This Sunday, Kansas City does not have to win. If the Chiefs lose, they will be 6-3 and still in control when it comes to both winning the AFC West and earning a first-round bye. It’s not the end of the world if Andy Reid and Co. don’t extend their winning streak to five games down in Charlotte.
All that said, this is a major chance to get rolling full-steam down the stretch. We sit here on Nov. 11, and the Chiefs are 6-2. With a win over Carolina, they would be 7-2 and take over the West lead, with the Oakland Raiders idle on their bye.