KC Chiefs in Top 10 of ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings
The Kansas City Chiefs have won their last five games, and it is time to start giving them some credit.
The Chiefs started their 2015 campaign at 1-5. Since then, they have won five straight games and are currently in the first of two wild card spots if the season ended today. This season has had an amazing turn around after most fans were about to give up on them after their 10-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, marking their fifth straight loss after winning the season opener.
ESPN has the Chiefs ranked 10th out of the 32 NFL teams in their Week 13 Power Rankings. Last week, ESPN ranked the Chiefs 13.
Who would have thought back in Week 6 that we would be here?
After the Chiefs started the season 1-5 and their star player in Jamaal Charles was reported to be out for the rest of the season with another torn ACL in his knee, not many fans, including myself, had much hope for the far under-achieving Chiefs. Regardless of the Chiefs record, their team is extremely talented from top to bottom, and no matter who they play throughout the season, they should be at least in the playoff conversation.
Now backup running backs Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware have taken on the full load in the backfield, and it has surprisingly been very successful thus far. West missed last week’s game against the Buffalo Bills due to an injury, but it sounds like he will be back in the next couple of weeks if not this week.
Quarterback Alex Smith has get on a roll as well as the run game. Smith hasn’t thrown an interception in his last 283 attempts which, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is the longest streak in about 30 years.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs have been impressive as well the last five or so games. While there have been injuries to numerous defensive players for Kansas City, they always seem to have an answer. The weakness of the defense is obviously still the defensive backs, who rank near the bottom of the league in pass yards allowed, but both Sean Smith and rookie Marcus Peters are showing a lot of promise. I don’t see the Chiefs struggling against the pass for much longer.
As a whole, the Chiefs team has looked playoff-worthy for sure. Even the offensive line which was considered to be one of the worst in the NFL is starting to get some praise as it doesn’t seem to matter who the running back is, whether it’s Charles, West, or Ware.
I see a playoff run in this team’s future. Their next game is a home game against the arch rival Oakland Raiders. This game is another big one as the Texans, Bills, Jets, and Steelers are all still nipping at the Chiefs’ hills for the two wild card spots in this year’s playoffs. Look for it to be a hard-fought game that should be quite entertaining.
Next: Spencer Ware Impresses in First Start
What do you think? Did ESPN over-rank the Chiefs in their latest Power Rankings? Let me know what you think by posting a comment in the comments section below.