Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
Well, Week 10 in the NFL season could not have gone any better for the Kansas City Chiefs. They won, and everyone else in the AFC West lost. The Chiefs’ day began by watching Denver lose at home to Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Chargers fall at home to Minnesota. Smelling blood in the water, they went out thrashed the Las Vegas Raiders in a Sunday Night Football showdown that determined first place in the division.
It determined first place in the division for the time being, I should add. But it feels, too, like it determined first place for the long haul.
Let’s recap what happened in Sin City on Sunday night and break down what it means.
Time for Chiefs fans to take their hands off the panic button
One week may not be a large enough sample size to cure all ills, but it sure seems like Kansas City is going in the right direction. The two-time defending AFC champions have now won three games in a row, and this one felt a little bit different from the first two in the current stretch. Against the Giants and Packers (who were without Aaron Rodgers), the Chiefs scored a combined 33 points. Their once-proud but suddenly much-maligned offense could not get on track and Patrick Mahomes was turning the ball over left and right. Fast forward to Sunday night and head coach Andy Reid’s squad pinned 41 points on the Raiders (that’s more than KC had scored in its previous 3 contests combined). Mahomes threw for 406 yards and 5 touchdowns, completing 35 of 50 passes without getting picked off.
Patrick Mahomes tonight: 406 passing yards, 5 TDs and the Chiefs (-2.5) are up 41-14.
Are the Chiefs back to their old form?
(Via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/9L5lDcX24V
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 15, 2021
It was only a matter of time before Mahomes and company got on a roll. So although that development was encouraging, it really isn’t the story nor is what makes you feel good about this team in the long run. What’s especially promising is the defense.
That’s right; Kansas City’s defense held Las Vegas to 14 points and 299 total yards of offense. The Chiefs sacked Derek Carr twice and also forced him into 2 turnovers. Over the last 3 games, they are giving up an average of fewer than 13 points.
Bad news for the rest of the West
This division race is by no means over, and it often is (in the Chiefs’ favor) 10 weeks into a season. The other teams are still alive heading into Week 11, which isn’t always the case. But given where Kansas City was after Week 7 (in last place at 3-4), it has to feel good about where it stands. A 6-4 record has the Chiefs at the top of the standings, a half-game ahead of the Chargers and Raiders plus a full game over the Broncos.
Denver was awful in a 30-13 loss to Philadelphia. Los Angeles wasn’t much better during its 27-20 setback against Minnesota. Las Vegas may have been the worst of all, although even if it had played well there was probably nothing that could be done.
You see, when the Chiefs play well there is not much anyone can do. And, finally, the Chiefs are playing well.
Watch out, AFC West. And watch out, entire NFL.
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