Chiefs of the league

History Published on : 10/21/2013

The Kansas City Chiefs’ remarkable turnaround continued in Week 7. The Chiefs downed the Houston Texans on Sunday to improve to 7-0. With the Denver Broncos’ defeat on Sunday night, Kansas City stands alone as the NFL’s only unbeaten team in 2013 after finishing with a league worst 2-14 record last season.

Kansas City is only the 32nd team of the Super Bowl era to start a season 7-0. Among the list is the 2003 Kansas City team that opened that season 9-0. The Chiefs will certainly like it if history repeats itself as all previous 31 teams to begin 7-0 advanced to the postseason after their hot start. Nearly half of them (15) reached the Super Bowl and nine of the 7-0 clubs went on to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The Chiefs are getting production from both sides of the football. The defense sacked Houston quarterback Case Keenum five times in the 17-16 win to run their season total to 36. At this pace, Kansas City will shatter the single-season mark of 72 sacks recorded by the 1984 Chicago Bears.

Most Sacks, Season

72 – Chicago Bears (1984)
71 – Minnesota Vikings (1989)
70 – Chicago Bears (1987)


On an individual basis, running back Jamaal Charles became just the second player in NFL history with 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in each of his first seven games to open a season. He joins Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson who achieved the feat for the Buffalo Bills in 1975.

JAMAAL CHARLES, Kansas City Chiefs (2013)

      Rushing   Receiving
Date Opponent (Result) Total Yds from Scrimmage No. Yds. TD   No. Yds. TD
Sept. 8 at Jacksonville Jaguars (W, 28-2) 100 16 77 1   3 23 0
Sept. 15 DALLAS COWBOYS (W, 17-16) 103 16 55 0   8 48 1
Sept. 19 at Philadelphie Eagles (W, 26-16) 172 20 92 1   7 80 0
Sept. 29 NEW YORK GIANTS (31-7) 127 18 65 0   5 62 1
Oct. 6 at Tennessee Titans (26-17) 145 22 108 1   5 37 0
Oct. 13 OAKLAND RAIDERS (W, 24-7) 128 22 78 2   5 50 0
Oct. 20 HOUSTON OILERS (W, 17-16) 123 21 86 1   3 37 0
      135 561 6   36 337 2
                   

O.J. SIMPSON, Buffalo Bills (1975)

      Rushing   Receiving
Date Opponent (Result) Total Yds from Scrimmage No. Yds. TD   No. Yds. TD
Sept. 21 NEW YORK JETS (W, 42-14) 178 32 173 2   1 5 0
Sept. 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers (W, 30-21) 227 28 227 1   0 0 0
Oct. 5 DENVER BRONCOS (W, 38-14) 138 26 138 1   0 0 0
Oct. 12 at Baltimore Colts (W, 38-31) 173 32 159 1   1 14 0
Oct. 20 NEW YORK GIANTS (L, 14-17) 126 34 126 1   0 0 0
Oct. 26 MIAMI DOLPHINS (L, 30-35) 104 19 88 1   2 16 0
Nov. 2 at New York Jets (W, 24-23) 160 21 94 0   2 66 1
      192 1,005 7   6 101 1