KC Chiefs can prove they are ‘for real’ with a win over Cowboys

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off their biggest victory of the season, defeating a division rival in the Las Vegas Raiders on the road. The victory gave the Chiefs sole possession of first place in the AFC West. At 6-4, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind the Chiefs look like a completely different team in their last five games compared to their first five games.

The Chiefs offense has not committed a turnover for the second consecutive week, which is no easy task considering their opponents. The Packers were a top-five defensive team when it came to takeaways heading into the Chiefs match, and the Raiders have a pair of good pass-rushers in Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue that were non-factors this past Sunday night.

Yes, the Chiefs did have more three-and-outs against the Packers than they did in all of their games this season prior to playing Green Bay. However, the Chiefs still ran 63 plays against the Packers, three more than the Packers, and avoided turning the ball over.

The Kansas City Chiefs have had an impressive turnaround, but face a big test against the Dallas Cowboys.

Defensively, the Chiefs have drastically improved. As mentioned earlier this week, the defense looks much different when you compare the first five games to the last five games. The Chiefs defense allowed 32.6 points per game the first five weeks versus allowing 15.6 points per game the last five weeks.

The Chiefs are hitting their stride at the right time and currently sit atop the AFC West going into the second half of the season. However, not everyone is sold with the team’s improvements.

Former Pro Bowl linebacker and NFL analyst Bart Scott appeared on Sirius XM NFL Radio’s “Movin’ The Chains” with Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan on Thursday and refuted the notion that Kansas City’s defensive has improved. Scott called the Chiefs defense “fool’s gold,” pointing out that the defense had it easy because they faced quarterbacks like Daniel Jones, Jordan Love and Derek Carr, who has been struggling recently after a great start to the season.

Scott makes a reasonable point. The Chiefs are excelling while playing quarterbacks who are either struggling or inexperienced. Scott went on to add that he will give the Chiefs defense credit if they can step up again against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.

The Chiefs defense did need a break. After all, considering the Chiefs have 20 turnovers, the second most in the NFL, that never helps any defense. After committing just one turnover in the last two weeks, which happened on special teams, it has played a part in the defense improving.

Maybe the defense needed this to turn the corner, and perhaps can carry that over against a respectable opponent, such as the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. By doing so, it would prove that the Chiefs are for real as they continue to turn their season around.

The Chiefs are fighting to stay on top of the AFC West, in addition to possibly sneaking back in for the hunt to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Cowboys have the fourth best record in the NFL and are fighting to stay in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They need to win on Sunday just as much as the Chiefs.

If the Chiefs pull out a win against the Cowboys, it will be their biggest accomplishment of the season considering this is the best team on their schedule from a record standpoint. The defense will start to get more respect nationally if it can limit a tougher offense in the Cowboys.