Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Final post-Super Bowl LII standings around the league

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 19: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 19: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

124. . . Previous: . Kansas City Chiefs. 11. team

Goodbye, Alex Smith.

The Patrick Mahomes era officially starts in Kansas City, and there’s enough hype there to suggest the Chiefs are going to pick up right where they left off with Smith’s trade departure to Washington.

Well, hopefully in the playoffs, at least.

Losing offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to the Bears’ coaching vacancy hurt, as Nagy was instrumental in turning around the Chiefs’ midseason offensive woes and getting some of the best production we’ve seen out of Smith. Whether or not this affects Mahomes is anyone’s guess.

Mahomes will inherit a talented offense, including tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and running back Kareem Hunt. But K.C.’s defense will need some work, especially against the run.

Look for some serious bolstering of the Chiefs front seven. If they can do that, they’ll be back in the playoff picture again in 2018.