Getty Gallery: 2/6
No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs
No. 2 Los Angeles Rams
The fact Patrick Mahomes threw 16 incompletions on 38 passes against the NFL's top defensive unit and the Chiefs still won, is terrifying for the rest of the NFL. Many questioned whether or not Mahomes was fully ready to excel out of the gate after Alex Smith was traded, but Andy Reid knew what he was doing.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may have summed it up best after the team's 30-14 victory moved them to 5-0. As he told ESPN's Adam Teicher, the "sky's the limit" when the group plays like this.
“The sky’s the limit if we play all phases of the game like that," tight end Travis Kelce said after the Chiefs beat Jacksonville 30-14 more because of what they did without the ball than any muscle they showed with it. “It’s a special thing when you get a whole group of guys that come together for one goal. It’s special and sure as [heck] fun."
The Chiefs have wins over two AFC West opponents (Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos) both on the road. They've proven capable of winning shootouts (against the Pittsburgh Steelers) and taking down top-tier defenses. Overall, there's no test they've failed to pass thus far.
When it comes to top-tier NFL teams, there's just one team close to the level of the Chiefs currently. But Mahomes and company have a Week 6 matchup against the New England Patriots ahead, and it'll be yet another huge test.
Rams Receive a Scare, Rally Late
The Rams' 33-31 Week 5 victory over the Seattle Seahawks wasn't their most impressive, but it showed a lot about their team as a whole. The offense has shown no signs of struggling to put points on the board, but it was a well-rounded fourth quarter in this game that helped the Rams stay undefeated.
After falling behind 31-24 to start the fourth quarter, Todd Gurley scored early in the quarter and the defense stepped up big to post a shutout in the final frame. Gurley looks virtually unstoppable, and even when he's slowed down from a yardage perspective, he finds the end zone with ease. This week alone he added three rushing scores, bringing his season total to seven.
And for good measure, Gurley is halfway to making team history when it comes to touchdowns and he's only 24 years old. As ESPN Stats & Info revealed, Gurley's three-touchdown performance Sunday is the third of his career – most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2015, and behind only Marshall Faulk (six) and Eric Dickerson (four) in franchise history.
The Rams travel to take on the Broncos in Denver next week and have a tough seven-game stretch after their bye which should clearly define just how good this group is. From Weeks 9-15, they'll face the Packers, Saints, Seahawks, Chiefs, Lions, and Bears.