We’ve now gone through seven weeks of the season, aka roughly half way. Around this time is when we start to really separate the pretenders from the contenders. But who has the best squad right now through seven weeks of competitive, heart stopping, blood pumping NFL football? Who has the best chance to bring home all the marbles? This year I believe the answer is quite simple and straightforward, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Whoa there! the same team that only won two games last season and was statistically the worst team in the league? Well yeah...and no, hmm let me explain break it down a little. The Chiefs are the same team from a year ago but with better leadership, they were a team of talented pieces with no glue to hold them together. This year after adding the ultimate glue player in Alex Smith the five pieces have come together to form Voltron defender of Arrowhead. Turns out the Chiefs were a couple ingredients short of the recipe for success.
What they already had?
Defense
The Chiefs have put together what looks to be the best defensive unit in the league. They have big defensive lineman like Dontari Poe who can eat blocks and also get to the quarterback. Linebackers like Derrick Johnson who fly around the field like a wild men making key tackles, and pass rushers like Justin Houston and Tamba Hali that cause opposing quarterbacks to have nightmares the week leading up. But the defensive backs, these guys might actually be the best in the league rivaling the Seahawks Legion of Doom.
The star of course is Eric Berry aka Mr. Doitall, aka don’t throw my way, aka don’t run my way, aka just give up and go three and out. They also have two very good corners in Brandon Flowers and Sean Smith that can shut down your top two guys, and a young fella Marcus Cooper out of Rutgers who is second on the team in interceptions. There is also depth at safety as backups Quintin Demps and Husain Abdullah have proven to have a nose for the ball.
The unit as a whole is the best fantasy defense in the league. They rank number one in sacks with 35, and have allowed the least amount of points this season 81. They have also forced 19 turnovers and scored four touchdowns. A lot of people talk about the defense in Seattle but these guys look like the best unit through seven weeks.
Offensive Weapons
This team has so many weapons on offense you find it hard to believe they could only produce two wins last year. They have guys like Jamaal Charles who plays running back he also doubles as Alex Smith’s go to receiver. Dwayne Bowe a very talented athlete that at times can be uncheckable, and Dexter McCluster a guy that is a threat to take it all the way especially if you get him the ball in space. All these guys were there last year but they didn’t have a quarterback capable of leading the offense and willing the team when it came to winning close hard fought games. There was talent here in Kansas City they were just missing one in this case two pieces.
The New Guys
The team has benefited from the additions of Andy Reid and Smith at quarterback. They not only bring a leadership that wasn’t there last year but they also bring their knowledge and experience of winning something the Chiefs haven’t had in awhile. Smith and Reid are not only used to winning but its what they expect now. The both have proven to be winners in this league and now know the recipe for success. The Chiefs always had talent but talent alone will not produce wins in this league.
How they do it?
Reid and Smith deserve a lot of praise for the team being the last unbeaten team in the NFL. They play to their teams strengths and expose the weaknesses of what the NFL has become. The Chiefs play old school football which is what I think is the best way to win championships in this league. On offense they eat clock by handing it off to Charles and they take care of the ball. They are top 10 in the league when it comes down to time of possession. The Chiefs aren’t a team that's built to win a shootout like the Broncos or the Eagles. Their gameplan on offense is to play keep away and slowly move the ball down the field.
Defensively however they do an outstanding job at keeping points off the board. I think they fit the mold of the a younger Ravens (last years champion). They have a quarterback people label as a “game manager” because of his lack of Madden like numbers. They have a running back that can do it all, a receiver that can put the team on his back and a big play guy that is a threat whenever he touches the ball. And defensively they play hard and passionate, they fly to the ball and create turnovers.
This is the only complete team in the league so far. Yeah some teams are better at certain things, but they are the best because nobody does everything as good as them. If the Chiefs can stay away from the injury bug and split the series with the Broncos, I give them the best chance to win the AFC and they are my favorite to win the Super Bowl.