Ben Margot, The Associated Press)
Spotlight on … Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
When: The Kansas City Chiefs host the Cleveland Browns with an AFC West title within reach.
What’s up: No NFL team since the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals has started 1-5 and made the playoffs. The Chiefs figure to be a No. 3 or No. 5 seed, a remarkable achievement that can be traced to the strong play of Alex Smith. Yes, he answers to “Captain Checkdown,” a backhanded compliment about his game manager status. He boasts 12 touchdowns and one interception in his last 11 games.