The Kansas City Chiefs have started their 2024 season flawlessly. The team will enter their bye week with a perfect 5-0 record, but there are issues they'll need to address during this extended break.
After the fifth week of the 2024-25 NFL season, which teams feel good about their record and which teams should be nervous?
Let's take a look at the standings in the AFC through five weeks.
AFC West standings, Week 6
1. Chiefs (5-0)
2. Broncos (3-2)
3. Chargers (2-2)
4. Raiders (2-3)
AFC East standings, Week 6
1. Bills (3-2)
2. Jets (2-2)
3. Dolphins (2-3)
4. Patriots (1-4)
AFC North standings, Week 6
1. Ravens (3-2)
2. Steelers (3-2)
3. Browns (1-4)
4. Bengals (1-4)
AFC South standings, Week 6
1. Texans (4-1)
2. Colts (2-3)
3. Titans (1-3)
4. Jaguars (1-4)
A review of Week 5 in the AFC
The Jets suffered a loss to the Vikings in London following Aaron Rodgers' three-interception performance. The Texans defeated the Bills with a last-second field goal after Buffalo mismanaged the final moments of the game. In a wild contest against the Colts, the Jaguars secured their first win of the season. The Ravens shocked the Bengals in one of the season's most incredible endings. In a defensive battle, the Dolphins narrowly overcame the Patriots.
Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to a decisive victory over the Browns. The Broncos secured their third consecutive win by overwhelming the Raiders. In a nail-biting Sunday Night Football matchup, the Steelers suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Cowboys. The Chiefs dispatched the Saints on Monday Night Football to cap off the week.
The Jets face pressing questions after another inconsistent offensive performance. Despite not playing their best, the Texans secured a win against a fellow AFC contender. Meanwhile, the Bills could face scrutiny over their handling of Josh Allen's injury. Both the Jaguars and Colts should be concerned about their defensive shortcomings.
The Ravens may have dealt a fatal blow to the Bengals' playoff hopes, as Cincinnati's chances are dwindling. Although victorious, the Dolphins' success hinges on Tua Tagovailoa's presence, while the Patriots might be forced to turn to Drake Maye as their starter.
The Browns will go nowhere if Deshaun Watson remains the starting quarterback. Despite Bo Nix's struggles, the Broncos continue to win. Neither of the Raiders' two quarterbacks is performing adequately. The Steelers, after a promising season start, are showing signs of decline. The Chiefs, although victorious, continue to face challenges in the red zone.
An early look at AFC playoff positioning
According to Team Rankings, the Chiefs remain the favorites to secure the AFC's #1 seed with a 61.2% chance. The Bills follow them at 11.1%, while the Ravens and Texans are next at 8.5% and 7.7%, respectively. The Steelers have an outside shot at 4.7%.
The Chiefs still lead the AFC in Super Bowl LIX odds with a 20.3% chance, followed by the Ravens at 9.6% and Bills at 9.0%. Other top contenders include the Steelers (3.3%), Texans (3.3%), Jets (2.4%), and Chargers (1.7%).
Despite entering the bye week undefeated, Chiefs fans have reasons for concern. Persistent issues plague the team: turnovers continue to be a problem, their red zone struggles result in missed scoring opportunities, and injuries to wide receivers could prove costly.
The Chiefs would do well to use their bye week to address their red zone conversion problems, as solving this issue will significantly reduce everyone's stress. Additionally, they might consider using this extra time to scout potential wide receivers for trade before the upcoming deadline.