"I like the makeup of this football team."
That's something Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said about his football team, and he didn't just say that it after Sunday's 34-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens. He said that after their 16-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings back in Week 6.
When things weren't going well, there was never doubt coming from Reid. There was only focus on what needed to improve on a micro level so that the overall results and bigger picture would match what many outsiders expected from the beginning.
When Reid first arrived in Kansas City three years ago, he and new general manager John Dorsey orchestrated the greatest single-season turnaround in franchise history, going from 2 wins in 2012 to 11 wins in their first year in 2013.
That plus-9 improvement is the best in the history of the franchise, and now after eight consecutive wins, the second-longest streak in franchise history (9-2003, 2013), the Chiefs find themselves with the same goals and expectations they had before the season began right in front of them.
"They've taken advantage of opportunity and they've done that really all year," Reid said after Sunday's win in Baltimore. "We still have to clean up some things. We still have a lot of room to improve."
When asked what they did when things weren't going well to try and change the tide, Reid said it was about getting to work and staying focused on what could be controlled—their effort and preparation.
"We just put our heads down," Reid explained. "We try to do that every week—put our heads down and go to work. I kept mentioning it: I like this football team, I like the makeup—even during that time.
"We have some character guys. There's a small margin between winning and losing in this league and I felt like we were close, but you have to do it.
"The guys just rallied."
The players have rallied and now sit as one of the hottest teams in the NFL, currently holding the No. 5 spot in the AFC playoff picture, although there are scenarios that could play out over the next two weeks that could improve even that.
But as of today, the Chiefs haven't earned anything yet because there are still two games left to play. They've put themselves in a good position but that's all it is right now—a good position.
The work is still ahead of them, and they seem ready for the challenge.
"Every team has talent and there's a lot of parity in the NFL," quarterback Alex Smith explained. "But, what sets this team apart is that we have a lot of character. We have great focus and we play hard together.
"That's sometimes the difference in this league."
The difference with this team is also the leadership they get at the top, from CEO and Chairman Clark Hunt providing the resources Dorsey and Reid need to do their jobs to the coaching staff that works with these players on a daily basis.
The strength and conditioning staff has these players physically ready to perform each and every week.
The athletic training staff has been busy with the number of injuries and ailments that have hampered some key players on the team this year, not to mention the work they did last year to have defensive lineman Mike DeVito and linebacker Derrick Johnson ready to perform at such high levels this year.
There are so many people behind the scenes who have been key cogs in a machine that has found its groove over the past several weeks.
Postgame facts and stats from the Chiefs win over the Ravens in Week 15
HISTORIC WINNING STREAK: After losing five consecutive games from Sept. 17, 2015 to Oct. 18, 2015, the Chiefs have won eight consecutive contests from Oct. 25, 2015 through today's victory. Kansas City becomes the only team in NFL history to win eight consecutive games following a five-game losing streak. The Chiefs eight-game win streak is the second-longest streak in franchise history, behind just a pair of nine-game win streaks (2003 and 2013).
REID CONTINUES TO WIN: With today's win, Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid owns 169 career wins (regular and postseason) and movespast Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Bud Grant for 17th most wins in NFL History. His 29 wins in his first three seasons leading the Chiefs tie Marty Schottenheimer (1989-91) for most wins by a Kansas City coach in their first three seasons. He also has at least nine wins in each of his first three seasons with Chiefs. Of all current NFL coaches, only four other coaches won at least nine games in each of their first three seasons with their current club: Bruce Arians (Arizona), John Harbaugh (Baltimore), Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis) and Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh). Reid has atleast nine wins and an above .500 winning percentage in each of his first three seasons with the Chiefs (2013-15). Marty Schottenheimer and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram are the only other two coaches in franchise history to record at least three consecutive years of above-.500 football. Schottenheimer was the last Chiefs coach to accomplish the feat from 1995-97 when his teams won 13 games (1995), 9 games (1996) and 13 games (1997). Those three seasonswere the final three seasons of a stretch of nine years in which Schottenheimer's Chiefs finished above .500 (1989-97). Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram also had a streak of nine seasons in which his Chiefs teams finished above .500 (1965-73). His final three such years saw 10 wins (1971), 8 wins (1972) and 7 wins plus multiple tie games (1973). Reid and Schottenheimer are the only two coaches in franchise history to have above-.500 records in their first three seasons with the club. Schottenheimer went 8-7-1 (1989), 11-5 (1990) and 10-6 (1991) while Reid has gone 11-5 (2013), 9-7 (2014) and 9-5 (2015).
RACKING UP THE POINTS: Since Andy Reid was named head coach in 2013, the Chiefs have had at least four games each season where they've scored 30 or more points. The last time the Chiefs scored 30 or more points in five or more games in a single season was in 2010 when the Chiefs had six 30+ point games.
RAVENS SHUT OUT IN FOURTH QUARTER: Today marks the fifth game in a row the Chiefs have shut out their opponent in the fourth quarter of play. The Chiefs hold a 50-0 point differential in those games.
TWO DEFENSIVE SCORES TODAY: Two defensive touchdowns today mark the first game with two defensive scores since a 23-13 win at Buffalo on Nov. 3, 2013 when LB Tamba Hali had an 11-yard fumble return for a touchdown and CB Sean Smith had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. With two defensive touchdowns today, the Chiefs now have six defensive touchdowns on the season (Marcus Peters 2, Tyvon Branch 2, Ramik Wilson 1, Justin Houston 1).
BRANCH SCORES ON FUMBLE RECOVERY: S Tyvon Branch recovered a RB Javorius Allen fumble forced by LB Derrick Johnson and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown,marking the Chiefs fifth defensive touchdown of the season. This marks Branch's first fumble recovery with the Chiefs and hisfifth career fumble recovery. Branch has scored two defensive touchdowns this season.His previouswas on a 38-yard interception return for atouchdown at Oakland(12/6). He added four tackles (three solo) on the day.
DJ FORCES FUMBLE: LB Derrick Johnson forced his second fumble of the season which was later recovered and returned for a TD by S Tyvon Branch. This marks Johnson's 22nd forced fumble of his career. Johnson led the team with 12 tackles (seven solo) in today's contest. Johnson' 12 tackles today's game, marked his 32nd career game with 10 or more tackles. This is the ninth game this season Johnson has led or tied a teammate for the team lead in tackles. He now has a Chiefs all-time record 1,085 tackles for his career. He has 100 tackles (81 solo) for the season, marking his eighth season with 100 or more tackles.
PETERS LOGS TWO INTS: CB Marcus Peters intercepted QB Jimmy Clausen twice and returned one 90 yards for a TD, giving him seven interceptions this season and two returned for TDs. Peters is just the 12thplayer in Chiefs history to record two interceptions returned for a touchdown in asingle season and joins David Webster (1960 Dallas Texans) and Charles Mincy (1992) as the only rookies in Chiefs franchise history to record two INT TDs in their first NFL season. His 90-yard return is the second-longest INT return by a rookie in Chiefs history, trailing onlyCB Brandon Flowers' 91-yard return vs. the N.Y. Jets in 2008.
PETERS CONTINUES TO DEFEND AGAINST THE PASS: Rookie CB Marcus Peters had three tackles (two solo) and tied a season-high with four pass defensed in today's game, marking his seventh game this season recording multiple passes defended. His 23 passes defensed are a franchise record for rookies and are ranked tied for second in team history.
PARKER SACKS CLAUSEN: DB Ron Parker sacked Ravens QB Jimmy Clausen for a loss of three yards, marking his sixth career QB takedown, which ranks tied for second all time in the Chiefs record book for sacks by adefensive back. Parker has 4.0 sacks this season, and all 6.0 of his sacks have been during his time with the Chiefs (2013-15). Parker added four tackles (two solo) in the contest.
HOWARD SACKS CLAUSEN: DL Jaye Howard sacked Ravens QB Jimmy Clausen for a loss of five yards, giving him 4.5sacks this season and 5.5 sacks inhis career. Howard added three tackles (two solo) in the game.
SMITH LOGS SECOND BEST COMPLETION PERCETAGE IN CHIEFS HISTORY: AlexSmith completed 21 of 25 passes for an 84.0 completion percentage, the second-highest single-game mark among quarterbacks with at least 20 attempts in franchise history. Smith also holds the top mark in franchise history at 85.0% (17 of 20), set in 2013. Smith finished logging a 108.5 passer rating, which marks his sixth 100.0+ passer rating game of the season and the 26th time in his career he has logged a 100.0 or better rating as a starter in the regular season with20 or more pass attempts. He is 6-0 this season and25-1 overall in those contests. His six games this season with a100+passer rating are the most he's had in asingle season in his career.
SMITH CONTINUES TO CLIMB FRANCHISE CHARTS: Since joining the Chiefs in 2013, QB Alex Smith has completed 124 passesof 20 or more yards. His 124 completions are the third most in franchise history. QB Alex Smith has rushed 69 times this season, marking the second-highest number of rushing attempts by a quarterback in a season. Smith owns the top mark for rushing attempts in a season with 76 in 2013.
SMITH ECLIPSES 3,000 AGAIN: Smith now has 3,205 passing yards this season, ranking third most in a single season in his career. He has passed for more than 3,000 yards in each of his three seasons in Kansas City.
WEST SCORES ON OPENING DRIVE: RB Charcandrick West scored his fourth rushing TD ofthe season on a career-long 38-yard rush, marking the sixth time this season the offense has scored on its opening drive. The Chiefs are 5-1 in those contests. West finished the game with 16 carries for 76 yardsand one TD.
SHORT FIELD: QB Alex Smith hit WR Jeremy Maclin on a 13-yard TD pass, capping a three-play 24.yard scoring drive after the Ravens failed an attempted trick play on a 4th-and-9, setting up the Chiefs at the Baltimore 24-yard-line.
JEREMY MACLIN LEADS TEAM: WR Jeremy Maclin owns ateam-high six receiving scores this season. Maclin's six receiving touchdowns in 2015 are the most by aChiefs wide receiver in a single season since Dwayne Bowe had a league-leading 15 touchdown receptions in 2010.
SANTOS TIES CAREER-LONG: K Cairo Santos converted a 53-yard field goal, tying his career-long. He also tied Nick Lowery for the franchise record for most field goals of 50 or more yards made in a single season with four. Lowery accomplished the feat in 1980. His two field goals in today's game giveshim 29 made field goals for the season, which is the third best mark in franchise history.
Right now, it's about steadying that ship when success, much like failure, can try to send you off path.
The lessons learned through the difficult times have prepared this team to be able to handle success and stay focused at the task at hand, because they know the margin of error can thwart even the most talented of teams.
"The best thing is we stuck together," running back Charcandrick West explained of the tough times. "We had those struggles, but we didn't turn back on each other and we all stayed together.
"Right now, we need to keep taking it like we've been taking it—one day at a time. We'll just keep getting better each and every day.
"When game day comes, we're going to lay it on the line."
The Chiefs return home on Sunday to host the Cleveland Browns at Arrowhead Stadium, and the best fans in the world can help steer this character-driven and tested group towards a playoff berth after beginning the season with a 1-5 record. There won't be a better place to experience the culmination of this ride than with 70,000 of your closest friends in the home of Chiefs Kingdom—Arrowhead Stadium.
