NFL Announces Punishment for 2 Chiefs Ahead of AFC Championship Game

The Kansas City Chiefs have an "aura'' about them that is largely based on Patrick Mahomes and the offense, which will likely be on display as the Bills visit KC for the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night.

But Kansas City has also developed a stellar defense - one that Mahomes often says is truly what is carrying this year's Chiefs drive toward an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl win - and that defense is getting a lot of attention right now ...

Not all of it good.

Ahead of this kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium, two Chiefs players have been slapped with punishment by the NFL for their actions in last week's playoff win over the Houston Texans.

Chiefs defensive back Justin Reid has been hit with a $14,069 fine. He was fined for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. 

And Kansas City defensive back Bryan Cook was fined $8,443 for unnecessary roughness against Houston due to a hip-drop tackle.

Do the Chiefs have "aura''? Read below and see how some analysts think that might be the key to today's outcome, with the AFC Championship Game scheduled for just after 6 p.m. CT with Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson on the call for CBS.

But do the Chiefs also have an "edge'' on defense as they eye a trip to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans in two weeks? The stats, and the punishment, say it is so.