, meanwhile, faces the prospect of having to win out (maybe one loss is passable) or go home.
5. Falcons, Seahawks ready for huge MNF battle
The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks are both battling for playoff spots in the NFC, and the winner on Monday night is going to feel good moving forward. Seattle would actually overtake the Rams in the NFC West via tiebreaker with a win, while the Falcons would stay within two games of the Saints in the NFC South.
It’s tough to get a read on both these teams. Atlanta lost four of five before handling a depleted Cowboys team, while the Seahawks are now with Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman for the season. While neither is a strong bet to reach the Super Bowl, both would be tough outs come January.
History lesson
Paul Brown is arguably the greatest coach of all time. Many of his methods are still used across the league, including calling plays from the sideline and the college scouting system. He was also the first coach to use film or the modern playbook, among many other innovations.
Still, his biggest impact might be his gargantuan coaching tree. Brown groomed legions of quality coaches during his time with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, ranging from Weeb Ewbank and Chuck Noll to Don Shula and Bill Walsh.
In fact, of the 31 head coaches to win a Super Bowl, an astonishing 19 of them can be traced back to Brown’s coaching tree. The group accounts for 34 of the 51 Super Bowl championships to date.
Parting shot
When talking about the NFC’s elite, everyone mentions the Eagles, Saints, Vikings and Rams. There is even talk about the Seahawks considering their recent past.
Then there are the Carolina Panthers, who barely get a minute of time from the pundits. Carolina is 7-3 and firmly entrenched in the NFC playoff picture, only a game behind the Saints and well-positioned as the conference’s top wild card.
Going down the stretch, the Panthers will have their chance to make a statement. They play the Saints in two weeks in the Superdome, looking to avenge a Week 3 defeat. The following weekend, the Panthers welcome in the Vikings before hosting the Packers, who could be welcoming Aaron Rodgers back into the fold. Week 17 sees a road game with the Falcons, who could be playing for their playoff lives.
In other words, Carolina has been the quiet threat for the better part of three months. If it continues to win in the coming weeks, that will no longer be the case.