Chiefs unbeaten but unclean
Sep 26, 2017 - 12:35 AM KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After their 24-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs joined the Atlanta Falcons as the only undefeated teams after three games.But Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says he sees deficiencies left to correct.
"Way too many penalties, so many things we can clean up and get better at and we need to that," Reid said. "As this thing goes on, there were some real sloppy parts we've got to take care of."
The Chiefs picked up 13 flags for 122 penalty yards against the Chargers. Kansas City leads the NFL with 33 penalties this season for 301 yards.
Exuberance has certainly led to some of the team's penalties. Tight end Travis Kelce drew 15-yard penalties for taunting in each of the team's first two games.
Cornerback Marcus Peters received a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct after arguing with an official.
Reid said he doesn't fault his players for playing the game with emotion.
"You love the energy that these guys bring and the fact they're loving playing the game," Reid said. "There's no question that the guys are all into the game and so that's the fine line you're talking about there. Certain situations you got to be able to control yourself on those."
The head coach feels his locker room with veteran leadership and a healthy dose of competition will rectify the penalties resulting from faulting technique and fundamentals.
"As a coach, you appreciate that and I get to see that every day and feel that every day," Reid said of team's competitive nature. "You want to keep building on that, that's the way you get better with that competition and at the same time feeling good that you have a good locker room, it's a solid locker room."
--The Chiefs defense pitched a shutout in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers in their 24-10 win Sunday, and have outscored their opponents 42-7 in the fourth quarter of the first three games of the season.
"Anytime you can finish up the way we did with the opponent only having 17 yards rushing and all those things," head coach Andy Reid said.
The Chiefs got off to quick start against the Chargers thanks to two first-quarter turnovers that created short fields for touchdowns, but the team played rather pedestrian second and third quarters as the Chargers rallied.
"The offense and defensive line went through a period there where they had to regroup just a little bit but they were able to come back and pop (Kareem Hunt) for a big run and then (Justin Houston) came in for a big sack."
Reid credits his team's work ethic throughout the offseason, training camp and even after practice for building endurance.
The Chiefs give their players a strenuous and legendary conditioning test during offseason workouts. Players must pass the test before they can hit the field.
"They come back and they have a test that they have to do," Reid said. "They all make it. It's crazy. Even the big guys, they pound through it."
Reid says his team prides itself on its mental strength to power through days like Sunday, when temperatures in Los Angeles soared near 90 degrees.
"It's probably a mindset that you have," Reid said. "You work hard and you practice hard, you do all those things, it becomes a mindset and I think our guys take a lot of pride in that."
Looking around the roster:
--Linebacker Reggie Ragland was active for the first time this season, but did not play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Head coach Andy Reid said Monday the team wanted to continue bringing Ragland along slowly in his recovery from a torn ACL sustained in August 2016. Ragland returned to a full workload for the first time with the Chiefs in practice last week.
--Linebacker Parker Ehinger is returning from a torn ACL suffered last season, and coach Andy Reid said he believes Ehinger remains a little bit away. The injury to starting center Mitch Morse might also play a role in Ehinger's return. Zach Fulton is starting in Morse's place, leaving Jordan Devey as the team's only experienced backup center. The Chiefs prefer to play with seven active lineman including a swing tackle and an interior lineman.
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