Did the Chiefs get lucky in their win over the Chargers?
Did the Chiefs get lucky in their win over the Chargers?
By Levi Coovert December 09, 2024 04:20
After yet another one score win, this time over the Los Angeles Chargers, NFL fans are wondering if the Chiefs (12-1) are getting lucky.
The Chiefs escaped with a narrow two-point win, as kicker Matthew Wright doinked the game winning kick off the left pole and through the uprights. Had the kick bounced the wrong direction, the Chiefs would have lost, but alas, once again, the ball bounced their way.
Some NFL fans have pointed out that this is not the first time the Chiefs have escaped with a close win. In week one against the Ravens, the Chiefs seemingly allowed a game-tying touchdown as time expired, but replay showed Isaiah Likely's toe was an inch out of bounds, and the Chiefs escaped.
Later against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs won 16-14. The Broncos had a chance to win the game with a field goal as time expired, but the kick was blocked and the Chiefs again sighed a breath of relief.
Then last week against the Raiders, the Chiefs led by three, but the Raiders were driving to kick a game tying field goal or a game-winning touchdown. That was until the Raiders botched a snap and the Chiefs pounced on the ball to win it in regulation.
The Chiefs also beat the Buccaneers in overtime, a game which could have gone the other way had the Chiefs not won the OT coin toss.
Simply put, it feels like all the lucky breaks have gone the Chiefs way in 2024, and it's a big reason why they are off to the 12-1 start. Regardless of the luck, going 12-1 is hard, and the Chiefs just keep finding ways to win. Playoff games tend to be close, and the Chiefs have a lot of practice making the plays they need to make to win those close games.
In fact, Kansas City has won 14 staright one-score games, which is an NFL record. Since their loss on Christmas Day of 2023 to the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City is 18-1, with their only loss coming at the hand of the Buffalo Bills.
On the other hand, the Chiefs could havea few things to be worried about. Only two teams this century have won the Super Bowl after being the last undefeated team (the Chiefs were the last undefeated team in 2024) and only one team has won the Super Bowl after starting 11-1. Most recently, the Eagles started 11-1 in 2023 before falling apart, finishing 11-6 and losing in the Wild Card round.
The Chiefs have avoided a six-loss season, and while it's always possible they lose the next four games, it seems unlikely. Still, one other data point against the Chiefs is that they have the worst point differential of all-time among teams that are 12-1 or 13-0. They are only outscoring their opponents by an average of about five points per game.
Does that make them incredibly clutch, or incredibly lucky? That's still to be determined.
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