The Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) extended their home winning streak to nine games after beating the New Orleans Saints (2-4) by a score of 27-21 Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium.
Here are a few snap judgements and random facts from the game:
>> After averaging 38 points in each of their two previous games, the Saints managed just 21 points on Sunday, which was their second-lowest output of the season.
>> Alex Smith's passer rating of 126 was the best so far this season. For more on Alex's day, check out "Alex Smith leads mistake-free Chiefs offense to another victory."
>> According to Pro Football Focus, Alex Smith had a perfect quarterback rating (158.3) against the blitz, completing 7 of 9 for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Those two touchdowns also give Smith a total of 68 during his time in a Chiefs uniform, which moved him into fourth place on the franchise's all-time list.
>> PFF also had safety Daniel Sorensen with the highest grade of any Chiefs defender (86.2). Maybe the most interesting grade was that of linebacker Ramik Wilson, who started in place of the injured Justin March, who was placed on Injured Reserve last week. Wilson had the second-highest grade of any defender (82.8). You can check out all of PFF's grades for Sunday's game right here.
>> Tyreek Hill caught his team-leading third touchdown of the season, saying after the game that Smith just told him "to run as fast as he could" and he'd lead him down the field, which he did. Watch that play right here.
>> As noted by the Topeka Capital Journal’s Matt Derrick, Sunday's game marked the first time in the last 17 contests that the Chiefs defense allowed a 300-yard passer.
>> Sunday was Andy Reid's 300th NFL game as a head coach. His record in those games is 176-123-1. Reid has recorded wins in each of his milestone games, winning his 100th (27-6 at the New York Giants on November 28, 2004), 200th (31-17 vs. Atlanta on October 17, 2010) and 300th career games, on his way to becoming the 14th head coach in NFL history to reach the 300-game mark. He is the third active head coach to reach the milestone, joining New England's Bill Belichick and Los Angeles' Jeff Fisher.
>> Reid was also listed the "Coach of the Week" from Monday Morning Quarterback's Peter King.
>> As noted by the Kansas City Star’s Blair Kerkhoff, the Chiefs offensive line deserves credit after keeping Alex Smith clean without allowing a single sack, while also paving the way for a rushing attack that gained 112 yards on 28 carries.
>> Spencer Ware scored his first career touchdown receiving on Sunday on the longest reception of his career, a 46-yard completion from Smith. Ware led the team in both yards rushing and receiving as he recorded 131 scrimmage yards with 77 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards. Ware has recorded 100-plus yards from scrimmage in four of the six games this season.
>> Since the beginning of the 2013 season, the Chiefs defense has only allowed 23 touchdowns rushing, which is the fewest of any team in the league over that span.
Postgame facts and stats from the Chiefs Week 7 win over the Saints
>> In Reid's postgame presser, he mentioned a connection between the way Ware runs the football and that of former Seattle Seahawks running back, Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch. Adam Teicher of ESPN.com wrote about the connection and Ware's time in Seattle with Lynch before joining the Chiefs.
>> Sorensen's interception late in the first quarter gave the Chiefs 10 so far this season, which is the most of any team in the league. Marcus Peters said after the game, "There ain't anything wrong with a little alley-oop," explaining that Sorensen's pick came after Eric Berry deflected the pass up into the air.
>> Safety Ron Parker's forced fumble in the fourth quarter with the Saints offense deep in Chiefs territory was the fifth red zone takeaway for the defense this season, which leads the NFL.
>> The crowd at Arrowhead played a factor in Sunday's game considering the Saints were flagged for three false starts and two delay of game penalties. Reid said after that game that he gives the fans all "high fives," explaining, "When you get three or four of those – that's a great deal." >> As Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star noted, the difference in Sunday's game for the Chiefs was the two turnovers forced by the defense. The Chiefs are 23-4 since Reid arrived when winning the turnover battle.
