Chiefs stats thwart the typical turnover narrative with rare results in 2024

With four games left to go in the season, it's officially poop or get off the pot time for the Kansas City Chiefs who have been underwhelming, to say the least, despite being 12-1. As we've stated before in our crazy stats columns, the Chiefs are a perfect 15-0 in their last 15 one-score games—an NFL record—but there have been far too many this season to feel comfortable.

Over the 13 games this season, and even going back to last year, some statistics simply blow your mind when looking at this Chiefs team—some good, some bad.

For instance, the Chiefs' one-score win streak was extended this past Sunday thanks to kicker Matthew Wright as time expired. Wright is now the third different Chiefs kicker to make a game-winning field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter this season. No other team in NFL history has had more than one kicker do so in a single regular season (via @OptaSTATS).

But at least the Chiefs are scoring, right? Chiefs Kingdom would surely take field goals over nothing, but sometimes those three points just don't feel as satisfying after long drives--something that Kansas City continues to have game after game. The Chiefs lead the league with 33 scoring drives of 10 or more plays this season (eight more than any other team).

One way the Chiefs can put together such long drives so consistently is the early effort that Patrick Mahomes displays every week. What do I mean? Well, Mahomes has been pretty, pretty good in the first half this season which has led to plenty of yardage and points, even if they are often field goals instead of touchdowns.

Actually, Mahomes has 1,948 of his 3,189 passing yards (61.1%) in the first half of games—72 more than the next-best first-half passer (Baker Mayfield)—which totals up to a league-high 149.8 passing yards per game before halftime. Those go along with his 12 first-half passing touchdowns which ranks fifth behind the likes of Mayfield (16), Sam Darnold (14), Joe Burrow (13), and Lamar Jackson (13).

Mahomes isn't the only one making big differences though. Linebacker Leo Chenal once again topped the list of highest-graded Chiefs in a win this past Sunday, scoring an 82.7 PFF grade thanks to his six pressures and five tackles. That grade was Chenal's third-best of the season and was the only grade above 80 for anyone in a Kansas City uniform against Los Angeles.

Luckily for Kansas City, Chenal is not the only one getting good pressure on the quarterback—even if it is not always leading to sacks or stops. In fact, Chris Jones tops the list of all NFL defensive players in True Pressure Rate (TPR) with a mark of 46.5. Oh, and the only player alongside Jones in the 40s is the same guy Mahomes will be looking at pre-snap on Sunday: Myles Garrett (40.0).

But, as previously stated, those pressures don't always lead to stops and rarely lead to takeaways which has become somewhat of a black mark on an otherwise stout defense. Somehow, despite the lack of turnovers, Kansas City is 5-0 in games without a takeaway which is far and away the best record this season.

The only other team to be undefeated in games where they didn't force a turnover is the Lions at 2-0, which is pretty good company to be in. Other teams like the Ravens (2-1), Packers (2-1), Chargers (3-2), Eagles (3-2) and Buffalo Bills (0-1) just can't seem to get it done like Kansas City does.

Another reason that Kansas City continues to thrive this year despite the turnover differential is likely because this isn't their first rodeo. The Chiefs are the only team in NFL history to win 12-of-13 games despite forcing less than 15 takeaways. The craziest thing about that already insane statistic is that they have accomplished this "feat" four times over the last three years with their total takeaways equaling 10, 10, 10 and 11 in those 13-game spans.

Finally, this weekend's game in Cleveland could see Mahomes climb up yet another mountain of records as he could pass Derek Carr for most passing yards by a QB in their first eight seasons. With just 87 passing yards, Mahomes (31,613) will pass Carr (31,700) and sit at third place all-time behind Matt Ryan (32,757) and Peyton Manning (33,189).

There we have it, another collection of amazing statistics that show just what craziness Kansas City continues to put forward week in and week out. Now comes a game against Cleveland that should be very winnable but, as we've seen all year long, it will likely be a close game down to the final seconds.