In a week in which all the top AFC teams struggled against ostensibly inferior opponents (the Titans winning by one score over the Falcons, Indianapolis squeaked by Buffalo, and the Patriots won in overtime against the Texans), Kansas City retained their 1-game lead for the AFC Homefield Advantage in the Playoffs.

Another interesting aspect to this, though, is how closely the Raiders adhered to the only proven method to defeat the Chiefs:

The Raiders played perfect football in nearly every aspect of the game.

1) They didn't turn the ball over
2) They game-planneed both offense and defense to ensure that:
a) Chiefs players were usually gang tackled
b) Raiders offense players were one-on-one with a Chiefs defender, and that they would break a few tackles (that's how they got all three touchdowns, as I recall)
3) They got pressure on Trent Green
4) They ran a strong back between the tackles
5) They picked up every blitz perfectly
6) They didn't give up a TD to Dante Hall

And yet, they didn't get a kick-off return for a touchdown like Cincinnati did, and that was the difference between victory and defeat.

The strength of Kansas City's coaching staff this year has been adjustments. They have stunned me with their ability to make adjustments at the half and pick up steam in the 2nd half. Thus, I think you will begin seeing "season" adjustments for Kansas City now. A loss, followed by a close win over a weakened division rival at home, surely is a warning of some sort.

They need to be a little more explosive on offense, to put the other team behind. If they can achieve that, other teams will have to press, and will thus make back-breaking mistakes.

Failing that, Kansas City needs to begin finding ways to force turnovers. In the first half of the season, turnovers fell into their laps as teams pressed. Now, we need to start forcing them. The best way would be to...

...get more pressure on the quarterback when we need to. Against the Raiders, we got three sacks, but didn't even get close to Mirer when we needed to get a stop. And hitting the quarterback (not just taking him down by the feet) will result in more QB fumbles for us to fall on.

Interesting notes:
Neither Rick Mirer nor John Kitna were particularly known for throwing great long passes. Eric Warfield was torched for a TD on a pass by each of them in two successive weeks. He's played well enough this year that I don't really think he played the ball badly, just that the passes were truly perfect, and I also think I blame Greg Robinson. You have to have to give your CBs some safety help. If not, you'd better guarantee you get to the QB. Mr. Robinson did neither; result: easy TD.

In the first half of the season, KC faced mostly inexperienced QBs in their 1st or 2nd year. For the latter half of the season, including the last two games, they face(d) QBs in their 30s, or at least in their 5th season. This makes finishing the season without another loss very difficult. Luckily, all of the teams that are trailing KC for homefield advantage play each other at least once, meaning they will probably knock each other off to an extent (it is possible for one to make it through unscathed and win out). Kansas City does have the easiest schedule for the rest of the season. I don't think anyone will be able to outscheme KC well enough to beat them at home this year...

...and the scary part? The Raiders played their perfect game. The Chiefs did not. Result? Chiefs still got the W.