The Kansas City Chiefs could soon run out of luck.
In Sunday’s home game against the Denver Broncos, Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal blocked kicker Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field-goal attempt before time expired. The key play sealed a 16-14 win, helping Kansas City improve to 9-0.
In his Monday column, The Athletic’s Mike Sando reported the Chiefs are 7-0 in games decided by seven or fewer points this season. He added the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots — the only teams to finish the regular season undefeated in the Super Bowl era — combined for a 7-0 record in such games.
“The Chiefs are living much closer to the edge than those teams lived over their full seasons,” wrote Sando. “That the Chiefs already have as many close-game victories as the 1972 Dolphins and 2007 Patriots had in a combined 30 regular-season games suggests this Kansas City win streak will soon end — perhaps at Buffalo in Week 11.”
Although the Bills have lost their last two playoff games against the Chiefs, they’ve had their number in the regular season. Per Pro Football Reference, Buffalo has won three straight regular-season games vs. K.C.
Even if the Bills (8-2) lose in Week 11, Kansas City’s win streak still doesn’t seem sustainable. Some of its victories have been flukes.
According to Sando, before the Chiefs’ matchup with the Broncos, kickers had made 262-of-280 field-goal attempts from 35 yards over the past 10 seasons. Only three of those attempts were blocked.
In his postgame news conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid — who’s in his 26th season — admitted he’s never won a game on a blocked field goal on the last play.
“We work on the block like crazy, but it normally doesn’t work like that,” Reid said.
The Chiefs pass defense still has some problems, and their offense lacks explosiveness. They rank 14th in the league in passing yards allowed (206.7) and 19th in yards per play (5.2).
As of Monday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Chiefs as Super Bowl LIX favorites (+420). While they may win a third straight title, it would be surprising if they went unbeaten in the regular season.
