Do The Chiefs Have A Top 5 Defense?

Sep 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs free safety Husain Abdullah (39) is congratulated by cornerback Sean Smith (21) after scoring during the second half against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

When you dominate the best, you can march over the rest.

The best part about all of these stats is that there are no caveats attached to them. Last year, the defense was putting up absolutely insane numbers, but it wasn’t clear how much of that statistical prowess was due to the relative weakness of their first-half schedule.

This year, the Chiefs have put these numbers up against the cream of the AFC: the 6-1 Broncos, 5-2 Patriots and 5-3 Chargers, not to mention best team from the best division in the NFC, the 49ers.

A lot of commentators have looked at the implosion of the Patriots on Monday Night Football in particular as a sort of anomaly game that the Chiefs shouldn’t take credit for.

Perhaps, but Miami QB Ryan Tannehill, Patriots QB Tom Brady, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, and Chargers QB Philip Rivers all put up their worst 2014 completion percentages against the Chiefs. Is it a coincidence that all of these good quarterbacks keep having a “bad week” against KC?

This stat is also interesting in that it is unaffected by how much Chiefs QB Alex Smith and the offense are chewing up the clock.