The Chiefs looked like the September Chiefs vs. the Raiders

The Kansas City Chiefs are the rare team that has an opportunity to make the playoffs after going winless in November and winning just once over a seven-game span. The key for the Chiefs to still get in is to return to the form that made them look a Super Bowl contender in the first month of the season.

That was exactly the case in a 26-15 win over the Oakland Raiders in Week 14.

Kansas City dominated every aspect of the game with more than 400 yards of total offense, and even though the Raiders attempted to pull off a fourth-quarter comeback, the Chiefs still easily outgained Oakland’s offense.

What went right for the Chiefs’ offense? The offense seemed to get back on track in Week 13 with 31 points against the Jets, but almost all of that came off the back of a huge performance by Alex Smith.

What was especially important about the showing against the Raiders was the fact that Kareem Hunt got back on track. In the first five games of the season, the rookie running back had 609 yards rushing, 166 yards receiving, and six total touchdowns. But during the Chiefs’ rough seven-game stretch, he never cracked 90 yards rushing or receiving, and he never found the end zone.

That streak finally ended Sunday with 116 yards rushing, 22 yards receiving, and a 1-yard touchdown run.

If Hunt plays in the rest of December like he did Sunday and earlier in the season, the entire Chiefs offense is significantly more difficult to handle.

What went right for the Chiefs defense? With Eric Berry out for the year and Marcus Peters suspended for a game, the Raiders were surprisingly unable to do much of anything. And that was mostly because the Chiefs dominated the line of scrimmage.

Kansas City only finished with three sacks, but it kept the pressure on Derek Carr, who had two interceptions. The Chiefs also did well against Marshawn Lynch, who had gains of 27 and 22 yards but ultimately finished with just 61 yards rushing on the day.

What does this mean in the AFC West? The Raiders aren’t officially out of it and the Chiefs haven’t clinched anything, but this win for Kansas City all but drops Oakland out of a tight race where no team can afford to fall behind.

Now it looks like it’s a two-team race between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Chiefs for the AFC West title. A Week 15 matchup on Saturday may decide the division.

If the Chiefs play against the Chargers the same way they did way back during a Week 3 game in Los Angeles that ended 24-10 in Kansas City’s favor, the Chiefs may be back in business sooner rather than later.