Kansas City Chiefs Will Make a Postseason Push in Second Half of the Season

The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off the 2014 season in a rough manner, falling to a hapless Tennessee Titans team 26-10 at home in Week 1, only to fall short the following week against Denver. Despite the 0-2 start, the Chiefs have won three of their last four games and are in position to form a winning streak.

Whether you want to believe it or not, players and coaches always say they like to go one game at a time. As fans and the media, we are guilty of looking at the long term, and there is nothing wrong with that. We like to look up the schedule and see what is going on over the next few weeks.

If you’re a Chiefs fan and have noticed the next five games, you have to feel confident the team can pull off plenty of wins and build a record well above .500.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

The team got through its formidable six-game stretch by going 3-3. Kansas City recently came away with an impressive win in San Diego. It was a narrow win, but enough to get the job done and reach the .500 mark.

Now the Chiefs face, in order, the Rams, Jets, Bills, Seahawks and Raiders through the next five weeks. All five teams combine for a record of 10-22.

Kansas City has outscored its opponents 115-71 in the last four games, as the defense has allowed 18 points per game during that run.

Given that the Chiefs have an easy five weeks ahead, winning at least four of the five would be beneficial. The following and remaining five games are against the Broncos, Cardinals, Raiders, Steelers and Chargers.

If the Chiefs play like they have in the last four games, a 7-3 finish to the season is a realistic expectation.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid must approach the remaining 10 games with a reasonable game plan and make the right play calls during games, which has been an issue in a couple of matches this year.

As far as on the field, the Chiefs have played well on both sides of the ball, helping them rebound in the last four games. 

Since throwing three interceptions in Week 1, quarterback Alex Smith has been picked off just once up to this point. He currently has a passer rating of 91.0 and has had a rating above 100 in three of the last four games.

In the backfield with Smith, the Chiefs have three scatbacks in Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis and De’Anthony Thomas, all who have scored a touchdown on offense this season. Charles, who recently became the all-time leading rusher in franchise history, continues to showcase his talents and prove he is still one of the more explosive players today.

Tight end Travis Kelce, who missed his rookie season due to a knee injury, has been a pleasant surprise this year. He has made plays by making defenders miss and using his speed to help move the chains, being a big part of the offense as the leader in catches, yards and touchdowns receptions.

Despite a thin secondary and losing inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive end Mike DeVito to Achilles tears, Kansas City’s defense continues to play at a high level.

Justin Houston and Tamba Hali remain as the most terrorizing pass-rushing duo in the NFL, combining for 11 sacks. Houston owns seven of those sacks, which ties for first in the AFC.

After coming up with 18 takeaways in the first six games of 2013, the Chiefs have just four takeaways through six games this year. Even so, the defense has found ways to limit some of the top offenses in the league to put the team in position to win.

After missing two of his first four field-goal attempts, rookie kicker Cairo Santos has redeemed himself in making his next six field goals. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub has to feel good about his young kicker and hopes the team can do what it did last year on kickoff and punt returns.

USA TODAY Sports

Through the last couple of weeks, the Chiefs have focused and come together. If they continue to play in uniform, they could finish strong and go into the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the NFL — and if you’re a Kansas City baseball fan, that should sound familiar, as it resulted in a World Series appearance for the Royals. Maybe some of the hometown success could rub off on the Chiefs.

Reid was responsible for revamping the franchise during its 11-win season after Kansas City went 2-14 the year before. If anything, Reid is the right coach to help the Chiefs go from 3-3 to a playoff contender.

They proved they can play with some of the best teams in the league. With some adjustments, they have the ability to win games and go to the postseason for the second year in a row, something Kansas City has not done in 19 years. 

Follow @Farzin21