Kansas City Looks to Finish the Season on a Winning Note Against the N.Y. Jets

Dec 25, 2007, 2:19:45 AM by Pete Moris

Chiefs-Jets Opening Salvos

The Chiefs are seeking to win their first regular season finale on the road since registering a 31-24 win at Oakland (12/26/98). Two of the Jets three wins have come against Miami (1-14). New York’s other victory was a 19-16 OT decision at Pittsburgh (11/18). The Jets are 8-7 against AFC West foes in the regular season dating back to 2000. New York has won its last five regular season finales when the game has been played at the Meadowlands. The Jets are 6-9 at home under Eric Mangini, including a 2-5 mark in 2007. The Chiefs are 2-3 in their last five road outings under Herm Edwards.

Kansas City-New York Scoring Stats
The Chiefs have allowed an average of 14.0 ppg in their four victories and have held their opponents to 20 points or less in all of those wins this season. The Jets are 4-15 (.211) under Eric Mangini when being held to 20 points or less, including a 1-10 mark this season. However, New York has outscored its opponents by an average margin of 30.0 to 19.0 in its three wins.

The Chiefs have been a solid first-half squad this season and have been tied or ahead after two quarters in eight games. Kansas City will face a Jets squad that has lost 17 straight contests when trailing at halftime, including an 0-11 mark under Mangini. However, the Jets own a 12-3 (.800) mark under Mangini when holding a halftime lead.

Kansas City and New York have both struggled in the second half this season. Only Atlanta (19) has scored fewer points in the third quarter than New York (33). Kansas City has only scored 45 points in the third period, but snapped a six-game scoreless streak in the fourth quarter last week. New York has allowed 34.9% opponents’ points (117 of 335) in the final period. Only Chicago (129) and St. Louis (130) have allowed more points in the fourth quarter than New York (117).

Kansas City’s Defense Ranks Among the NFL’s Best
The Chiefs defense is on pace to register its best showing in a number of years in several key categories. Most notably, KC currently leads the NFL in both Red Zone defense (37.5 TD %) and goal-to-go defense (40.0 TD %). If the Chiefs finish the season ranked atop the league standings in the Red Zone, it would be the first time KC has finished the season in the top five in that category since ‘97 when the Chiefs ranked second at 38.1% (16 TDs on 42 drives). KC hasn’t led the NFL in goal-to-go defense since pacing the league in that category in ‘97 at 38.5% (5 TDs on 13 drives).

The Chiefs have also forced a league-high 109 negative plays. The last time Kansas City led the league in that department was 2000 when the Chiefs threw opponents for a loss 132 times. KC was tied for 11th in the league with 97 negative plays a year ago. The Chiefs have allowed 27 offensive TDs and are on pace to relinquish their fewest offensive TDs since giving up 23 in ‘97. The Chiefs have allowed 285 offensive points in 2007. KC hasn’t allowed fewer than 300 offensive points in a season since giving up 294 in ‘99.

This season, only New England is better than Kansas City in terms of third-down defense. The Patriots allow opponents to convert at a 32.2% clip (57 of 177), while the Chiefs are 32.3% (62 of 192) on third down. The Chiefs haven’t finished the season in the league’s top five in third-down defense since ranking second in ‘99 at 30.2% (65 of 215). Last year, KC was 18th in the league in third-down defense at 39.2% (83 of 212).

Chiefs-Jets Turnover Stats
The Chiefs were 9-7 and qualified for the playoffs in 2006 after posting a +4 turnover differential (30 takes/26 gives). This season, KC is -11 (22 takes/33 gives). Kansas City has posted a +4 turnover mark (10 takes/6 gives) in its four wins in 2007, but is -15 (12 takes/27 gives) in its 11 losses. The Chiefs are 8-2 under head coach Herm Edwards when positive. KC owns five road wins during Edwards’ tenure with the Chiefs producing a combined +9 (15 takes/6 gives) mark in those contests, scoring 53 points off turnovers.

The Jets were 10-6 and also qualified for the playoffs in 2006. New York was even (25 takes/25 gives) in the turnover department a year ago and is -4 (21 takes/25 gives) this season. New York is 11-1 (.917) when positive under Eric Mangini, but owns just a 2-17 (.105) record when even or negative. The Jets have lost 12 consecutive games when even or negative in the turnover column. KC has been even or positive in all of its wins in 2007.

Several 2006 Playoff Teams Have Struggled in 2007
The Chiefs (4-11) and Jets (3-12) are two of four teams that qualified for the 2006 playoffs that could post double-digit losses in 2007. Chicago went to Super Bowl XLI, but is 6-9 in 2007. Baltimore was 13-3 in 2006 and has suffered nine straight losses en route to a 4-11 record.

KC Would Like to Rev Up Its Running Game Against New York
In Kansas City’s four wins, the club has averaged 31.3 rushing attempts for 105.8 yards. Kansas City would like to rev up its running game against a Jets squad that ranks 29th in the league in rushing defense (140.2 ypg). Prior to Denver’s game on MNF, only Miami (158.6) and Oakland (147.6) had allowed more rushing ypg. New York has allowed 87.0 rushing ypg in its three wins and has permitted 153.5 rushing ypg in its 12 losses.

Dating back to 2006, only Cleveland (19) and Oakland (19) have allowed more individual 100-yard rushers than New York (17). The Jets are 5-12 (.294) in those games, including a 1-8 mark in 2007. The Chiefs are 3-1 this season when producing an individual 100-yard rusher.

Defensively, Kansas City permitted 137 rushing yards at Detroit (12/23), marking the lowest rushing output the Chiefs had permitted since giving up 66 yards in a 13-10 loss at Indianapolis (11/18). KC will face a Jets offense that has averaged 37.3 carries for 151.7 yards in its three wins. New York has scored four rushing TDs in those victories. In their 12 losses, the Jets have averaged just 24.1 carries for 87.3 yards with two TDs. Only Carolina (5) and St. Louis (5) have scored fewer rushing TDs than Atlanta (6), Kansas City (6) and New York (6) this season.

Chiefs-Jets Passing Stats
QB Damon Huard entered the game in the second quarter at Detroit (12/23) in relief of an injured QB Brodie Croyle. Huard completed 24 of 36 passes for a season-high 305 yards with two TDs, good for a 111.5 rating. It marked the first 300-yard passing performance by a Chiefs passer in 2007. The Chiefs would like a repeat performance of those passing numbers against a Jets squad that has lost 10 consecutive games when an opposing QB has produced a rating of 100.0 or better. KC will face a Jets squad that has allowed just 156.0 passing yards per game over their last six contests.

The Chiefs are 21-6 (.778) when forcing two or more INTs dating back to 2002. KC has accumulated two or more INTs in two of its four wins this season. New York is 1-10 (.091) under Eric Mangini when his club throws two or more INTs, including an 0-6 mark this season.

More Chiefs Defensive Superlatives
The Chiefs currently rank 13th in the league in total defense (318.3 ypg). If KC finishes the year in that position, it would mark the first time since ‘99 that the club has ranked in the NFL’s top 15 in that category. The Chiefs were 14th in total defense in ‘99 (314.9 ypg).

KC currently ranks sixth in pass defense, allowing 192.3 passing yards per game this season. The last time KC gave up under 200.0 yards per game through the air was ‘98 (186.6 ypg). The ‘98 campaign also marked the last time the Chiefs ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in pass defense, coming in seventh that season. The Chiefs have allowed 11 rushing TDs in 2007, the club’s lowest total since giving up 10 in ‘99. KC has permitted 16 TD passes this season after giving up 18 TD passes a year ago.

Chiefs Special Teams Stat to Note
Kansas City currently ranks fourth in the league in opponents’ average drive start after a kickoff (25.7-yard line). The Chiefs ranked 27th in that category in 2006 (28.9-yard line). P Dustin Colquitt has moved into the top spot in franchise history with a 38.12-yard net punting average. He currently ranks second in franchise annals with a career gross punting average of 43.39, trailing P Jerrel Wilson (43.44) by just fractions of a yard.

KC’s Starting Linebackers All Boast Triple-Digit Tackles
The Chiefs three starting linebackers all currently have 100 or more tackles, marking the first time since ‘78 that the club has had three LBs post over 100 stops apiece. LB Donnie Edwards has 106 stops, marking the 12th consecutive seasons he’s topped the century mark, the longest streak of its kind known to be owned by any active NFL player. Here’s a look . . .

Statistical Odds & Ends on the Chiefs-Jets Match-Up
Kansas City is 3-3 in games decided by seven points or less this season. The Chiefs were 5-3 in those contests a year ago. The Jets have been involved in eight games decided by seven points or less, posting a 2-6 mark in those games. New York was also 5-3 in such games in 2007.

KC’s leads the NFL in Red Zone defense with a 37.5 TD %. New York’s offense ranks 30th in the league with a 37.0 Red Zone TD % … KC averages 8.88 plays per scoring drive to lead the NFL. New York (8.81) is third … No team has fewer rushing plays of 20+ yards than New York (3) … The Chiefs offense ranks last in the league, going three-and-out 32.6% of the time. KC will face a Jets defense that ranks last in the league, forcing opponents to go three-and-out on 13.6% of their drives.

Only three teams (DEN, CAR and BAL) have permitted more points on opponents’ opening possessions of the second half than New York (44). No teams have scored fewer points on its initial possession of the second half than Kansas City (3) and Carolina (3) … Only Seattle (50) has had fewer penalties than New York (58).

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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A 15-year veteran of the Chiefs, Moris is the associate director of public relations for the team and contributes an in-depth examination of each upcoming game Tuesdays in-season.