Charging Chiefs Spying Playoff Berth

After easily handling the Houston Texans 27-20, Kansas City hit a brick wall. The Chiefs lost 4 of their 5 consecutive games by ten points or less. They had given up more than 30 or more points in three of those contests and could not get the ground game going. Other than the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals, no team since the AFL-NFL merger have reached the playoffs following a 1-5 start. A winning season looked in doubt as closing out games was killing the Chiefs mojo. To make matters worse, the Chiefs lost running back Jamaal Charles to another season ending torn ACL. Charles attempted to cut back on a dive play, but heard a tweak as he tried to cut back inside. Andy Reid has expierenced injuries to important offensive positions (He started 3 QB during the 2002 campaign and reached the NFC Championship), and was in the process of another intruiguing game plan.

Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, formallly undrafted running back Chacanderick West did the unthinkable. In his second career start, West ran right over a stingy Pittsburgh defense for 110 yards and a touchdown. The defense re-grouped back to their old ways and held Ben Roethlisberger to a mere 192 passing yards and picked him off twice. The Reid plan executed, but could Kansas City follow through? The victory over Pittsburgh didn't seem like a fluke as Kansas City annhilated the Lions 45-10. Kansas City ran for a season high 206 yards and played mistake-free football in London. Following their bye week, Kansas City looked poised to make a second half run. At Peyton's Place, the Chiefs overwhelmed Quarterback Peyton Manning and forced five turnovers, en route to a 29-13 upset. Making a statement against a quarterback that had torced their defense for years, boosted the Chiefs defensive confidence. The Chiefs pulled in a string of five consecutive victories, en route to a current 9-5 record.

Despite being outgained by their opponents in three of their past seven games, no quarterback has thrown for over 300 yards and only one running back has rushed for more than 100 yards (Le'Von Bell). Kansas City' good ball control (21:4 turnover ratio, +5.25) , stingy run defense (89.25 yards allowed per game), and improved rushing attack (139.25 rushing yards per game) are three reasons why Kansas City pulled off an improbable eight game winning-streak. Quarterback Alex Smith mistake free football ended at 312 attempts, which was the second longest streak in NFL History. A back that reminds me a lot of Tatum Bell, Chacanderick West elusiveness and agility allowed him to perform well in Charles absence. Third-string running back Spencer Ware also played well in two fill-in starts for West(210 yards, 3 TD), which gives the Chiefs a balanced running attack. The Chiefs dynamic 3 man front of Jay Howard, Allen Bailey, and Dontari Poe allows agile pass rushers Justin Houston, Dee Ford, and Tamba Hali put heavy pressure on opposing quarterbacks. This allows a secondary that features both ball-hawk rookie corner Marcus Peters (7 INT, 2 TD) and pro bowl saftey Eric Berry, to force plenty of turnovers. The triple threat defense has rocked the opposition with 41 sacks (3rd in the NFL) and 20 interceptions (2nd in the NFL). This Chiefs team is dangerous and has to duke it out with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets for both AFC Wild Card spots.