NFL Week 9 panic meter: Should Chiefs be worried?

A few of the biggest Super Bowl contenders went down in NFL Week 9, but which ones should be worried about their performances on Sunday? This sounds like a job for the panic meter.

Kansas City Chiefs

Panic meter rating: 2.5/10

If the playoffs started today, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs would be on the outside looking in. Kansas City is the No. 8 seed in the AFC and two full games behind the Denver Broncos in the AFC West after losing to the Buffalo Bills in Week 9, but it shouldn't be worried yet. The Bills have taken down the Chiefs in five straight regular-season matchups, yet Kansas City reached at least the AFC Championship Game after each of the last four. 

The Chiefs play the Broncos in Week 10. A win would put the reigning AFC champs right back in the thick of the division race. If they lose, the panic meter rating will look a lot different next Monday.

Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones

Panic meter rating: 4/10

Jones was in the midst of a Baker Mayfield-esque resurgent year for the Colts, but he came crashing back down to earth in Week 9. In the 27-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles. The Colts coughed up six turnovers in the game after recording only four in their first eight games of the season. 

It's not time to panic on Jones just yet. He's been a perfect fit for Shane Steichen's offense, and one bad Sunday doesn't change that. But Week 9 taught us the New York Giants version of Jones is still in there. Colts fans just hope that version doesn't show up in the playoffs. 

Green Bay Packers

Panic meter rating: 5.5/10

The Packers are a tough team to pin down. Green Bay has impressive, decisive wins against the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers, but they've also dropped head-scratching games to the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers. Through eight games, the Packers are a high-floor, low-ceiling team that can lose to anyone on any given Sunday. 

To make matters worse, star tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL in Week 9, knocking him out for the season. Kraft is such an important piece to this offense due to his ability to break tackles and create explosive plays, so Green Bay won't have that element for its playoff run. 

Houston Texans

Panic meter rating: 9/10

We still have hope for the Chiefs, Colts and Packers, but the panic alarm is blaring through the streets in downtown Houston. The Texans lost to the Broncos, 18-15, in Week 9 to drop to 3-5, putting them 3.5 games behind the Colts in the AFC South. Next week's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars is crucial, and C.J. Stroud might not be able to play after suffering a concussion in Week 9.

After games against the Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, the Texans have a gauntlet of a three-game stretch against the Bills, Colts and Chiefs. At this point, it'd be a miracle if Houston finishes 10-7 and makes the playoffs.