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Five reasons why the Kansas City Chiefs will go 19-0 this season

By Farzin Vousoughian

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 21: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs through high fives from teammates during pre game introductions prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 21: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs through high fives from teammates during pre game introductions prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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Special teams Will Thrive

Ever since Andy Reid arrived and made Dave Toub his special teams coordinator in 2013, special teams have been a big part of helping the Chiefs accumulate the second most regular season wins since being part of the organization.

In the return game, five different players have taken a kickoff and/or a punt back for a touchdown. The Chiefs are also consistently among one of the best in the league in total kick return and punt return yards.

Chiefs players with return touchdowns under Dave Toub

  • 2013 KR touchdowns: Quintin Demps, Knile Davis
  • 2013 PR touchdowns: Dexter McCluster (2)
  • 2014 KR touchdowns: Knile Davis
  • 2014 PR touchdowns: De’Anthony Thomas
  • 2016 KR touchdowns: Tyreek Hill
  • 2016 PR touchdowns: Tyreek Hill (2)
  • 2017 PR touchdowns: Tyreek Hill
  • 2018 PR touchdowns: Tyreek Hill

Seasons when Chiefs finish in top 10 in return yards

  • 2013: 3rd in kick return yards, 1st in punt return yards
  • 2014: 1st in kick return yards, 1st in punt return yards
  • 2015: 10th in punt return yards
  • 2016: 4th in kick return yards, 1st in punt return yards
  • 2017: 1st in kick return yards
  • 2018: 3rd in kick return yards

Hill and Thomas have impressed on special teams before and are with the team going into 2019. But they are not alone.

Kansas City drafted three players in wide receiver Mecole Hardman, safety Juan Thornhill and cornerback Rashad Fenton, who have experience as returners in college. Pringle also has experience as a return specialist while prepping as Kansas State while Smith was third in kick return yards last year in the NFL as a rookie.

No matter who Toub chooses to put for kickoff and punt returns, you can expect the team to succeed.

Kicker Harrison Butker and punter Dustin Colquitt were one of the top kicker-punter duos in the NFL last year.

In his two years in the NFL, Butker has connected on 62 field goals, making 90 percent of his kicks. He’s made 279 total points in his young career, finishing in the top five in both 2017 and 2018, accumulating more points than any kicker during that two-year span.

Due to the offensive dominance for the Chiefs, Colquitt had a single-season career-low in punts with 45 for 2,021 yards. Obviously, that is a good thing. But even with a low number of punts, Colquitt still got the job done after averaging 44.9 yards per punt and had a net average of 40.5, tied for the sixth best he’s had in a season in his career.

There is a reason Toub continues to draw interest from other teams for head coaching jobs. Kansas City’s special teams’ units always do very well. The 2019 season won’t be any different.

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