5 things we learned as the Chiefs beat the Browns in Week 15

On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs registered a solid 21-7 road victory over the Cleveland Browns. Here is some of what we learned in the victory.

1. The Chiefs can win by more than one score

5 things we learned as the Chiefs beat the Browns in Week 15

Now that Kansas City has won a game by more than a single score for only the third time this season, it might be time to share some facts about one-score games. Without a one-score win as the backdrop, you might be in the right mood to hear them.

It’s true: since last New Year’s Eve, the Chiefs have had 15 one-score games. That’s more than any other team. But Kansas City has played more games than any other, too. 75% of these 20 matchups have been decided by one score. That’s also a higher percentage than any other team. But 74% of the Los Angeles Rams’ games have also been single-score results. In fact, six other teams have percentages of at least 65%.

In the last 10 seasons, 53% of the league’s games have been decided by one score. So yes… Kansas City has recently had more one-score games than other teams — and more than normal. But let’s stop acting like the 2024 Chiefs are some big, ridiculous, once-in-a-lifetime outlier — because they’re not.

Besides… nobody should be embarrassed by one-score victories. In any group of one-score wins, luck will be a factor. But in the last 10 seasons, only one team — the Pittsburgh Steelers — has won more of their one-score games than Kansas City. Over 10 seasons, luck can only be a part of the cause for this success.

Here’s the fact to remember: the Chiefs win a lot of single-score games because they’ve proved they’re good at it — not just because they’re lucky. And that’s excellent news — because more of them are coming.

2. The Chiefs can get turnovers

My wife, Terri, believes in speaking things into existence.

“We’re going to win the lottery,” she’ll say. “I’m claiming it now.” Or if I say I think I’m getting sick, she’ll say, “Don’t claim it!”

It looks like Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo also believes in it.

“Whether it’s a forced fumble, a sack-fumble [or] an interception, we all know the difference [turnovers] make in a win or loss,” he noted on Thursday. “We haven’t had as many as we would like. And what I’m hoping is that we’re saving them all up.”

Right on cue, the Chiefs collected four interceptions and a pair of recovered fumbles on Sunday. Some of that was Cleveland quarterback Jameis Winston simply being himself: a chef who tends to mix too many interceptions into his big-play souffle.

But the Browns backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw one, too — and I also saw Kansas City defenders doing their part to make them happen.

I doubt Spagnuolo really believes in speaking things into existence, but he does believe in coaching them into existence. On Sunday, he proved he could do this.

3. The Chiefs must do better at play-calling

During the 30 years I have covered this team, every single one of its head coaches has been accused of being a poor play-caller. So, I have learned that while “stale” or “predictable” play-calling is often blamed for offensive shortcomings, it’s usually something else that’s gone wrong.

I am always reluctant to criticize an NFL team’s play-calling. But after these last two games, I’m making an exception.

In these matchups, the Chiefs’ best offensive drives have been when they used short passes and the running game to move the ball. When they have done so, the offense has looked unstoppable. But when Kansas City abandons this approach — when they pass on every down or go deep when underneath routes are open — the offense cannot stay on the field.

Making the offense stay on the field is exactly how Kansas City can consistently win its games — even (or perhaps especially) in the playoffs.

Still, the Chiefs will sometimes have to air it out; otherwise, dinking and dunking won’t work. But most of the time, the balance has been wrong. Whether that’s because of the play-calling or quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ freelancing deep throws — which he freely admits he does too often — it must be fixed.

4. The Chiefs need a better tackle answer than Joe Thuney

I am happy to join the chorus praising the left guard’s effort on Sunday. It’s not easy to spend your whole career doing one job and then be asked to do a different job — especially at a critical moment in the worst possible circumstances. Thuney deserves praise for what he did.

But it’s not the right answer. Much of the team’s success this season has come from its ability to run the ball effectively. Thuney, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith are at the heart of that rushing attack. When Thuney is on the outside looking after Mahomes’ blindside, the rushing attack suffers. (This may even have played a role in the Chiefs backing off from the running game in the second half).

Yes… at their present stages of development, Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia are not ready to do the job by themselves. So help them! If that means running backs and tight ends are chipping in — or the team depends more on running the ball and passing underneath (see point 3) — then that’s what must be done.

5. The Chiefs have the NFL’s best record

After the Buffalo Bills’ defeat of the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Chiefs have the league’s best record. Even with the many problems the team still needs to solve, that’s a big deal.

It’s worth remembering that the last time a team tried for a Super Bowl three-peat — almost two decades ago — it was 8-5 with three games left. Even though two postseason bye weeks were available, its 10-6 record forced it to play in the Wild Card round. But the 2005 New England Patriots went home after losing the Divisional game to the Denver Broncos — who themselves didn’t make it through the AFC Championship.

Perhaps that is also the fate that awaits the Chiefs. But if it happens, it won’t be because they were lucky in one-score games or were helped by officials. As the Patriots demonstrated just two seasons later, even going undefeated in the regular season (and defeating opponents by an average of nearly 20 points) doesn’t necessarily lead to a Lombardi trophy. Champions are made by what happens in the postseason.

So let’s worry about that when it comes. In the meantime, let’s note that the Chiefs are now the league’s best team. As Andy Reid might say, we’ll see where it goes.

Our Rocky Magaña has been on vacation during the last two games. He will return to this space in Week 16. It has been my pleasure to fill in for him.