It’s not often that an 11-1 team has its play scrutinized, but for the Kansas City Chiefs, heavy is the head that wears the crown.
The back-to-back Super Bowl champions have already clinched a playoff spot and are in the driver’s seat for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but with the way they’ve got there, doubts about their ability to pull off the first three-peat in NFL history are justified.
Kansas City has made a habit of pulling off miraculous, nail-biting wins this season, which is nothing to scoff at in the NFL. But it has often come in games against teams the Chiefs should be rolling over.
Take their last two wins for example. They needed a last-second field goal to walk-off the 3-9 Carolina Panthers in Week 12, then got bailed out by some poor clock management by the 2-10 Las Vegas Raiders to win by two in Week 13.
So, how concerned should the Chiefs really be? After all, they do still have Patrick Mahomes, who has already cemented himself as one of the greatest QBs in NFL history.
But even the great Mahomes can’t do much if he has time to throw, and therein lies the Chiefs’ biggest issue — their offensive line, particularly at the offensive tackle position.
Mahomes has been sacked 10 times over the past two games and 32 times this season through just 12 games. For context, his previous career high in sacks taken in a season was 28 over 17 games in 2021.
The Chiefs have a chance to quiet some of the doubters with a huge divisional matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers in primetime on Sunday. But even if they eke out another win, if Mahomes is once again running for his life all game, it will be fair to question whether a third straight Super Bowl is in the cards.
Here are some other storylines to keep an eye on in Week 14:
Seahawks’ golden opportunity
Late divisional matchups are always big games in the NFL, but with how the NFC West has shaken out this season, the magnitude of every clash between division rivals has been multiplied tenfold.
The Seattle Seahawks (7-5) are currently the division leaders, but are just one game up on both the Los Angeles Rams (6-6) and their opponent this Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals (6-6).
Seattle has a perfect opportunity to take a firm grip on the division by beating the Cardinals this weekend, especially with the Rams a major underdog against the red-hot Buffalo Bills.
A win over Arizona by no means secures the Seahawks a playoff spot, but it gives them a little breathing room. And that could be especially key as their next two games come against two tough opponents in the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals have the easiest remaining schedule of the division and a win Sunday would put them in the driver’s seat to take a surprise division title.
Cousins returns to Minnesota amid poor stretch
Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota was already a game circled on the calendar by most, but it’s been amplified by his recent, umm, shaky play.
The now Atlanta Falcons QB cost his team a win last week against the Chargers when he threw four interceptions in a 17-13 loss. It continued a stretch of poor play for the 36-year-old signal caller, who now has zero passing TDs and six interceptions over his past three games.
“Have to just believe that tough times don’t last, tough people do,” Cousins told reporters this week. “You have to keep pushing.”
A bounce-back game won’t come easy against his former team, however, as the Vikings are 10-2 and have looked no worse for wear without Cousins’ services.
Another added wrinkle to consider is that the Falcons, who are currently tied for the NFC South division lead, have the eight-overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft just waiting for his chance behind centre.
Atlanta shocked the world, and Cousins, with its selection of Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. in the top 10. It was well believed that the Falcons would let Penix wait and learn behind the veteran Cousins before giving him a real shot.
But if Cousins struggles again against his former team, the calls for the rookie might get too loud to ignore.
Game to Watch: Buffalo Bills (10-2) @ Los Angeles Rams (6-6) — Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
It’s officially gut-check time for Sean McVay and the Rams. They enter Week 14 one game back of the Seahawks for first in the NFC West, and with the way the NFC wild-card standings look, a division title looks to be their only real way back to the post-season.
Unfortunately for the Rams, they have a late-season date with the Bills, who are looking like the favourite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
And even though the Bills have already locked up a fifth-straight AFC East title, they still have plenty to play for. Buffalo is currently just one game back of Kansas City for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and the Bills also have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs thanks to a Week 11 win.
So it’s not only a matchup between two teams with a lot to play for, but also a game with two QBs at the top of their game.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s 77 total quarterback rating over his past three games is second only to the man he faces on Sunday, Josh Allen.
Allen, the current MVP favourite per BetMGM, is going to be a huge test for an up-and-coming Rams defensive line. If they can’t contain his ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs, it could be a long day for the Rams.
Forrest’s Favourites (Season record: 16-17) — All odds courtesy of BetMGM):
Panthers @ Eagles — Pick: Panthers +13.5 (-110): Don’t look now, but Bryce Young is playing the best football of his career. This is also the perfect spot for a letdown game from the Eagles. Take the Panthers plus the points.
Bills @ Rams — Pick: Bills -3.5 (-115): The Bills look like one of the two best teams in football right now. And even though it’s a road game, they will also most likely have at least half the crowd on their side. We’re riding with one of the hottest teams in football.
Bears @ 49ers — Pick: 49ers -3.5 (-110): The 49ers are a desperate football team right now, and despite their injuries, head coach Kyle Shanahan wants his team to play with more “pride.” He will have them ready to go against the Bears.
Detroit Lions 34, Green Bay Packers 31
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m.
