ESPN Power Rankings: Chiefs Crack Top 5

Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dexter McCluster (22) is congratulated by head coach Andy Reid (right) after returning a punt for a touchdown against the New York Giants in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 31-7. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs are 4-0 for the first time since 2003 and the national media who so often like to look past the team from the Midwest is forced to stand up and take notice. While the Chiefs still won’t get as much play on Sportscenter or NFLAM as some of the other “higher profile” 4-0 teams like the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos, the Tom Brady led New England Patriots or the Drew Brees led New Orleans Saints, the fact that, thus far in the 2013 season the Chiefs have managed to keep pace with the NFL “big dogs” can’t go without mentioning.

One of the ways the Chiefs are being talked about is weekly NFL Power Rankings. Several sporting networks and sites like to rank each team from 1 to 32 and talk about why they’re at the spot they’re at. You can find the major Power Rankings at NFL.com, CBSSports.com and even our own Fansided Network. However, the rankings I like to look at the ESPN Power Rankings.

Every week on AA Radio, Arrowhead Addict Editor Andrew Kulha and I break down these rankings at the end of the show. If you want to watch past episodes, please check out the AA Radio tab at the top of the page.

However, since this is the first week the Chiefs (who started out at #24 in the post-draft edition of these rankings) are now #5. Of course, the other four undefeated teams are 1-4 (Denver, Seattle, New Orleans and New England respectively) but that’s okay. For a team that spent nearly the entire season last year at #32, it’s nice to see that even the “professionals” have to admit that 4-0 isn’t a fluke.

I’m happy the Chiefs are in the top five, but I think they should be at #4. I’m not convinced that the Patriots are better than them. I get it, it’s Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck, but still, they’re not as “Patriot-like” as they’ve always been. But, what do I know?

While it’s relatively certain that another Chiefs win this week, combined with a loss by any of the other four unbeaten will move the Chiefs even higher, we can only sit back and wait.

For the record, Andrew called a top five spot last week on AA Radio. We’ll see what he has to say about it this week when we record the next episode. I’m sure he’ll be plenty pleased with himself. Who can blame him? When the Chiefs are winning it’s good for business and it’s fun to watch football again. Even the guys at ESPN will agree with that.

What do you think, Addicts? Do you agree with the order of the Power Rankings? Sound off below. As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!