Chiefs at Bills - Week 10 - Record: 6-3

Know how cursed we are in the playoffs? Year after year after year after year we're in the playoffs, everything that can go against us, does go against us.

But I have to say after watching this one, there are those times during the regular season when we are the ones who are charmed. This game was definitely one of those games.

Really, we had no business winning this game. The Bills just looked better, played better, looked sharper, played with more skill and athleticism. We bent and bent and bent on defense, and we slogged and slogged and slogged on offense.

We're No. 1 in pass defense in the entire NFL? It looked like Sammy Watkins could've had his way with us if he wanted. We have the fewest penalties in the NFL? I think I'd heard an announcer say that -- that's amazing if you ask me. Our D has still not allowed a rushing touchdown? Bryce Brown was on his way until a wonderfully opportune strip by Ron Harper. We have very few turnovers? Knile Davis had a fumble that was really more their D stripping it, but still. We average 25 points a game? Are you serious? We had only three by the end of the 3rd.

I also heard that we have allowed the fewest 4th quarter points in the NFL, and that is one stat where our team clearly excels. Today they allowed zero, and Ron Harper was the man of the quarter. The Bills had the ball deep in Chiefs territory with lots of time left, and a 1st and 10. Harper batted down three passes in the series, twice while covering Watkins. The first of those was his best play, almost intercepting a perfect pass from their QB Kyle Orton in the end zone.

Meanwhile, Alex Smith is driving me crazy. If you recorded the audio in our mancave from 10:00 am to 1:15 pm Pacific Standard Time, here is what you would've heard.

"Throw the ball." "Throw the ball." "Throw the ball." "Throw the ball." "Throw the ball." "Throw the football." "Throw the damn ball." "Throw the ball." "Throw the nfnking ball." "THROW - THE - FOOTBALL." (That last one accompanied by the standard thrashing body-writhing on the couch.)

I think Smith was sacked 57 times today, maybe 58. And I honestly would say that only about a third of those was because the O-line just couldn't hold it. No, I really think the reason he's not throwing the ball is that one thing that is still driving me crazy crazy crazy.

Our receivers.

Every time Smith doesn't unload when he just dang-well does have enough time to get a pass off, I wonder. Is it just that our receivers are just not getting untracked? I know, you may be wondering why I'm complaining -- Smith was still 17 of 29. And Dwayne Bowe made some fine catches running some terrific routes. There was even one long pass play down the middle of the field to a wide-open A.J. Jenkins -- that was nice to see.

Or... hrmphh... could it be that Smith just cannot throw the accurate ball as often as he must?

Really -- what do you think?

This is why Smith drives me crazy.

Happy as happy can be: Smith runs for the late go-ahead touchdown on a read-option, even plowing into a defender at the end zone.

Head-shaking dejection: Smith actually attempts a deep throw and badly misses a step-ahead Jenkins.

Happy as happiness of all happinesses: Smith improvises, keeps his head in the game, then whips that clutch pass to someone like Travis Kelce as he did to get that key first down very late in the game.

Head-shaking-off-my-neck from the dejection: Smith just flat-out doesn't fire that precise pass to that receiver precisely running that precision route that a precise pass requires... and then he goes down.

They showed us all that Smith had a 66-point-something passer rating at the end of the 3rd quarter. Just so you know, that stinks, and they said as much. Then he went off and led a fine 4th quarter Chiefs effort. Whaddya do with that.

Yeah, I know. We're 6-3. We've won four straight with a decent combination of skill and guts. We got the job done. Luck doesn't come without the requisite preparation and continued tough play. I can only think of that tackle by Albert Wilson plowing into the punt returner leading to the fumble and recovery that set up the critical final touchdown.

And not enough can be said about Andy Reid and his coaching staff and the job they've done. You can see it in their playcalling, you can see it in their adjustments, you can see it in how they keep this team fired up for every play. I mean, talk about big-time Chiefs highlights: the call on 4th-and-1, the pitch to Jamaal he goes on to take to the house. I mean.

We're in good shape for Seattle next week, a very tough game no matter how many keep saying "Eh, Seattle's not the same team as they were last year." Yeah, right.
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