NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs come in at No. 14 overall at MMQB
By Matt Conner
Robert Klemko recently posted a new set of NFL Power Rankings over at Monday Morning Quarterback and the Chiefs came in at No. 14.
The latest NFL Power Rankings are out in time for training camp to open from Robert Klemko over at Monday Morning Quarterback. One thing is clear about the Kansas City Chiefs: everyone is pretty down on them at the moment. While fans have been concerned about the team’s distracting and dramatic offseason, they’re not the only ones worried. Klemko’s positioning has the Chiefs much lower than their typical Top 10 (or less) slot.
In various offseason power rankings, the Chiefs are almost always listed in the top 10 and usually even higher than that, sometimes in the top five and typically in the top eight. Even if a particular writer loves the Oakland Raiders more for the AFC West, there’s still an admission that the division is the NFL’s best and that the Chiefs are one of the best teams in the AFC and even the greater NFL. But Klemko feels otherwise.
In addition to believing the Chiefs are more of a middling team competitively, he also believes we’ll see Patrick Mahomes sooner than later. He writes:
"Bold prediction: Alex Smith’s starting role will not survive this three-game nightmare stretch in October—vs. Steelers, at Raiders, vs. Broncos."
Certainly if Alex Smith is sitting on the bench at midseason, something will have gone horribly wrong. The plan of succession has been made plain for all parties involved and so far there’s been no deviation in word or deed. Everyone knows their place, the timing, the concerns and the way forward. But losing places a serious pressure on the best-laid plans, which means Klemko is betting on some bad news for the Chiefs.
Despite the current Chicken Little mentality around the Chiefs, the reality is that the team is still as loaded with star players as ever before. From top-end talent to serious depth, the Chiefs have every reason to believe they’re among the NFL’s best, even if others are currently sleeping on them.