5 issues we discovered because the Chiefs beat the Browns in Week 15

On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs registered a stable 21-7 street victory over the Cleveland Browns. Right here is a few of what we discovered within the victory.

1. The Chiefs can win by multiple rating

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Now that Kansas Metropolis has gained a recreation by greater than a single rating for under the third time this season, it could be time to share some details about one-score video games. And not using a one-score win because the backdrop, you could be in the proper temper to listen to them.

It’s true: since final New 12 months’s Eve, the Chiefs have had 15 one-score video games. That’s greater than another crew. However Kansas Metropolis has performed extra video games than another, too. 75% of those 20 matchups have been determined by one rating. That’s additionally a better share than another crew. However 74% of the Los Angeles Rams’ video games have additionally been single-score outcomes. In reality, six different groups have percentages of at the least 65%.

Within the final 10 seasons, 53% of the league’s video games have been determined by one rating. So sure… Kansas Metropolis has lately had extra one-score video games than different groups — and greater than regular. However let’s cease performing just like the 2024 Chiefs are some massive, ridiculous, once-in-a-lifetime outlier — as a result of they’re not.

Apart from… no person must be embarrassed by one-score victories. In any group of one-score wins, luck might be an element. However within the final 10 seasons, just one crew — the Pittsburgh Steelers — has gained extra of their one-score video games than Kansas Metropolis. Over 10 seasons, luck can solely be part of the trigger for this success.

2. The Chiefs can get turnovers

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My spouse, Terri, believes in talking issues into existence.

“We’re going to win the lottery,” she’ll say. “I’m claiming it now.” Or if I say I believe I’m getting sick, she’ll say, “Don’t claim it!”

It seems like Kansas Metropolis defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo additionally believes in it.

“Whether it’s a forced fumble, a sack-fumble [or] an interception, we all know the difference [turnovers] make in a win or loss,” he famous on Thursday. “We haven’t had as many as we would like. And what I’m hoping is that we’re saving them all up.”

Proper on cue, the Chiefs collected 4 interceptions and a pair of recovered fumbles on Sunday. A few of that was Cleveland quarterback Jameis Winston merely being himself: a chef who tends to combine too many interceptions into his big-play souffle.

However the Browns backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw one, too — and I additionally noticed Kansas Metropolis defenders doing their half to make them occur.

I doubt Spagnuolo actually believes in talking issues into existence, however he does imagine in teaching them into existence. On Sunday, he proved he might do that.

3. The Chiefs should do higher at play-calling

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Through the 30 years I’ve lined this crew, each single considered one of its head coaches has been accused of being a poor play-caller. So, I’ve discovered that whereas “stale” or “predictable” play-calling is commonly blamed for offensive shortcomings, it’s normally one thing else that’s gone flawed.

I’m all the time reluctant to criticize an NFL crew’s play-calling. However after these final two video games, I’m making an exception.

In these matchups, the Chiefs’ finest offensive drives have been after they used quick passes and the working recreation to maneuver the ball. Once they have accomplished so, the offense has regarded unstoppable. However when Kansas Metropolis abandons this method — after they move on each down or go deep when beneath routes are open — the offense can’t keep on the sector.

Making the offense keep on the sector is precisely how Kansas Metropolis can persistently win its video games — even (or maybe particularly) within the playoffs.

Nonetheless, the Chiefs will typically should air it out; in any other case, dinking and dunking gained’t work. However more often than not, the steadiness has been flawed. Whether or not that’s due to the play-calling or quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ freelancing deep throws — which he freely admits he does too usually — it have to be mounted.

4. The Chiefs want a greater deal with reply than Joe Thuney

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I’m glad to affix the refrain praising the left guard’s effort on Sunday. It’s not straightforward to spend your complete profession doing one job after which be requested to do a distinct job — particularly at a vital second within the worst doable circumstances. Thuney deserves reward for what he did.

Nevertheless it’s not the proper reply. A lot of the crew’s success this season has come from its means to run the ball successfully. Thuney, heart Creed Humphrey and proper guard Trey Smith are on the coronary heart of that speeding assault. When Thuney is on the surface taking care of Mahomes’ blindside, the speeding assault suffers. (This may occasionally even have performed a task within the Chiefs backing off from the working recreation within the second half).

Sure… at their current phases of improvement, Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia will not be able to do the job by themselves. So assist them! If which means working backs and tight ends are chipping in — or the crew relies upon extra on working the ball and passing beneath (see level 3) — then that’s what have to be accomplished.

5. The Chiefs have the NFL’s finest document

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After the Buffalo Payments’ defeat of the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Chiefs have the league’s finest document. Even with the numerous issues the crew nonetheless wants to resolve, that’s a giant deal.

It’s price remembering that the final time a crew tried for a Tremendous Bowl three-peat — nearly 20 years in the past — it was 8-5 with three video games left. Regardless that two postseason bye weeks had been out there, its 10-6 document compelled it to play within the Wild Card spherical. However the 2005 New England Patriots went house after shedding the Divisional recreation to the Denver Broncos — who themselves didn’t make it by means of the AFC Championship.

Maybe that can be the destiny that awaits the Chiefs. But when it occurs, it gained’t be as a result of they had been fortunate in one-score video games or had been helped by officers. Because the Patriots demonstrated simply two seasons later, even going undefeated within the common season (and defeating opponents by a median of practically 20 factors) doesn’t essentially result in a Lombardi trophy. Champions are made by what occurs within the postseason.

So let’s fear about that when it comes. Within the meantime, let’s be aware that the Chiefs are actually the league’s finest crew. As Andy Reid may say, we’ll see the place it goes.

Our Rocky Magaña has been on trip over the last two video games. He’ll return to this house in Week 16. It has been my pleasure to fill in for him.