NFL power rankings: Chiefs crash after rancid showing

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates (14) carries the ball as Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Frank Zombo (51) defends during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates (14) carries the ball as Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Frank Zombo (51) defends during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Chiefs basically got assaulted by the Pittsburgh Steelers on national television Sunday night, and people took notice.

It’s not been the easiest few days to root for the Chiefs. They were absolutely pasted on Sunday Night Football by the Steelers, losing 43-14. Incredibly, the score was closer than the game.

Pittsburgh dominated the Chiefs in every way, taking a 22-0 lead midway through the first quarter and never looked back. Kansas City is now left to go into its bye week at 2-2. The Chiefs can certainly recover from an uneven start, but this is not the position most wanted this group to be in after all the preseason hype.

So what are the other outlets saying about Kansas City in their power rankings? Well, predictably, it is not pretty.

FanSided: 12

"Kansas City is better than it looked on Sunday, but the offense is a total disaster."

ESPN: 18

"With Jamaal Charles back in the mix and a mobile quarterback to utilize, the Chiefs are a team that’s built to run. But Andy Reid has had QB Alex Smith drop back to pass 70.9 percent of the time this season, tied with the Jaguars for highest in the NFL."

NFL.com: 16

"What do you do with film like what the Chiefs produced Sunday night? That stuff made the “Dukes of Hazzard” movie with Seann William Scott and Jessica Simpson watchable. “Dude, Where’s My Car?” contained more drama. When I began this blurb, it was 29-zip, Pittsburgh. I hadn’t reached this line before it was 36-nothing. Not joking. What a time for a bye. Kansas City has two weeks to sit on this sucker."

SB Nation: 13

CBS Sports: 17

"That was a horror show in Pittsburgh. Was that really the same defense that picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick six times a week ago?"

It’s hard to argue with any of these spots. I think the Chiefs are a top-15 team, but the overreaction – and a  justified one – coming off such an ugly game will drop you a spot or two further.