Kansas City Chiefs

AFC West: 5 reasons Chiefs will win division

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Kansas City Chiefs were able to beat the Oakland Raiders and with the victory, put themselves in the driver’s seat for the AFC West.

Yes, things can change that quickly. The last time we saw the Chiefs, they were buys being blown out on national television by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a bye week and some good news on Justin Houston, Kansas City came out and plowed the Raiders in their own barn.

With the victory, the Chiefs have to believe the AFC West is well within their grasp. Here are five reasons why they will claim their first division crown since 2010.

October 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (center) instructs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz (71) during the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

5. Nobody pulled away

The Denver Broncos looked like they were going to run away with this thing after starting 4-0, but a pair of losses have brought them back to the field. The Raiders had a golden opportunity to put the Chiefs in a brutal spot, but couldn’t take care of buisness at home. When the smoke cleared on Sunday, Kansas City only trails Oakland and Denver by a half-game in the West, while being tied in the loss column.

It’s all going to come down to the divisional play in December. The Chiefs have contests against the Raiders and Broncos at home in Weeks 14 and 16, before visiting the San Diego Chargers on New Year’s Day. The other matchup with the Broncos is late as well, coming in Week 12.

Oct 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

4. Jamaal Charles and Spencer Ware

This is the best backfield combination in the NFL. Charles showed that he was back in name and deed on Sunday, scoring his first touchdown since tearing his ACL last season. It wasn’t the amount of yardage (33 rushing yards) but the way he ran and cut. Charles was fast, elusive and tough in between the tackles.

Then there is Ware, who continues to make a case as a top-five back in the NFL. Ware was unstoppable on Sunday against the Raiders, getting 24 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. Ware also caught two passes for 32 yards, continuing to showcase his versatility.

At this point, there is no reason for Andy Reid to go away from this duo. Both Ware and Charles are capable of completely destroying a game. When they are both going at the same time, it’s almost comical how good they can be.

As the weather continues to worsen, the run game becomes more valuable. Kansas City needs to be smart and utilize both backs until the opponent says uncle. Of course, the rub here is that the Chiefs can’t afford to fall behind in the way they did against the Pittsburgh Steelers and to a lesser extent, the Houston Texans.

Nov 1, 2015; London, United Kingdom; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston (50) celebrates with teammates Tamba Hall (91) and Eric Fisher (72) after intercepting a pass in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions during game 14 of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3. Justin Houston is coming back … soon

This might be the most unsung storyline of the upcoming weeks. Justin Houston isn’t just a good player who will help Kansas City’s defense. He’s one of the best players in the league and will totally alter how teams will play against the Chiefs.

Houston is eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday, but isn’t expected to come back until Monday. The Chiefs have been getting by with the combination of Frank Zombo, Dee Ford and Tamba Hali, but it pales in comparison to the impact Houston is going to make.

Kansas City relies so heavily on getting a pass rush. So far, the Chiefs have only racked up seven sacks in five games, including 3.5 from Ford. Somehow, the team has gotten to a 3-2 record and remains in the thick of the race.

It is believed that Houston will be back on the field come early November, which would mean the Chiefs have to survive at least two more games without him. If that’s the extent of it, look for the defense to take a huge jump over the final 8-9 games. Also, Kansas City is done playing divisional games without Houston.

KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 03: Quarterback Alex Smith

2. Schedule gets much lighter

The hardest part of Kansas City’s schedule is over, and the Chiefs are left standing tall without any additional injuries of note. Reid and Co. have to be quietly thrilled with the record at this point, considering how badly they have played in many of the early games.

So, what lies ahead? The Chiefs come home to play the New Orleans Saints before visiting the Indianapolis Colts and then hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars. After that, we see a trip to the Carolina Panthers and then another home date versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All told, Kansas City’s next five games are going against teams in either the AFC or NFC South. In addition, none of those teams are over .500 and have a combined record of 9-18. This is a real chance to go 5-0 or at a minimum, 4-1. If the Chiefs run the table, we are talking about 8-2 and perhaps in contention for the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

Now, you still have to win the games. Kansas City has shown in the past that every game can be an adventure. Still, the Chiefs also showed last year that when they need to win, they lock it down. This is a huge opportunity to flat-out run away and hide from the competition.

Oct 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) celebrates after a play against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chiefs control their destiny

This is easily the most important of the bunch. After beating the Raiders, the Chiefs are now 2-0 in the AFC West. Nobody else in the division has a clean sheet within the West, giving Kansas City a huge leg up in the race.

While Kansas City is technically a half-game behind both Oakland and Denver, consider the following. If the Chiefs simply beat the Raiders at home, split with the Broncos and beat a Chargers team in Week 17 with nothing to play for, Kansas City will hold every tiebreaker within the division.

If that happens, the Chiefs will be very hard to beat out. Kansas City has other games on the schedule where they will be universally picked to win, including this weekend. Should the Chiefs go 3-1 the rest of the way within the West, it’s highly probable they reach 11 wins or so.

With that win total, the Raiders would only be able to lose one more game outside their visit to Arrowhead. Denver would only be afforded a single loss as well. Considering the schedules that both teams face (including two games against each other), good luck.

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