The Kansas City Chiefs have a small window that most teams see them through as Joel Thorman’s own Power Rankings at SB Nation have the Chiefs at No. 23 in the NFL — about the same range as everyone else in the NFL. While they are one game away from .500 and on a two-game winning streak, it’s clear that they have their doubters, even writers from Kansas City.
Thorman says, “KC had a bye last week and their season will be determined by the next two divisional games: at Oakland and hosting San Diego on Monday Night Football.” He’s exactly right to say that this stretch will determine their season. They have momentum. They’re fresh off of the bye. And the two teams they play are the two teams in front of them for any hope of postseason glory. If they win both, the Chiefs will actually control much of their own destiny moving forward at 4-3, and the worst case scenario there would be that they’re sitting one game behind the Chargers in a loaded division.
However, if KC loses both, then you’re looking at a 2-5 record and a team ready to freefall through the toughest part of its schedule. If KC hopes for a ranking higher than the mid-20s, it’s going to take a tough win against a charged Oakland team this Sunday.