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NFL power rankings: 2019 edition – Patriots finish on top, again

By Russell S. Baxter

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 20: Defensive end Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots sacks quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 20: Defensive end Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots sacks quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

3. Kansas City Chiefs (13-5)

Won AFC West

Reached AFC Championship Game

Season Review: Led by second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs rolled up a NFL-high 565 points in 16 outings (third-highest total in league history) and managed exactly 31 points in each of their postseason contests. The young signal-caller threw for 5,097 yards and 50 scores (12 interceptions) on the way to being named both the league MVP and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. But the defense proved to be the club’s undoing as Bob Sutton’s unit allowed 524 yards on 94 plays in the 37-31 overtime loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game. And it ultimately cost the defensive coordinator his job.

2018 Turning Point: Kansas City was the AFC’s top playoff seed for the first time since 1997. Still, it didn’t result in a Super Bowl appearance. Ultimately, the team’s failures on defense were what cost the club. And the Chiefs did lose to the Patriots twice in ’18, including at home in the conference title game.

2019 Priorities: It will be interesting to see if the Chiefs re-up with outside linebacker Dee Ford, who could test the free-agent market if the team doesn’t slap him with the franchise tag. Regardless, the team’s new defensive coordinator is Steve Spagnuolo, who has made his rounds in the league.

Next: No. 2

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