The month of November is known for a time of thanksgiving and after going 8-0 to start the 2013 season, the Kansas City Chiefs had plenty to be thankful for, entering Week 9, when the Chiefs defense stole the headlines, helping deliver a come-from-behind victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Buffalo led 10-3 in the third quarter and was knocking on the doorstep, at the Chiefs one-yard-line, when the game's momentum shifted. Bills QB Jeff Tuel was pressured by Chiefs LB Tamba Hali, before he threw the pass in the end zone; Chiefs CB Sean Smith grabbed the pass and used some phenomenal down-field blocks, during his 100-yard pick-six return.
Smith's return is tied for the second-longest interception return for a touchdown in franchise history. It was his second interception of the season and seventh of his career, but his first interception returned for a touchdown, marking his career-long INT return.
The teams exchanged field goals, before the Chiefs defense struck again, fittingly on Chiefs LB Tamba Hali's 30th birthday. Hali received an on-field gift as he was in the right place at the right time, scooping up a Bills fumble, caused by Chiefs CB Marcus Cooper, and taking it in for the score. Kansas City would add one more FG by Chiefs K Ryan Succop, before winning the game, 23-13. Chiefs vs Bills: Photo Gallery
It was Hali's fifth-career fumble recovery and first fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. The score marked Hali's second-career defensive touchdown, after a 10-yard interception return at Jacksonville on Sept. 8, 2013. He added four tackles (two solo) in the contest.
With the win on Nov. 3, the Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to go 9-0, during their first year with a new head coach and quarterback. The Chiefs are also the first team to start 9-0, after posting two or fewer wins in the previous season and are the first team in NFL history to start 9-0 after posting the league's worst record in the previous year. Kansas City's 9-0 start also tied for the best start in franchise history (2003) and was the first time in head coach Andy Reid's 15-year coaching career that he started a season 9-0.
The Chiefs enjoyed a much-deserved Bye Week, before the team traveled to Denver to face the 8-1 Denver Broncos.
Denver jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, before Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe grabbed a six-yard TD pass from Alex Smith in the second quarter. It was one of four receptions by Bowe in the game, who ended with 57 yards (14.2 avg.). The score was Bowe's 42nd-career touchdown, ranking fifth in team history.
Denver used the running game for its next two scores, via Broncos RB Montee Ball, who recorded one and eight-yard TD runs.
Trailing 27-10 in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs pulled within 10 points, thanks to a 10-yard TD reception by Chiefs TE Anthony Fasano. The score was Fasano's first in Chiefs red and his 25th-career touchdown catch. He finished the game with four receptions for 37 yards (9.2 avg.), tying a season-high for receptions and setting a season-high for single-game receiving yards.
The Chiefs comeback attempt fell short as the Broncos held on to win at home, 27-17. Chiefs vs Broncos: Photo Gallery
Suffering its first loss of the 2013 season, the Chiefs returned to Arrowhead Stadium to face another AFC West rival, the San Diego Chargers, who jumped out to an early 3-0.
The Chiefs offense responded with two TDs, the first a 32-yard strike from Alex Smith to Donnie Avery; the grab was Avery's second TD of the season, 11th of his career. He finished the day with four receptions for a team-high 91 yards (22.8 avg.).
Kansas City's second TD of the game came via the legs of Jamaal Charles, who scored from seven yards out in the second quarter.
Jamaal finished with 14 carries in the game for a season-high 115 yards (8.2 avg.), which tied a career-high with two rushing touchdowns. It marked just the third time in Jamaal's career that he scored two rushing touchdowns in the same game, with one of those contests coming this year against the Oakland Raiders (10/13/13). He also had a season-long rush of 46 yards in the game.
Jamaal's two TDs in the game gave him 10 touchdowns (eight rushing, two receiving) for the season and 34-career touchdowns (25 rushing, nine receiving), marking the first time in Charles' career that he has recorded double-digit touchdowns (rushing and receiving).
In the third quarter, trailing the Chargers 24-21, Chiefs QB Alex Smith found Anthony Fasano for a four-yard score, his second score in two weeks and the 26th-receiving touchdown of his career.
In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were down three, when Smith again put his team in front, this time connecting with Dwayne Bowe for the five-yard score. Bowe finished the contest with five receptions and the TD catch was the 43rd of his career to rank fifth in franchise history. Despite the TD, San Diego put up the final score of the game to outlast the Chiefs, 41-38. Chargers vs Chiefs: Photo Gallery
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