KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If only inspiring victories were counted in the standings, the Kansas City Chiefs would be stuck at 5-2 after eight games. Sunday's 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars was hardly the kind of thing expected from a team that fancies itself a Super Bowl contender, particularly when playing at home and against one of the NFL's worst teams.

But the win counts, and that's all that matters. The Chiefs' march toward late-season showdowns with the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders and divisional supremacy continues with a fourth straight win to indeed raise their record to 6-2.

The Chiefs also deserve credit for their resiliency. They found a way to survive, albeit against the 2-6 Jaguars, without starting quarterback Alex Smith and featured running back Spencer Ware. They also lost their leading wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin, to a groin injury in the first quarter; he didn't return.

The Chiefs displayed plenty of flaws that might have gotten them beat against a better opponent, something they will face next Sunday when they play against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. The Chiefs missed several tackles, a major problem in what was a lousy run defense. Jacksonville rushed for 205 yards, easily a season high for a Chiefs opponent.

The Chiefs also repeatedly stalled when nearing the Jacksonville goal line, settling for four field goals.

With backups in Nick Foles at quarterback, Charcandrick West at running back and Albert Wilson at wide receiver, the Chiefs were far from smooth on offense. But the Chiefs avoided the big mistake. They didn't commit a turnover for the fourth straight game.

So the Chiefs showed enough to feel optimistic about what's to come. Things might look different against the Panthers if Smith and Ware return. The Chiefs are moving cautiously with Smith, who was removed from last week's game against the Indianapolis Colts twice because of concussion symptoms.

But Smith was out on the field warming up for more than an hour before Sunday's game. Team chairman Clark Hunt said Smith has cleared the return-to-play phase of the concussion protocol, in effect clearing him to play in Carolina.

Ware does have a concussion, but he was on the sideline, indicating his return could come next week as well.

The Chiefs may also get linebacker Justin Houston back next week for the first time this season. Houston, who led the Chiefs in sacks in each of the past four seasons, had surgery in February to repair a balky ACL in his left knee.