The Kansas City Chiefs were a pristine luxury sports car earlier in the season while rocketing to a 5-0 start. They felt flawless then, and the weekly routine of spraying champagne in the winner's circle came with championship aspirations and MVP chatter tied to their quarterback.
But gradually over the past several weeks, they've stalled and sputtered. First, there were a few minor spinouts that could be shrugged off, as the Chiefs lost games to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders by a combined seven points.
Now the chip in their windshield has grown to a gaping crack—one that was exposed by the Dallas Cowboys Sunday during the Chiefs' 28-17 loss.