Chiefs News 11/8: The Chiefs need to prove that they are a Super Bowl contender

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Chiefs face impossible decision with two superstar rookies tipped to command $220 million contracts | talkSPORT

When you consider that Rice could command something similar to Terry McLaurin’s three-year,

$96 million extension, that adds up to nearly $220 million for the two young stars the Chiefs drafted, developed, and hope to retain.

And it would be worth it.

It can be argued that McDuffie is now the most important piece of Kansas City’s defense, surpassing the aging Jones. And Rice’s impact on the offense is undeniable.

Rice’s impact on Mahomes and the offense is clear: since returning from a six-game suspension, he has led the Chiefs with 233 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns over the past three games.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will be the guest picker on College GameDay | Chiefs Wire

The bye week for players on the Kansas City Chiefs is a period of recovery and an opportunity to have new experiences. Patrick Mahomes will take center stage on Saturday as he becomes the guest picker for ESPN’s College GameDay pre-game show from his alma mater in Lubbock, Texas.

The marquee matchup this weekend in college football will involve Mahomes’ 9th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders hosting the 8th-ranked BYU Cougars. The programs have met only twice in history, with the first matchup in 1940 and the second in 2023, when BYU beat Texas Tech 27-14.

In three seasons at Texas Tech, Mahomes completed 859 passes for 11,252 yards, 93 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions. He’s third in school history in yards and touchdowns, but he leads the school in yards per attempt among QBs with at least 100 completed passes (8.3). Mahomes was selected out of Texas Tech 10th overall by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL draft — and the rest is history.

The Biggest Question Facing Each NFL Team in the Second Half of 2025 | FOX Sports

Kansas City Chiefs: Are they a Super Bowl contender this year?

Their offense and defense both rank in the top seven, they’ve got an all-world quarterback, great coaching and clutch players with experience, so there aren’t a lot of questions this team needs to answer. They’re probably one of the 10 best teams in the NFL. But they are also 5-4. That’s not awful, and it’s only a half-game out of a playoff spot. But the Chiefs are also in a loaded conference. Realistically, they need 10 wins to secure a playoff berth, which means going 5-3 down the stretch. That should be manageable for them, even with games against the Broncos (two), Colts and Chargers. But they don’t have much margin for error anymore. They could really use a long winning streak as soon as they come out of their bye.

Biggest Need for Every NFL Team in 2026 Free Agency After 2025 Trade Deadline | Bleacher Report

Kansas City Chiefs: Edge-Rusher

Cornerback Jaylen Watson is a pending free agent, but the Chiefs also have Trent McDuffie, Chamarri Conner and Nohl Williams there. George Karlaftis is doing almost all of the work on the edge, and a lack of depth there could become more glaring as Chris Jones declines. Rookie third-round pick Ashton Gillotte probably isn’t the solution, either.

Around the NFL

Report: Jaguars will play in Orlando in 2027 | NBC Sports

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel reports that the Jaguars will, subject to league approval, play their home games that season in Orlando.

While it’s viewed as a formality, the team would like the league to get it done.

“As far as the league is concerned, I don’t know that they put as much of a priority on this as we would like them to,” team president Mark Lamping told Bianchi. “We wish the time frame would be earlier, but that’s because our fans want to know and the people in Orlando want to know.”

The other viable alternative was the University of Florida’s stadium in Gainesville. Per Bianchi, the school has already been told that it’s out of the running.

Jayden Daniels injury update: Commanders QB gets positive news on dislocated elbow | CBS Sports

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his left elbow late in Sunday night’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, avoided a serious injury and will not require surgery, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported Friday. He will not be placed on injured reserve and the plan is to re-evaluate the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the year during the Week 12 bye later this month.

“It’s a good deal with no surgery,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Friday. “Obviously that makes a big difference if you have an injury not to have to go down that road. I hope to give you guys an update after the bye week about where he is and where we go from there. After that, I’ll give you an update on where it’s at and it will give us a couple weeks to get to that space”

Antonio Brown waives extradition, will return to Miami | ESPN

Former NFL player Antonio Brown will return to Miami from a New Jersey jail after deciding not to contest his extradition to Florida on an attempted murder charge, officials said Friday.

Brown, 37, was brought to the jail in Essex County, New Jersey, after his arrest by U.S. marshals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He waived extradition at a brief court hearing Friday.

“Brown is back at the Essex County Jail in Newark, where he is awaiting pickup by Florida authorities,” said Carmen Martin, spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

According to an arrest warrant, Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match May 16 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. The victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators one of the bullets grazed his neck.

“Cellphone video obtained from social media showed Mr. Brown with the firearm in his hand advancing toward Mr. Nantambu on the outside walk. The video captures two shots which occur as Mr. Brown is within several feet of Mr. Nantambu,” the arrest affidavit says. “The video also captures Mr. Nantambu ducking after the first shot is heard.”

Colts DT DeForest Buckner (neck) placed on injured reserve, will miss at least four games | NFL.con

Buckner suffered the neck injury in Indianapolis’ Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Steichen revealed, and did not provide a timetable for Buckner’s return.

“Hopefully, we’ll get him back,” Steichen said, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, adding the Colts are intent on being careful with Buckner’s health following the injury.

Buckner’s IR placement means he’ll miss the Colts’ next four games — a total that spans five weeks due to Indianapolis’ Week 11 bye — before he can be designated to return to action. Those games include Sunday’s date with the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin, followed by contests at Kansas City (Week 12) and Jacksonville (Week 14), which bookend a home date with the AFC South rival Houston Texans in Week 13.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Hot Takes Week 10: 2025 season will be on the line against the Broncos

The season — not just the division — will be on the line in Denver

If the Chiefs lose to the Denver Broncos next week, I firmly believe the division is a wrap. Denver would be 9-2, while the Chiefs would fall to 5-5.

But I still believe Kansas City would make the playoffs as a Wild Card, so I can’t agree that the season is on the line. An 11-6 record should be enough to make the playoffs.

If the Chiefs go 10-7, though, things could get very murky — especially without tiebreakers against teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars.