For the first time since 2010 the Kansas City Chiefs are playoff bound. Despite a record of 11-3 so far this season the Chiefs are not guaranteed to win the AFC West after they were swept by the Denver Broncos who also have a record of 11-3. 2013 has been an all around revival in Kansas City. The Chiefs were 2-14 last season and not too many people expected them to be a playoff contender in 2013, but they have a new head coach and a new starting quarterback. After 14 seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy Reid is now calling the shots for the Chiefs. The San Francisco 49ers made quarterback Alex Smith the first overall pick of the 2005 National Football League Draft. But after seven rocky seasons in the Bay Area, Smith was traded to Kansas City this past off-season. Smith and Reid have come together this season to lead the Chiefs on an exciting journey; one they are hoping won’t end until Super Bowl 48 in February.
In his 14 seasons with the Eagles, Reid compiled a record of 130-90-1. Reid won more games than any other Eagles head coach as he led them to the playoffs nine times which included five trips to the NFC Championship Game. In those five NFC Championship Games, the Eagles lost four times. The one time that the Eagles were able to advance to the Super Bowl under Reid they lost to the New England Patriots. As good as Reid was the Eagles were unable to win a playoff game under him since 2008 and after a 4-12 season in 2012, Reid was fired.
During his stint as the 49ers starting quarterback, Smith saw his fair share of offensive coordinators and three head coaches to go along with the numerous times that he was benched. In 2011, Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach of the Niners and he kick started Smith’s career. Smith would lead the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in 2011, but in 2012 he sustained an injury which opened the door for Colin Kaepernick to become the team’s starting quarterback.
Now in Kansas City, Reid is doing the same thing that Harbaugh previously did with Smith in San Francisco which is maximizing his strengths while hiding his weaknesses. Smith has never been known to have the strongest arm in the NFL, but he can be accurate. Through 14 games Smith has passed for 3,160 yards and 23 touchdowns which are both career highs. Smith also has a completion percentage this season of 60.8
During his heyday in Philadelphia, Reid relied heavily on running back Brian Westbrook to be the key cog in the offense. Now Reid relies on running back Jamaal Charles. With 1,181 rushing yards Charles is currently the fourth leading rusher in the NFL this season. The icing on the cake is that Charles is also the Chiefs leading receiver on the season with 655 yards to go along with 7 receiving touchdowns. Charles’ ability as a receiver was put on display this past Sunday against the Oakland Raiders as he had five touchdowns with four being of the receiving variety.
The Chiefs defense was expected to be the rock of this team heading into the season, but they are currently the 22nd ranked defensive unit in the league. Kansas City has been able to offset this as they are plus-21 in the turnover column which is tops in the NFL. Between forcing turnovers and Smith only throwing six interceptions on the season the Chiefs have rode this formula of mistake free football to a 9-0 record to start the season. Kansas City followed this streak up by losing two games to the Broncos which sandwiched a shocking loss to the San Diego Chargers. After two blowout victories over the Washington Redskins and Raiders respectively in the past two weeks, the Chiefs appear to be back on track heading into the playoffs.
The Chiefs will finish out the regular season with a game this Sunday at home against the Indianapolis Colts followed by a Week 17 road game against the Chargers. If the Broncos were to slip up in one of their final two games against either the Houston Texans or Raiders, the Chiefs would be AFC West Champions.
For Kansas City they must assert themselves in their last two games of the regular season. The Colts could be a potential opponent in the first round of the playoffs while they are also looking to avenge the earlier loss this season to San Diego. The Chiefs have been the recipient of the easiest schedule in the NFL this season as they have only played two teams that currently have winning records. Come January and the NFL Playoffs you can throw all of that out of the window as the Chiefs will look to advance. Reid was never able to get the Eagles over the hump while Smith had to watch on the sidelines last season while Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. This style of football has gotten the Chiefs to the dance, but will it be enough to allow to advance in the playoffs? It won’t be easy in the playoffs for the Chiefs as they may have to deal with the Broncos and their starting quarterback Peyton Manning once again. Kansas City has played with house money all season and it won’t stop in the postseason.
Source: Pro-football-reference.com
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