Chiefs relying on first-half production to get by

Add as preferred source on Google

It’s not how you start but how you finish, a common expression many of us have heard throughout our lifetime.

That phrase would especially apply to the NFL, particularly given what we saw in 2022 with the Vikings’ historic come-from-behind win over the Indianapolis Colts and the Jaguars’ insane comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round, just two of the many crazy finishes we experienced last year.

However, the opposite has been true for Andy Reid and his Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 regular season thus far.

In their six games played to this point of the season, Kansas City have been outscored in the second half on four occasions, including the last two against Minnesota and Denver.

The good news is that they have never trailed heading into the half this year, so poor performances in the final two-quarters of a game have not impacted them.

Last season, the Chiefs trailed at the half five times but lost only one of those encounters, 27-24 versus Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13.

To this point of the campaign, KC has 147 points, 101 of which have come in the opening 30 minutes of action.

It’s a good thing they’ve had the lead after three quarters in every one of their games so far because this team has struggled offensively in the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs have yet to score a fourth-quarter touchdown this season and have put up three points or fewer in all six of their fourth quarters this season.

If you look at their 2022 campaign though, it is basically on brand for Kansas City, as they only reached double-digits for points scored in the fourth quarter two times a season ago.

Going back to last year, the Chiefs have been outscored in the second half in nine of their previous 11 regular season encounters, while they were also outscored in the second half in two of their three playoff contests, though they won the second-half battle when they needed it most in the Super Bowl.

I’m sure it is not how Andy Reid plans it out for his team to let up in the second half as much as they have in terms of production, but regardless of that, the results continue to go in their favour.

That is important to note, as there are not a lot of NFL teams out there that can be as poor offensively in the second half of games and still win.

While the offensive production is a little down, it is hard to say the Chiefs have not deserved to win every one of their encounters this year.

Their best second half during the 2022 campaign occurred in Week 7 when they put up 30 points in the final two quarters versus the 49ers, winning that contest 44-23.

Kansas City plays the Los Angeles Chargers in their Week 7 game this year on Sunday, having outscored their AFC West rivals in the second half the last four times they’ve squared off.