KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ It remains quite possible that Philip Rivers is done like dinner and the Raiders are merely finding their level, but there is another possibility here, too, one that may just change the trajectory of the Chiefs and thus the AFC.
And, well, anyway, it's at least worth considering:
Are the Chiefs good at defense now?
Like, not just not awful, or no longer a huge problem, or, even decent.
But good.
Like, good enough to help win a playoff game?
This is two consecutive games the guys without Patrick Mahomes on their side of the ball have been somewhere between very good and dominant. Last week in Mexico City, they made the offense's worst game of the season a footnote with four interceptions in a 24-17 win over the L.A. Chargers.
And, now, this group's best defensive game since Denver with a blowout over the Raiders. And, obviously, its best defensive game against a representative NFL quarterback in much longer.
This reference may have a limited demographic, but I'm going to use it anyway:
Should we address the elephant in the room? This is two games in a row that Mahomes has been unproductive. His timing appears off, his footwork unhelpful and his accuracy unreliable. If he's anything less than excellent, the Chiefs have little chance in January.
But, come on.
If it's December and the Chiefs' biggest worry is the offense, then the Chiefs don't have big worries.
The secondary, in particular, is playing exceptionally. The coverage has been superb, and here we should give special mention to Charvarius Ward. He has improved steadily over the last year, and for a month or two straight now has performed at the level of a No. 1 cornerback.
But this game belonged to the safeties, with Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill each intercepting Carr. Thornhill also made an aggressive and instinctual play near the line of scrimmage on a fourth-down run.
Disclaimers are in order here. Carr has always struggled against the Chiefs in general and at Arrowhead Stadium in particular. He is not the type of quarterback you have to beat in the postseason. The same could be said of Rivers, and the Chiefs are still soft against the run and vulnerable against running backs in the passing game.
Also, and most importantly, this is only two games.
But isn't this how some of us thought it might go for their rebuilt defense? That they'd struggle early and find their strengths later?
However this goes in the coming month, the defense's surge comes at an interesting moment. The Chiefs' next opponent, Tom Brady, is exactly the type of quarterback you have to beat in the postseason.
He has looked like an aging shell of his former self for much of the season, but he's still Brady, and he has a long history of playing better as seasons progress, and especially in important games.
So let's keep the optimism cautious, for now. But the Chiefs have a heck of an opportunity next week in New England.
