Following a 28-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 9, the Kansas City Chiefs have slid down the power rankings. In Bleacher Report’s newest rankings, the Chiefs have fallen all the way down to the No. 10 spot.

After a placement at the No. 2 spot just a week ago, the Chiefs suddenly have a lot of questions to answer after a performance that left many questioning whether they are true contenders once again.

“The Kansas City Chiefs are in a bit of trouble. There's no other way to put it,” Kristopher Knox wrote on the current state of the Chiefs. “While heading into their bye at 5-4 isn't a disaster, the Chiefs are falling behind in the AFC West race. That's a problem. While we know Kansas City is always a threat once the playoffs begin, what happens if they don't reach the postseason at all?”

It’s hard to imagine the Chiefs not making the postseason entirely considering their dominance since quarterback Patrick Mahomes took the reins, but they have certainly made it harder on themselves after Week 9.

Kansas City sits in third place in the AFC West, one game behind the Los Angeles Chargers and two games behind its Week 11 opponent in the Denver Broncos. They have just the eighth-best record in the AFC, a far cry from where you’d expect to see the Chiefs halfway through the season.

Because of their track record, you still have to ask if this is truly something to be worried about for the Chiefs. They’ve not only made the playoffs for over a decade now, but they’ve made it to the AFC Championship every year since 2018. It’s hard to truly believe that such a dominant team could fall off so quickly after making the last three Super Bowls.

Taking a step back, just as Kansas City will this week with a bye, there is more than enough time to turn it around. The position they’re in right now is in no way ideal, but they remain over .500 halfway through the year. They were without key players the first few weeks of the season, only playing to their full potential the last few weeks.

A one-score loss to the Bills is not cause for panic among Chiefs fans. Despite Mahomes having a historically bad performance for his standards, the Chiefs stayed within reach of Buffalo until the end.

With a tough schedule coming up, the Chiefs' bye week comes at a perfect time. They have the chance to rest, regroup, and shake off the Week 9 loss. A win against the Broncos in a couple of weeks would immediately right the ship and make the AFC West crown much more reachable. Beating a new and improved Denver squad won’t be easy, but it is absolutely a must-win game for the Chiefs. If another loss comes, it may officially be time to press the panic button in Kansas City.