As part of our weekly dip into the glorious Game Rewind archives, we spent Monday afternoon reviewing a Kansas City Chiefs team that moved to a perfect 9-0 on the season.
Andy Reid's bunch has generated a league-leading 23 takeaways this season, including one interception that marked the difference in the 23-13 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
With Buffalo leading 10-3 in the third quarter, Bills third-string quarterback Jeff Tuel had the offense knocking on the door again. From third-and-goal at the Kansas City 1-yard line, Tuel lofted a pass to T.J. Graham that was picked out of the air by Chiefs defensive back Sean Smith, who raced 100 yards to pay dirt.
Bills receiver Stevie Johnson -- who wiggled past Smith on the play to get open in end zone -- says the Kansas City corner "definitely" got lucky on the play.
"I shook him, he almost fell, and he basically fell into an interception and that was it," Johnson said after the game, per the Bills' official website.
Johnson wouldn't point the finger at Tuel, who blanked on the receiver soaring untouched to the back of the end zone.
"No, it's not on him," Stevie said. "He felt like the outside route would work and you've got to go with it. It worked in practice and in the game it didn't. We've got a 50-50 chance on whether it'd be a touchdown or incomplete pass. In this case it was an interception."
Smith's pick was a hammer drop. The Bills never led again on the day, but we were impressed with the game plan Buffalo installed for Tuel. The undrafted rookie was a hot mess in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns in relief of the fallen EJ Manuel, but Tuel was more decisive Sunday.
On this play, however, he decided poorly.
The "Around The League Podcast" recapped every Week 9 game. Click here to listen and subscribe.
