National Football League

Chiefs getting TDs from defense, special teams

Updated Sep. 26, 2022 9:09 a.m. ET

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With the Chiefs getting a big chunk of their scoring fromdefense and special teams, Andy Reid prefers to think of it as atribute to those unites, not a knock against his offense.

In fact, nearly a quarter of their points during a blistering6-0 start have come from touchdowns and safeties produced by theirdefense and special teams. The percentage of scoring rises to 46.1when Ryan Succop's 11 field goals are factored into Kansas City'spoint total.

''Listen, do you want to score more on offense? Yeah, you wantto score every time you touch the football,'' Reid said Monday.''That's the mentality we have on that side, but I'd also tell youthat the mentality on the defensive and special teams side is wewant X number of touchdowns from that crew.''

They've certainly accomplished that this season.

The Chiefs have scored a defensive or special teams touchdown infive straight games, including a 44-yard interception return byHusain Abdullah to cap their 24-7 win over the Raiders onSunday.

His touchdown followed Marcus Cooper's fumble recovery of amuffed punt the previous week against Tennessee, Dexter McCluster'szigzagging 89-yard punt return for a score against the Giants, andEric Berry's 33-yard interception return for a touchdown againstPhiladelphia.

Tamba Hali had a 10-yard interception return for a TD in aseason-opening win over Jacksonville.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs have managed only 12 touchdowns from theirscuffling offense, and several of those drives covered shortdistances because of their defense and special teams.

''It's something we talked about from Day 1, the scoring.There's equal opportunity in all three phases,'' Reid said. ''Wewanted everybody to have their chance to score a touchdown. Thoseare things we have definitely talked about.''

The five defensive and special teams touchdowns that the Chiefshave scored are tied for second most in the NFL since 2000 throughsix games, according to STATS. The only team to produce more wasthe 2003 version of the Chiefs, which had seven of them after sixgames.

Incidentally, that team led by special teamer extraordinaireDante Hall, started 9-0 - the only one in franchise history to getoff to a better start than this year's Chiefs.

''We just try to go out there and play hard for each other,''Berry explained. ''We try to play as a unit. We just fight to theend of the game, no matter what the score is.''

The success of the Chiefs' defense, which leads the league inscoring, and special teams, which have given them the league's beststarting field position, helps to mask all the troubles of theoffense, which managed just 216 yards against the Raiders.

Running back Jamaal Charles had 128 of those yards. And tounderscore his importance to the Chiefs, he also had both of theiroffensive touchdowns, and has seven of the team's 12 offensivescores this season - five on the ground and two through theair.

Alex Smith, who has earned a reputation as a game-managingquarterback, threw for just 128 yards against the Raiders. Widereceiver Dwayne Bowe, who was given a $56 million, five-year dealin the offseason, had just three catches for 46 yards - 18 of themon a broken play.

''As an offense, we have to start faster,'' fellow wide receiverMcCluster said. ''It's going to be important to get it goingquicker and then maintain that throughout the game. If we can getour offense to play as well as our defense is playing right now,it's going to be great.''

So far, that bar has been set pretty high. And if it never doeshappen, well, the Chiefs seem to be confident that their defenseand special teams can continue to produce.

''The coaches believe in us,'' Hali said. ''We remind ourselveswe're out there to get our job done and we're getting our job done.Sometimes it's like, `Wow, we scored again.' That's huge. It's thecoaches. I promise. It's the same team we had last year, minus acouple of guys. We're having this much success, so it's a credit tothe coaches.''

NOTES: LT Branden Albert sprained his left knee and strained hisleft elbow against the Raiders, and DT Dontari Poe tweaked asprained ankle. Both should be OK for Sunday's game against theTexans, Reid said. ... Reid also praised the defense for its 10sacks against Oakland. It's the most sacks KC has had since 10against Oakland on Sept. 6, 1998.

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Online: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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