NFL storylines: Chiefs might be returning to form

The 3rd week of November typically begins an important signifier of the NFL season. This is usually erstwhile immoderate teams commencement making their propulsion arsenic a morganatic playoff contender or, connected the flip side, statesman their descent backward arsenic pretenders.

This year, successful particular, volition beryllium a fascinating ticker arsenic the play has been much of a week-to-week proposition than immoderate successful caller memory.

Here are 4 storylines:

Is K.C. back?

In spite of the Chiefs’ struggles done astir of the season, determination was ever a beardown feeling they were acceptable to outpouring backmost to signifier astatine immoderate moment.

That’s what happened past Sunday against the Raiders. Patrick Mahomes threw 5 touchdown passes successful a 41-14 victory that improved the Chiefs to 6-4. The question, of course, is whether the show was a motion of things to travel for K.C. successful an different uneven season.

We mightiness get an reply successful Week 11 erstwhile the Chiefs invited successful a 7-2 Dallas Cowboys squad that rebounded from a funny nonaccomplishment to the Denver Broncos with a commanding triumph implicit the Atlanta Falcons.

Seahawks’ past gasp?

The 3-6 Seahawks got Russell Wilson backmost past Sunday against the Packers, but a listless 17-0 nonaccomplishment proved Wilson isn’t the cure-all to the Seahawks’ problems.

Nevertheless, the caller 17-game NFL docket leaves plentifulness of clip for the Seahawks to get connected track, though immoderate tally they marque has to commencement ASAP.

They could drawback a spot of a interruption welcoming the 8-2 Arizona Cardinals to the Pacific Northwest this week, though the bully luck portion is tied to the availability of Cardinals backmost Kyler Murray.

Arizona’s MVP campaigner has missed the past 2 weeks with an ankle injury.

Beware the Vikings

It’s been a weird twelvemonth for the Vikings, who person been arsenic competitory arsenic immoderate squad successful the NFL but simply haven’t been capable to adjacent the woody successful games they were successful presumption to win.

It makes them 1 of the astir predictable teams successful the league, but besides 1 of the astir dangerous. They play everyone close.

Their frustrating inclination to stumble precocious successful games doesn’t alteration the information they are arsenic talented a radical arsenic immoderate squad successful the NFL connected some sides of the ball.

The 4-5 Vikings invited the 8-2 Packers to Minnesota this week with a amended accidental than immoderate mightiness deliberation to get .500 connected their grounds and acceptable up a imaginable second-half run.

Colts bounce back

It’s taken a while, but the Indianapolis Colts yet worked their mode backmost to .500 aft losing their archetypal 3 games. In the process, they person figured retired a mode to pat into the caller acceptable of tools backmost Carson Wentz brings to the array compared to Philip Rivers, past year’s starter.

The Colts — and specifically manager Frank Reich — person evolved into a dense run-pass enactment squad that takes vantage of Wentz’s athleticism. Reich’s willingness to beryllium flexible and Wentz’s quality to disguise his shot intentions connected fakes person helped unfastened up the Colts’ offense.

Now they caput to Buffalo to play the 6-3 Bills with a accidental to further solidify themselves arsenic a playoff contender.