Chiefs able to win despite playing something less than their best

[oaklandhater]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/191861/chiefs-able-to-win-despite-playing-something-less-than-their-best

Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- They don't give points for style in the NFL, something the Kansas City Chiefs were thankful for on Sunday after their game against the San Diego Chargers.

"Good thing it's not a beauty pageant," safety Eric Berry said after the Chiefs escaped with a 10-3 victory.

On the surface, there wasn't much to like about the game from the Chiefs' perspective. They committed two turnovers in the first half, one being quarterback Alex Smith's first interception since Sept. 28. They were penalized eight times and lost a couple of big plays due to flags.

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They missed a field-goal attempt, continuing a disturbing pattern of problems with placements. They allowed the Chargers to convert three times on fourth downs on the game's final drive. The Chiefs were perhaps saved in that the Chargers ran out of time, the game expiring with San Diego at the Kansas City 11.

They still found a way to win their seventh straight game, move to 8-5 and hold on at least for now to the first of the AFC's two wild-card playoffs spots.

"If you're going to be a good football team, you've got to win games like this," Chief coach Andy Reid said. "We've found ways to lose games like this."

Indeed, the game's final moments started to look familiar. In September, the Denver Broncos moved down the Arrowhead Stadium field, scored the tying touchdown in the final minute and then won the game after returning a Jamaal Charles fumble for another score.

In October, the Chicago Bears moved down the Arrowhead field near the end of the game and scored the touchdown to beat the Chiefs in the final minute.

This time, the Chiefs made the winning plays, the biggest coming on the final play when Dee Ford broke up a pass intended for running back Danny Woodhead in the end zone.

"Guys had to step in and do things for us, Dee Ford being one of them," Reid said. Ford was an injury replacement for Justin Houston, who didn't play because of a hyper-extended knee.

"We did what we had to do to win the game."

[Baby Lee]

These games happen to every team, and you have to respond to them. The good teams eke out a win, then go on to make their reputation as legends in other games. Bad teams succumb to a loss and spiral into chaos.

Ironic that this game is nearly a perfect mirror to the Bears game that marked the probable nadir of this season.

[KCrockaholic]

I said something about it earlier, but this game from Dee Ford reminded me of the Ron Parker game against the Bills last year. Obviously different positions. But the impact made on the game can't be forgotten. Plus just like Parker, Ford was the guy making a play on the last play of the game to seal the victory.

People say Parker single handedly won us that game. Dee Ford had 3 sacks on 2 different 3rd downs and the play in coverage to win it this time. And I don't even like Ford tbh.

[Mr. Laz]

Another player stepped up and showed they could make a difference. The more players a team has that can do that the better.

Although we are going to have to start playing more consistently if we want to win a playoff game.

[Baby Lee]

Another player stepped up and showed they could make a difference. The more players a team has that can do that the better.

Although we are going to have to start playing more consistently if we want to win a playoff game.

There is one thing and one thing only that they 'have to do' to win a playoff game, and what that is is astoundingly simple.

[SAUTO]

There is one thing and one thing only that they 'have to do' to win a playoff game, and what that is is astoundingly simple.

Score more points than the team on the opposite sideline?

[eDave]

Score more points than the team on the opposite sideline?

Easy peasy.

[Hydrae]

Score more points than the team on the opposite sideline?

Brilliant! :toast:

[TimBone]

*patiently waiting for stevieray to show up and go all TrueFan on Teicher.

[2bikemike]

Another player stepped up and showed they could make a difference. The more players a team has that can do that the better.

Although we are going to have to start playing more consistently if we want to win a playoff game.

There isn't much room for error to even get into the playoffs. I think there is a pretty good chance that Pittsburgh wins out. I don't think the Jets will. If the Chiefs don't clean it up they won't either.

[ModSocks]

That's the hallmark of a talented football team.

[CapsLockKey]

Even not playing their best, they still outplayed the Chargers. They let them hang around by shooting themselves in the foot over and over. Clean up the self inflicted mistakes and that game would have been a blow out.

[philfree]

Not to mention that the conditions were terrible. That game was soaked all the way through.

[Anyong Bluth]

Can Teicher just disappear.

Not that ESPN was running a bunch of illuminating articles, and certainly not about the Chiefs, but now that's pretty much the only person who files a story for them on the team.

The next time Adam writes anything insightful or interesting will be the first.