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Perfect start for an imperfect team
The pessimists don’t want to anoint the Kansas City Chiefs as superbowl contenders or even a serious playoff team just yet.
Despite their perfect 7-0 start, the Chiefs opponents have combined for a 15-33 record this season, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have yet to win a game.
Two of the Chiefs opponents so far (New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars) rank as the bottom two teams in the league for points allowed. The only Chiefs opponent with a winning record so far is the Dallas Cowboys.
Two of the wins for the Chiefs, the Titans and the Texans, are less impressive than at first glance.
The Titans would have been a challenge with the improved Jake Locker under centre, but with Locker sidelined by injury they faced back-up quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick instead. That changes the whole dynamic of the game, and with that the weight attached to the victory is significantly lessened.
The victory over the Texans wasn’t impressive either. These are not your 2012 Texans. They are a bad football team right now. Case Keenum, an undrafted rookie last year, stared for his first ever NFL start. Star running back Arian Foster got hurt in this game, as did the Texans defensive captain Brian Cushing. And it was in the formidable Arrowhead noise.
And they won by one point.
It is also important to note that the Chiefs haven’t yet won a game in their own division, which could be crucial when it comes to a tie breaker scenario. Keep things in perspective.
Slowing down the run game
Last season, 4 of the top 10 rushers in the NFL had a yards-per-carry average of 5.0 or higher. So far in 2013, Washington’s Alfred Morris is the only running back in the League with a YPC higher than 5.0 (5.2).
Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is the leading rusher in the league so far with 685 yards. That is over 100 yards more than the next highest rusher, Marshawyn Lynch.
Sack Race
It is still only week 7, so things will change of course. But right now three players are on course to break Michael Strahan’s sack record, which stands at 22.5 sacks. Robert Mathis leads the league with 11.5 sacks. He is on pace for 26 sacks, while Justin Houston and Mario Williams (who each have 10 sacks through 7 games) are on pace for 23 sacks. All three should be in contention for Defensive Player of the Year.
Robert Mathis #98 of the Indianapolis Colts (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Not-So-Terrific-Tom
Tom Brady is still on pace for the worst completion percentage (55.4%) and quarterback rating (75.3) of his entire career as a starter in the National Football League. Mike Glennon, EJ Manual, Brian Hoyer, Christian Ponder and Geno Smith all have a higher completion percentage at this point in the season.
Kicking the Cheeseheads
Green Bay’s Mason Crosby went a perfect 9-9 to start the season after finishing last season as the 31st ranked kicker with 63.6% conversion rate on Field Goals. After week 7 he has hit 14 of 16 including 2 kicks from over 50 yards. Many believed he should have been cut before the start of the current campaign.
Throwing it like a Texan
Matt Schaub set an NFL record by giving up a pick-six for a fourth consecutive week. The near no-look toss against the Seahawks that Richard Sherman took back to tie the game late in the fourth quarter in week 4 was the crowning jewel of the collection. TJ Yates then added to the streak in week 6, tossing yet another pick six in what has been a terrible time for Texans fans.
It must be some comfort to the Texans faithful that Case Keenum, who started for Houston in a loss to the Chiefs last week, not only managed to not throw a pick six but didn’t throw a single interception. The Texans still lost.
Stick a fork in them
At 0-7 and 0-6 respectively, the Jaguars and the Buccaneers have no real hope of making the playoffs. Neither do the 1-6 Giants.
No team has yet done enough to confidently say they will win their division. However, the Chiefs (7-0), Broncos (6-1), Seahawks (6-1) and Saints (5-1) have probably done enough to make sure they will be heading to the playoffs from here.
*Unless hyperlinked, all stats and info taken from ESPN.go.com
