Kansas City Chiefs: This Team Has An Identity

By Josh Michaels | Nov 11, 2014

Let’s take a step back for a moment and reflect on the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs. Fresh off of a two win season in 2012, the Chiefs had an overhaul at head coach, general manager, quarterback, and many other key areas to try and change the culture of the team

As we all know, they got off to a very hot start, winning their first nine games and getting the team back into the playoffs.

Looking back at last years team, the identity wasn’t really there. In those first nine games, the Chiefs defense was one of the best in the NFL. They were on pace to break the sacks record, were allowing 14 points per game, plus nine in the turnover margin, and just down right fast.

The offense wasn’t quite the same. Alex Smith looked okay, not making mistakes while not taking any chances deep at the same time. Everything seemed to run through Jamaal Charles which turned out to be the right move. He finished with 19 touchdowns while also leading the team in receptions.

More from Kansas City Chiefs

The second half of the season, it was almost like the team did a complete 180. They were relying more on the offense while the defense struggled to stop even just a nose bleed. The point is, the 2013 Chiefs struggled to find out exactly what kind of team they were and that really showed down the stretch of their final seven games.

This season is a much different story.

Year two into the Andy Reid era looks so much better than year one, regardless of the 9-0 start and all the injuries that mounted early on this season. The 2014 Kansas City Chiefs know exactly what kind of team they are and it reflects more and more each game.

For instance, lets just look at the overall production of the offense. The Chiefs are the only team in football to not have a receiver catch a touchdown and quite frankly, that’s okay! Smith knows that the strength of their passing game is up the seams with Travis Kelce and Anthony Fasano. He also knows that Jamaal Charles is one of the best all-around players in the game today so it’s okay to dump it off to him from five yards out.

Andy Reid knows all of this too, which is why he’s dialing up game plans that help the Chiefs play to their strengths. Kansas City ranks third in the National Football League in rushing which should be no surprise. When Jamaal Charles was dealing with a high ankle sprain from week two through week three, Knile Davis stepped in and the rushing attack didn’t miss a beat.

The engine that drives the Chiefs offense is in their backfield and they couldn’t have proven it more than when Jamaal Charles busted off that 39 yard touchdown run in Buffalo last Sunday. It was their first touchdown of the game and it was a play that sucked the life out of Ralph Wilson Stadium. They added another touchdown run later in the fourth on a read option that Alex Smith took in himself.

It’s plays like those that prove the Chiefs offense knows exactly what it wants to do and they’ll keep coming back to it when they need it the most.

Outside of the San Francisco game, and we’ll forget about the Tennessee game as well, Reid has played to the strengths of his offense and it’s been very effective. Same is to be said for Bob Sutton and his defense.

By now you should know that the Chiefs are yet to surrender a rushing touchdown while also leading the league in pass defense. You should also know that this isn’t some kind of fluke, like it was last year when they were playing backup quarterbacks and weak rosters early on. This years Chiefs have played the likes of Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Collin Kaepernick, and Tom Brady.

It’s not like the Chiefs went out and got any big names on the defensive side of the ball either. Hell, if anything they lost more than they gained on that side of the ball. What’s funny is the argument that was made about the departure of Brandon Flowers earlier this year and how badly it would affect the success of the Chiefs secondary. Quite frankly, they almost look better without him.

Guys like Ron Parker, Phillip Gaines, Chris Owens, Husain Abdullah, Josh Mauga, and James Michael-Johnson have all stepped up big this year and each have relished in their opportunities to make plays. It also helps to have the NFL sacks leader coming off the edge.

The 2014 Kansas City Chiefs know exactly who they are at every phase of the game and they just continue to prove it each week. With great coaching, a mistake free west coast offense, and outstanding defensive play, this Chiefs team has identity that can win a lot of games in this league.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs