We’re past the halfway point of the season and the Chiefs are still leading the conference. Yet there is plenty of concern among fans that they aren’t going to be able to make a good run due to the questionable performance of the offense.
I spent a lot of time during the bye week pondering whether the Chiefs still have the power of the AFC. To answer that we must look at the other top teams in the conference.
The Ravens are a half-game behind the Chiefs after losing a close one to the Browns at home. The Ravens are a question mark to me. Their offense is ranked just behind the Chiefs’ and their total defense is ranked just above. There has been a lot of talk about their easy schedule but if we’re honest The Chiefs schedule hasn’t been all that tough up to this point. They don’t play each other unless they meet in the playoffs so it will be tough to know before then how much of a threat they pose.
The Jaguars are currently 3rd after losing to the 49ers. The Jags have been looking like a real threat this season and I’m not sure what to make of the loss. The 49ers look unbeatable some weeks and verging on incompetent in others. Jacksonville’s offense isn’t super impressive this year and while their defense is good it’s not quite great but they have been winning games. The Chiefs have already beaten them once this season and it’s hard to think they can’t do it if they meet in the playoffs. It would also not be wise to take that for granted.
The Dolphins were supposed to be the Chiefs first true test. If that’s the case the defense passed with flying colors. Holding the Fins to a mere 14 points and shutting them out completely for ½ of the game. The offense? They did enough. KC never lost the lead they took on the first drive of the game.
The Steelers and Browns: To be honest the Steelers sort of snuck up on me quietly improving their record. However, neither their offense nor their defense is ranked very high at this point in the season. They have only beaten two notable teams both being division rivals. The Browns strength is their defense which is currently the best in the league. On offense, they rank slightly above the Jaguars.
The Bengals and Bills were supposed to be the big threats but with the Bills sitting at .500 and the Bengals just above it’s hard to know what to make of these two teams right now.
Honestly, looking at the challengers it’s hard not to be optimistic about Kansas City’s chances. No, the Chiefs don’t seem to have it all together but neither do any of the other teams that might challenge them. The Eagles game might tell us something but even a close loss wouldn’t be writing on the wall for the Chiefs at this point. It could drop them in the standings if the Ravens beat the Bengals though.
Chiefs fans might want to get behind the Bengals for the first time in the season in hopes that Kansas City gets more of a cushion for their Monday night game. Right now the Chiefs are still in control. Unless the Eagles give them a sound beating it’s hard not to be optimistic about their chances in spite of the struggles on offense.
There isn’t a team I can really point to and say. There is no way the Chiefs can beat them. That’s about as much as you can expect at this point in the season. Yes, the Chiefs are still the team to beat, until they aren’t.
Will that be this season?
Perhaps, but the writing isn’t on the wall just yet.
