The Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) are looking to win their fourth consecutive game of the season on Sunday as they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) at Arrowhead Stadium.
Here are 10 stats to know heading into the game:
1. It's been a while since the Chiefs lost at Arrowhead Stadium
The Chiefs are currently one of only five teams in the NFL who haven't lost a game at home this season, but the home winning streak for the Chiefs goes back much further than that.
The last time the Chiefs lost a game at Arrowhead Stadium was Week 5 of last season, which came on Sunday, October 11, 2015.
As of Sunday, that will make it a span of 393 days since the Chiefs lost at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs will look to win their eighth straight game in the friendly confines of Arrowhead on Sunday when they square off against the Jaguars, who are 1-2 on the road this year.
2. The Chiefs are clicking on all cylinders right now
During the current three-game winning streak, the Chiefs have outscored their opponents, 83 to 45.
In all three of those games, which happened to be against three of the top nine scoring offenses currently in the NFL, the defense held each of them to well below their season average.
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Chiefs Defense Excelling vs. Top Offenses Recently | |||
|
|
Opponent |
PPG (NFL Rank) |
Points vs. KC |
|
Week 6 |
@ Oakland Raiders |
26.9 (6th) |
14 |
|
Week 7 |
New Orleans Saints |
28.7 (2nd) |
21 |
|
Week 8 |
@ Indianapolis Colts |
26.0 (9th) |
14 |
So the fact that the Chiefs rank second in the NFL over the past three weeks by allowing just 15 points per game, combined with the fact that each of those three games were against some of the most potent offenses in the NFL, is pretty impressive.
3. The Chiefs defense has been good for a while though
Since defensive coordinator Bob Sutton first arrived in Kansas City prior to the 2013 season, the defense has only allowed 23 touchdowns rushing to opposing offenses, which is the fewest of any team in the league over that time.
As a defense overall, the Chiefs rank second in the NFL by allowing an average of just 18.4 points per game during that time as well. 4. Chiefs offense doesn't hurt themselves often with penalties
The Chiefs offense has only had 39 penalties accepted against them this season, which are the second fewest of any team in the league.
Head coach Andy Reid often preaches to the team to not beat themselves, and they've done a good job during this three-game winning streak by having 65 fewer penalty yards than their opponents.
Those are bonus yards and the Chiefs have taken advantage of them this season. 5. Chiefs defense has made a habit of taking the ball away
The Chiefs are tied for the NFL lead with 16 takeaways this season, including 11 interceptions, which leads the NFL.
Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, cornerback Phillip Gaines picked off quarterback Andrew Luck late in the first half for the first interception of his career. It was one of two takeaways for the defense on the day.
Heading into Sunday, the Jaguars have given it away 13 times already this season, which ties them for the fifth most in the NFL this season.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has thrown nine interceptions, which ties him for the third most of any quarterback in the league.
The Chiefs are 25-5 under head coach Andy Reid when winning the turnover battle. 6. The Chiefs have been particularly adept at taking it away at the best times
Of the 16 takeaways by the Chiefs defense this season, five of those have come inside of the red zone, which also leads the NFL.
In comparison, the Jaguars rank last in the NFL by taking it away just five times total.
It's also important to note that the Chiefs have scored 48 points on these takeaways this season, which ranks fourth best in the NFL. 7. The Chiefs passing offense has picked up chuck yards recently
Over the past three weeks, the Chiefs passing game has had nine passes that have resulted in gains of 25 or more yards, which ties them for the second most in the NFL over that time.
Rookie Tyreek Hill leads them with three receptions of 25 or more yards during that time, which included two touchdown receptions (38, 34).
Hill also leads the team with four touchdowns receiving this season. 8. Linebacker Dee Ford climbs the charts after career-best performance
After his 3.5-sack performance last week against the Colts, Ford vaulted himself to the top five of the league in sacks—currently tied for fifth in the league with 7 sacks.
Looking forward to Sunday, the Jaguars have allowed 17 sacks this season. 9. Marcus Peters still leads the NFL in interceptions
Despite not having an interception over the past two weeks, Marcus Peters still leads the NFL with five interceptions this season.
Going back to the beginning of last season, Peters has 13 interceptions in his last 23 regular-season games, which is three more than Raiders safety Reggie Nelson, who ranks second in the league with 10 interceptions over that same span. 10. The Chiefs punt coverage unit ranks as best in NFL
The Chiefs punt coverage unit has allowed an average of just 4.6 yards per return this season, which ranks as the best in the NFL.
The credit for this can be shared among special teams coordinator Dave Toub, punter Dustin Colquitt and all the guys on the coverage unit to put together this kind of a number.
Looking towards Sunday, the top Jaguars punt returner is second-year player Rashad Greene, who is averaging 7.1 yards per return, which ranks 17th in the NFL.
On the flipside, rookie returner Tyreek Hill ranks second in the NFL and leads the AFC by averaging 15.2 yards per punt return this season.
The franchise record for best punt return average in a season is Dante Hall back in 2003, when he averaged 16.28 yards per return.
