The Kansas City Chiefs are starting to get scary for the rest of the NFL once again. It was just a month ago where some famously claimed that Kansas City's dynasty was over. But with the return of Rashee Rice, the more aggressive Patrick Mahomes, and latest improvements from the Chiefs' defense, K.C. is hitting their stride.
A tough stretch certainly will make things interesting. Over the next three games, the Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos, and the Indianapolis Colts. All three of those AFC squads firmly have winning records at the midway point of the NFL season.
As we get set to enter Week 9, it is time to see how some people view the Chiefs among the entire NFL landscape. Most people believe they are back to their best form and are among the best bets to make it to the Super Bowl. Even the greatest Kansas City doubters cannot completely ignore the run that the Chiefs are currently enjoying.
Without further ado, let's dive into the latest NFL power rankings across various platforms.
The Chiefs are largely set in the top five of most power rankings via certain outlets. ESPN, notably, has Kansas City just outside of the top five. Overall, they list Kansas City at number six in their latest power rankings. Ahead of the Chiefs on ESPN's list, in order, are the Colts, Lions, Eagles, Bills, and Buccaneers.
Elsewhere, all of The Athletic, NFL.com, and CBS Sports have Kansas City squarely in the top five. The Chiefs are actually in the top four for all three platforms. The Athletic places the Chiefs at number four in their current power rankings. The Colts, Lions, and Eagles are listed ahead of Kansas City on that particular list.
NFL.com lists Kansas City at number three. Meanwhile, CBS Sports has the Chiefs at number two in their power rankings. The Colts are ahead of K.C. on both of those outlets, a common theme among current analysts. Detroit is also ahead of the Chiefs again on NFL.com.
To see the variation among how teams are viewed at the top is not too crazy. Many teams have not fully reached their peak this season. Even the most believable Super Bowl contenders have had mistakes or are riddled with injuries. To see the Chiefs listed in slightly different spots in these power rankings goes to show how tight the NFL has been so far this season.
Kansas City could climb up to number one if they have a strong showing in the next few games. If the Chiefs can get a winning record inside those next three tough contests, they could be firmly in the driver seat yet again. This upcoming trio of games will certainly be a defining point for how analysts collectively view the Chiefs going forward.