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Kansas City Chiefs' turnovers dictating outcomes

By The Sports Xchange
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo

A week ago, the Kansas City Chiefs had too many turnovers, giving up the ball on three fumbles in a loss to Houston. The giveaways were the biggest reason they were unable to beat the Texans.

Seven days later, the storyline for the Chiefs was once again turnovers, but this time it was their takeaways. As the New York Jets gave up the ball eight times, all of Kansas City's 24 points were the result of interceptions and fumbles.

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It was an afternoon of football gifts that the Chiefs were only too excited to accept for a 24-3 victory.

What's ahead this coming Sunday, when Kansas City travels to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in an AFC matchup between a pair of 2-1 teams? The Chiefs know they have to post turnover numbers more similar to their opening victory over San Diego or Sunday's winning effort against the Jets, than what happened against the Texans.

"It's important we enjoy this today and then get ourselves ready for the Steelers," said head coach Andy Reid. "We have a ton of room to improve -- absolutely. We have a lot of things we can take out of this and we'll do that work."

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The eight takeaways were the most for Kansas City since they also registered eight in October 1980 against Oakland. The six interceptions tied the record of most picks thrown by an opposing quarterback. It first happened 48 years ago, when the '68 Chiefs picked off six passes from John Hadl with San Diego.

"It is a big momentum changer if you can get a turnover," said linebacker Derrick Johnson, who took his interception back 55 yards for a touchdown. "If you can score, it makes it that much better."

After three games, the Chiefs are plus-5 in the turnover ratio, led by their eight interceptions. Half of that total belongs to second-year cornerback Marcus Peters. Pittsburgh sits at minus-1 on turnovers, coming off a loss in Philadelphia where it gave up the ball twice.

Reid was particularly happy with how his defense handled two bad situations handed them by the offense. In the third quarter, an apparent touchdown by running back Spencer Ware was snuffed out on a replay review. It was ruled that Ware fumbled into and out of the end zone, giving the Jets possession. New York drove to first-and-goal at the 5-yard line, but a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass was grabbed in the end zone by safety Eric Berry.

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In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs could not convert on a fourth-and-1 play, giving the Jets possession at their 39-yard line. Ten plays later, Peters got his second interception of the game, also in the end zone.

"There were points where the momentum could have changed and the defense snuffed that out," said Reid.

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