CHIEFS CLINCH POSTSEASON BERTH, REID IN PLAYOFFS AGAIN: With Sunday's 56-31 victory against the Oakland Raiders, the Chiefs extend the largest single-season turnaround in franchise history (nine games). With the win, Kansas City secures its spot in the playoffs. Head Coach Andy Reid's teams have qualified for the playoffs in 10 of his 15 seasons.
"I thought it was a good game, all the way around," coach Reid said after the win. "Each phase had its time and moment. At the same time, we're coming out of this thing (and) we've got a lot of stuff that we need to work on and we'll continue to do that. We appreciate the fans for their support, the Kansas City fans. It amazes me every week the way they travel like they do. It is great to be in the playoffs, but we also understand that it isn't where it stops. We've got to finish the season the right way. We're going to do that."
CHARLES RECORDS FIVE TOUCHDOWNS: RB Jamaal Charles recorded five touchdowns in Sunday's game (one rushing, four receiving), becoming the first player in NFL history with at least four touchdown receptions and one touchdown run in a single game. His five total touchdowns tie for the fourth-most in a single game in NFL history and fall just one shy of the league record. Three players have scored six touchdowns in a game: Ernie Nevers (Nov. 28, 1929), Dub Jones (Nov. 25, 1951) and Gale Sayers (Dec. 12, 1965).
NFL RECORD BOOK - MOST TOUCHDOWNS, GAME
1. 6 Ernie Nevers Nov. 28, 1929
Dub Jose Nov. 25, 1951
Gale Sayers Dec. 12, 1965
4. 5 Jamaal Charles Dec. 15, 2013
12 others tied with 5
CHIEFS RECORD BOOK - MOST SCRIMMAGE TOUCHDOWNS, GAME
1. 5 Jamaal Charles (1 rush, 4 rec) Dec. 15, 2013
Abner Haynes (4 rush, 1 rec) Nov. 26, 1961
NFL RECORD BOOK - FOUR OR MORE FIRST-HALF SCRIMMAGE TOUCHDOWNS, GAME, SINCE 1991
1. 5 Shaun Alexander (SEA) Sept. 29, 2002
2. 4 Jamaal Charles (KC) Dec. 15, 2013
Randy Moss (NE) Nov. 18, 2007
Priest Holmes (KC) Oct. 24, 2004
It marks Charles' first-career game with four receiving touchdowns. He becomes the second player in franchise history with four receiving touchdowns in a single game, joining WR Frank Jackson, who caught four touchdown passes on Dec. 13, 1964. Charles' previous single-game high for receiving touchdowns was two, coming vs. Tennessee on Dec. 26, 2010.
"I wanted to come out here and focus on catching the ball and do a great job," Charles said of his four receiving TDs. "And then, I went out and saw I had a pass on the first play, I was like, 'Whoa, I really have to focus' so, I started focusing from then, throughout the whole game."
Charles became the 11th player in NFL history to record five scrimmage touchdowns, an NFL single-game high. The last time this was accomplished was Sept. 29, 2002 by Shaun Alexander (SEA, 1 rec. 4 rush).
CHARLES GRABS CAREER-HIGH FOR RECEIVING YARDS, BREAKS INTO NFL TOP FIVE: RB Jamaal Charles caught eight passes for 195 yards (24.4 avg.) in Sunday's contest, marking a new single-game career-high for receiving yards.
Charles' 195 receiving yards rank as the fifth-best mark in NFL history by a running back and is the second-best single-game total by a running back in team history.
Charles' four receiving touchdowns are the most by a running back in a single game in NFL history.
NFL RECORD BOOK - MOST RECEIVING YARDS, RUNNING BACK, GAME
1. 213 Curtis McClinton (KC) Dec. 19, 1965
2. 204 Marshall Faulk (STL) Dec. 26, 1999
3. 203 James Dixon (DAL) Nov. 12, 1989
4. 199 Timmy Brown (PHI) Dec. 16, 1962
5. 195 Jamaal Charles (KC) Dec. 15, 2013
It marks his second-career game with 100 or more receiving yards. His 195 receiving yards are the most since he recorded 102 yards on three receptions (34.0 avg.) vs. Miami on Dec. 21, 2008.
NFL RECORD BOOK - MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS, RUNNING BACK, GAME
1. 4 Jamaal Charles (KC) Dec. 15, 2013
2. 3 15 Times
CHARLES SCORING ON TOUCHES: RB Jamaal Charles had 16 total touches (eight rushing, eight receiving) and scored five touchdowns, scoring on 31.3% of his touches.
"I'm just getting in the groove of football," Charles said. "Some people find their peak at the beginning of the season, some people find their peak at the end of the season; I'm known as a player that as the season goes on, I get stronger and stronger and I just want to continue to do that and stay healthy, because a big part of this team depends on me. When I'm healthy, this offense can go a long way and this team can go a long way, so just take care of my body and hopefully we can go a long way."
SMITH HAS CAREER DAY PASSING: QB Alex Smith completed 17 of 20 passes for 287 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions, good for a perfect 158.3 passer rating on Sunday. He is the second Kansas City quarterback to record a perfect passer rating, joining Trent Green, who achieved the feat on Sept. 29, 2002 as he completed 20 of 25 passes for 342 yards and three TDs. Smith averaged 14.35 yards per pass attempt in the game, marking the second-best single-game passing average in franchise history.
Following the team's win, Alex described the reason for success.
"I think guys executing," Smith said. "Coach put us in great situations, some great timing on some calls and then, I think all 11 executed. Really, that's what it comes down to; nothing special, no magic, just 11 guys went out there and executed and played good football."
CHIEFS RECORD BOOK - HIGHEST PASSER RATING, GAME (MIN. 20 ATTEMPTS)
1. 158.3 Alex Smith at Oakland Dec. 15, 2013
Trent Green vs. Detroit Dec. 14, 2003
3. 156.6 Steve Bono at Seattle Sept. 3, 1995
4. 154.3 Trent Green at Washington Sept. 30, 2001
5. 147.6 Bill Kenney at San Diego Dec. 16, 1984
CHIEFS RECORD BOOK - MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES, GAME
1. 6 Len Dawson vs. Denver Nov. 1, 1964
2. 5 Alex Smith at Oakland Dec. 15, 2013
Len Dawson at Boston Sept. 25, 1966
Len Dawson vs. Miami Oct. 8, 1967
Elvis Grbac vs. San Diego Sept. 17, 2000
Trent Green vs. Miami Sept. 29, 2002
CHIEFS RECORD BOOK - HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, GAME (20 ATTEMPTS)
1. 85.00 Alex Smith at Oakland (20-17) Dec. 15, 2013
2. 82.61 Brady Quinn vs. Carolina (23-19) Dec. 2, 2012
3. 80.95 Dave Krieg at N.Y. Jets (21-17) Nov. 29, 1992
Trent Green vs. Denver (21-17) Dec. 16, 2001
5. 80.77 Trent Green at Washington (26-21) Sept. 30, 2001
CHIEFS RECORD BOOK - HIGHEST PASSING AVERAGE, GAME (20 ATTEMPTS)
1. 15.76 Steve DeBerg at New England (21-331) Dec. 2, 1990
2. 14.35 Alex Smith at Oakland (20-287) Dec. 15, 2013
3. 13.90 Trent Green vs. Denver (21-292) Dec. 16, 2001
4. 12.82 Len Dawson vs. Denver (22-282) Dec. 19, 1965
5. 12.48 Bill Kenney vs. Oakland (23-287) Oct. 11, 1981
Damon Huard vs. Seattle (25-312) Oct. 29, 2006
SMITH CROSSES CENTURY MARK FOR TOUCHDOWN PASSES, SETS NEW CAREER-HIGH FOR PASSING YARDS: QB Alex Smith's five TD passes in Week 15 give him a total of 104 career touchdown passes for his career. With his 287 yards through the air, he now has 3,160 passing yards in 2013, setting a new single-season career-high mark, passing his old mark of 3,144 yards set in the 2011 campaign.
BERRY GRABS TWO INTERCEPTIONS, RETURNS ONE: S Eric Berry intercepted two QB Matt McGloin passes, returning them for a combined 96 yards, marking his first-career multi-interception game. He returned the first interception 47 yards for a touchdown. It is his second interception return touchdown of the season, with him also returning a QB Michael Vick interception for a 38-yard touchdown at Philadelphia on Sept. 19. It is his third-career interception return for a touchdown.
Berry described Sunday's pick six.
"It was just something we saw on film," Berry said. "We've been watching film and studying (and) from that point, I just read the QB's eyes and tried to take it to the house."
HALI RECOVERS LOOSE BALL: LB Tamba Hali recovered a fumbled Oakland snap in the contest. It marks his second fumble recovery of the season and the sixth of his career. With two fumble recoveries in 2013, he ties a single-season career-high for fumble recoveries, tying the mark he set in 2010. His first fumble recovery of 2013, he returned 11 yards for a touchdown at Buffalo.
ABDULLAH RECOVERS FUMBLE: S Husain Abdullah recovered a CB Taiwan Jones fumble on an Oakland kickoff return. It marks his first-career fumble recovery.
FIRST-HALF SCORING SUCCESS: The Chiefs scored 35 first-half points in Sunday's win at Oakland. Last week, Kansas City scored 38 first-half points at Washington (12/8). The Chiefs become the only team in NFL history to score at least 35 points in the first half of consecutive games and this is the second time that the team has accomplished the feat (Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, 2002).
JOHNSON GRABS INTERCEPTION, CONTINUES CLIMB UP TACKLE CHART: LB Derrick Johnson recorded his second interception in as many weeks as he intercepted QB Matt McGloin and returned it three yards. It is his second interception of the season as the 11th of his career. Johnson recorded six tackles (four solo) in the contest, giving him 976 career tackles, ranking third in team history. He trails DE Art Still (992) and LB Gary Spani (999) for the franchise lead.
DJ talked about his INT, after the game.
"Well, I knew I gave up a touchdown a couple possessions before that, so I was pretty heated about that. I knew I needed to make a play for my team, and he [Matt McGloin] dropped back – he's a shorter quarterback – and I was just standing in the window and I was waiting for him to throw the ball; he threw it, and my old legs jumped as high as they can; I bobbled it in the air and then hit the ground real hard, but I made sure I caught the ball."
CHIEFS RECORD BOOK - MOST TACKLES, CAREER
1. 999 Gary Spani 1978-86
2. 992 Art Still 1978-87
3. 976 Derrick Johnson 2005-13
4. 927 Deron Cherry 1981-91
5. 883 Donnie Edwards 1996-01, '07-08
ZOMBO HAULS IN INTERCEPTION: LB Frank Zombo corralled an interception of QB Matt McGloin and returned it five yards. It was one of five Kansas City interceptions on the day and marks his first interception of the season and the first of his career. Zombo led all Chiefs defenders with seven solo tackles.
PARKER GRABS INTERCEPTION: CB Ron Parker intercepted a QB Terrelle Pryor pass and returned it 15 yards in the fourth quarter. It is Parker's first-career interception.
DAVIS RECORDS ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN: RB Knile Davis recorded a 17-yard touchdown run in the contest, marking his second rushing touchdown in two weeks and his third overall touchdown in the last three weeks (kickoff return touchdown vs. Denver on Dec. 1).
