SB Nation Kansas City - NFL Power Rankings, Week 8: Why I Ranked The Chiefs 12thhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2010-10-26T11:35:08-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15368282010-10-26T11:35:08-05:002010-10-26T11:35:08-05:00NFL Power Rankings Week 8: How Are The Bucs Ahead Of The Chiefs?
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<p>I'm not one to get all up in arms about NFL power rankings but I saw one in Week 8 that made me a little confused. <a href="http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/26/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-situation-remains-stable-at-the-top/">FanHouse.com</a> has issued its rankings and it has the 4-2 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> ranked ahead of the 4-2 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a>.</p>
<p>Here's the writeup on Tampa Bay ranked at No. 13:</p>
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<p>It's not fair to say the Bucs haven't really proven themselves, but they haven't. That could happen in the next two weeks, as Tampa plays road games at Arizona and Atlanta on consecutive Sundays. That will show us where this Buccaneer team stands in the NFC South, and in the NFC as a whole.</p>
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<p>And here's the writeup on KC ranked at No. 15:</p>
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<p>Good teams blow out bad teams at home, and after taking care of business against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jaguars</a>, Kansas City has earned the right to be called a "good team." The Chiefs are sticking to the winning formula of good defense plus a great running game, and it should continue to work for them.</p>
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<p>According to the writeup, the Chiefs are a good team and the Bucs have to prove themselves. Then why is KC behind Tampa Bay?</p>
<p>Here's why they say Tampa still has to prove themselves....</p>
<p><b>Bucs wins</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a></p>
<p><b>Chiefs wins</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">Chargers</a>, Browns, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> and Jaguars</p>
<p>The Chiefs wins aren't much better (if at all) but their losses are. The Chiefs lost by 10 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> and four to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a>. The Bucs lost by 21 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> and 25 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a>.</p>
<p>So why are the Bucs ahead of the Chiefs?</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2010/10/26/1775514/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-kansas-city-chiefs-tampa-bay-buccaneersJoel Thorman2010-10-26T10:37:35-05:002010-10-26T10:37:35-05:00NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Why I Ranked The Chiefs 12th
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<p>I completed <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/10/26/1775111/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-afc-east">SB Nation's NFL power rankings for Week 8</a> and ended up putting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Chiefs</a> at 12th. This is coming from their Week 7 rank of 15th.</p>
<p>Is it too high? Too low? I think it's just right.</p>
<p>The Chiefs are 4-2 and there are seven teams currently with a better record than them. So I wasn't going to place them above all of those teams. That and the Chiefs are still in the "Are they for real?' stage.</p>
<p>Right behind the Chiefs I have the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Washington Redskins</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Redskins are doing well in a tough division as are the Eagles with their starting QB out. The Bucs, in my opinion, are not the best NFC team, as head coach Raheem Morris suggests.</p>
<p>Right ahead of the Chiefs I have the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>. All those teams are, in my opinion, better than KC. They showed it last year and they're showing it again this year. The Saints are 4-3 -- worse than the Chiefs' 4-2 -- but I still feel like they're a better team.</p>
<p>So the Chiefs sit at No. 12 for Week 8. Their schedule over the next month will give them opportunities to keep winning. If they do keep winning I could see them moving right into the top 10. It's hard to imagine them ahead of teams like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> but moving up to the sixth spot near the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a>? That's possible.</p>
<p>So I think No. 12 for the Chiefs is perfect for them. It acknowledges what they've accomplished this season but also recognizes that they've got a little ways to go before being considered one of the elite teams.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2010/10/26/1775356/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-kansas-city-chiefsJoel Thorman2010-10-26T10:12:15-05:002010-10-26T10:12:15-05:00NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Still Strange To See Chiefs In Top 10
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> are a top 10 team according to various NFL power rankings and Pro Football Talk agrees. They put the Chiefs at <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/26/week-seven-power-rankings/">No. 10 after sitting at No. 12 last week</a>.</p>
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<p><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font size="2"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10. Kansas City Chiefs (No. 12; 4-2): The schedule goes Charmin soft with a visit from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Bills</a>. (Of course, that's what the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Ravens</a> thought, too.) </font></font></font></p>
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<p>The Chiefs schedule is an advantage, for sure. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jaguars</a> may be the best team of their next six opponents. Also, a good point from PFT on us thinking the schedule is easy. The Bills, who come to Arrowhead next week, took the Ravens to the wire after jumping out to a big lead over them. QB <span>Ryan Fitzpatrick</span> seems legit throwing for 374 yards last week. There are a few reasons the Chiefs shouldn't be taking the Bills lightly.</p>
<p>How high can the Chiefs go in these power rankings? I don't see them passing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> of the world but if they keep winning....</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2010/10/26/1775306/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-kansas-city-chiefsJoel Thorman2010-10-26T10:07:57-05:002010-10-26T10:07:57-05:00NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Chiefs Drop After Beating Jags?
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> are looking good at 4-2 and in command of the AFC West. The NFL power rankings across the web for Week 8 are starting to put the Chiefs in the top 10. <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2010-09/nfl-power-poll/story/nfl-power-poll-no-2-steelers-about-to-get-great-road-test">The Sporting News</a> however keeps them out of the top 10 and puts them at No. 13.</p>
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<b>13. Kansas City Chiefs (12). </b>Give them a couple of A's for effort, but that's little consolation. Their next "scary" opponent is Tennessee—in Week 16. <span></span>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">Hey, don't blame the Chiefs for their schedule. I'd buy it if they said "Team X is simply better than the Chiefs." But to drop them after a win is strange. Their next six games are very, very winnable games. In Week 13, they travel to San Diego to play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">Chargers</a>. That's really their next "scary" opponent (yes, the Chargers are still scary even at 2-5).</div>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">We've said before things seem to be falling into place for the Chiefs this year and their 2010 schedule is part of that. It's very friendly since the Chiefs are coming off of a four-win season. Best of all, they're beating the teams they should. Last year the Chiefs lost to teams like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Bills</a>. This year they've beaten the Browns and they'll get a shot at the Bills next week in Arrowhead.<br>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2010/10/26/1775298/nfl-week-8-power-rankings-kansas-city-chiefs-san-diego-chargersJoel Thorman2010-10-26T10:00:08-05:002010-10-26T10:00:08-05:00NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Chiefs Are A Top 10 Team
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> are on the cusp of becoming a top 10 team in the <a href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2010/10/25/1772787/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-kansas-city-chiefs">Week 8 NFL power rankings</a> if you ask me but FOXSports.com says they're already there. Adam Caplan <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings">ranks the Chiefs at No. 10</a> after sitting at No. 13 last week.</p>
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<p>You certainly could argue that Kansas City is probably the NFL's most improved team this season. The formula is very simple for them to win: run the ball well and take the ball out of QB <span>Matt Cassel</span>'s hands as much as possible.</p>
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<p>Most improved? No doubt. I'm not sure there's any other team out there that has gone from bottom feeder last year to favorite to win the division. Caplan nails the Chiefs "formula" as well. They've faced a couple of the worst pass defenses the last two weeks and continued to run the ball. They threw it just 29 times and 18 times the last two games and focused on the run.</p>
<p>What I like about the Chiefs is that they do what they do best regardless of the opponent. They've dared teams to stop their running attack this season and it hasn't worked for the most part. They've rushed for over 200 yards the last two games and I imagine we'll see a few more of those before the year is over.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2010/10/26/1775285/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-kansas-city-chiefsJoel Thorman2010-10-25T08:48:29-05:002010-10-25T08:48:29-05:00NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs Sliding Back To The Top 10
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> have now won four of their first six games as we enter Week 8 of the season. Two of those wins have been in dominating fashion over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>. The two losses against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> were close and generally considered good for a team like the Chiefs.</p>
<p>So where do they need to be ranked in the next round of NFL power rankings we'll see from around the web?</p>
<p>Last week the consensus seemed to be No. 12-16 in the various power rankings. The Chiefs had started out 3-0 but were coming off of two straight losses. Both losses were close and against good teams so the Chiefs weren't getting marked down too much for them.</p>
<p>Now the Chiefs are 4-2 and they're coming off of a dominating win over a previously .500 opponent.</p>
<p>I'm saying, at 4-2, the Chiefs merit consideration for a top 10 ranking. The Chiefs may not quite be a legitimate top 10 team yet but they're simply beating the teams they should and doing it at times in convincing fashion. There aren't a ton of question marks with this team as they're pretty solid all around, especially if <span>Matt Cassel</span> and <span>Dwayne Bowe</span> continue to play like they did.</p>
<p>Most of the NFL power rankings will come out on Tuesday so we'll take a look at them but the Chiefs should be getting some top 10 votes.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2010/10/25/2323142/nfl-power-rankings-chiefs-sliding-back-to-the-top-10Joel Thorman