Do you believe in the Kansas City Chiefs yet?
The team that went 2-14 in 2012 is now 3-0 in 2013 after an impressive 26-16 win over the Eagles in Andy Reid's Philadelphia homecoming.
This was a win earned in large part by the Chiefs' real-deal defense, which forced four of the Eagles' five turnovers on the night. Outside linebacker Justin Houston had a game J.J. Watt would be jealous of, finishing with 3.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and three passes defensed. Houston leads the NFL with 6.5 sacks -- this is one the "Top 100" list got right.
The defense played hero in shutting downChip Kelly's much-vaunted attack, but the Chiefs' offense played its part.
After a 41-yard LeSean McCoytouchdown run cut Kansas City's lead to seven with 11:36 to play, Alex Smith took the field and led the offense on a 15-play, 75-yard drive that burned more than eight minutes off the clock and ended with a much-needed field goal. Donnie Avery's 15-yard reception on third-and-10 from the Chiefs' 5 (on a big-time throw from Smith) ignited the march and stomped Philly's surging momentum.
Make no mistake: The Chiefs weren't dynamic on offense. Smith often looked tentative and too content to flee the pocket in the name of a 3-yard run. Meanwhile, the Dwayne Bowe search party has been downgraded to a recovery effort. Adjust your fantasy lineups accordingly.
But who can argue with results? A byproduct of the Chiefs' conservative offense is zero turnovers through three games. With a defense like this, the offense doesn't have to be great.
It's a model for victory that recalls the early days of Jim Harbaugh's tenure in San Francisco. Does anybody remember who was the Niners' quarterback back then?
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