Chiefs fail to score 30+ points this season, yet stand at 13-1: Luck or hard work?

Chiefs’ 13-1 record: hard work or pure luck?

The Kansas City Chiefs keep winning. Not comfortably. Not convincingly. But they win. Lady luck is no stranger when it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs, or so, we’ve been told. The Chiefs are now 13-1, with their latest victory over the Browns. They have also taken a step, albeit staggering, towards clinching the AFC number 1 seed spot. The same way Patrick Mahomes staggered out of the field, with an ankle injury.

What’s intriguing, to say the least is that they are also yet to score 30+ points this season, and they’re, well, 13-1. That puts them in the company of struggling teams like the Giants, Raiders, and Patriots. For a team known for fireworks on offense, that’s…odd.

Skill? Sure. But luck? A lot of people think that’s in play too.

Offense that doesn’t feel like “Chiefs offense”

Against the Browns, the Chiefs won 21-7. It sounds clean, solid. But if you look closer, and cracks start to show. Their offense, led by Patrick Mahomes, didn’t exactly hum. The first half was…frustrating. Mahomes threw for 23 yards in the opening quarter. That’s it. The team couldn’t convert on third downs, going 0-for-3 early and ending the half at 2-for-7.

WIN 13 SECURED ✅ pic.twitter.com/wvrIJgK8HV
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 15, 2024

Four of their first five possessions were punts. Three of those were three-and-outs. One 14-play, 87-yard drive stood out and it gave them a touchdown. They needed a muffed punt from Cleveland to set up another short scoring drive. Without it the score would have looked very different.

The second half wasn’t much better. Mahomes hit a stretch of consecutive incompletions, and the offense stalled with more three-and-outs.

The lucky breaks no one wants to admit

Okay, no one denies the Chiefs have talent. Mahomes, Reid, Kelce, they’re all legit. But if we’re being honest? Luck’s been their quiet MVP this year. This season, more than 9 of the Chiefs’ 13 wins have been one-score games. Some of those were battles where they hung on by the thinnest thread.

Let’s take it from the top and see whether Lady Luck’s been favoring her favorite team. Here are the top 5 very lucky *phew* Chiefs wins this season-

Top 5 moments where luck tipped the scales

1. Vs. Ravens: Out-of-bounds touchdown

In the fourth quarter, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely caught what could’ve been a game-winning touchdown. However, the edge of his toe landed just out of bounds. The Chiefs escaped with a narrow win.

2. Vs. Bengals: Controversial DPI call

Late in the game, Mahomes completed a deep pass that was negated by a penalty on the offensive line. On the next play, Bengals rookie Daijahn Anthony was flagged for defensive pass interference, gifting the Chiefs a 29-yard gain. Harrison Butker sealed the win with a 51-yard field goal.

3. Vs. Falcons: Missed pass interference

In the final minutes, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins targeted tight end Kyle Pitts in the endzone. A Chiefs cornerback, not even looking at the ball, collided with Pitts, but no pass interference was called. The Falcons settled for a field goal, and the Chiefs won by five.

4. Vs. Raiders: Botched snap

With the Raiders driving into field goal range late in the game, a miscommunication on their offensive line led to a botched snap. The Chiefs recovered the live ball and secured the win. While some argue good teams capitalize on mistakes, this was undeniably a lucky break.

Ignore the blatant hold on the left tackle and call a roughing the passer to bail the Chiefs out on 3rd and 20. It’s beyond laughable at this point anymore. Key moments and it never fails. pic.twitter.com/L4AvE9hsBR
— jtchags2208 (@ChagnonJason) January 14, 2024

5. Vs. Chargers: Miracle field goal

Down by one with one second remaining, the Chiefs attempted a game-winning field goal. The ball hit the upright but somehow ricocheted through for three points. It’s hard to explain how the physics worked in their favor.

The Chiefs are good. They’ve earned their spot at the top. But they’ve also been incredibly fortunate. Winning close games is a skill, but it’s also a coin flip. And this season, it’s landed heads for the Chiefs nearly every time.

Image: Imagn

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Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
Got into sports media the same way most people do: by (fortunate) accident. Started with SEO writing, took on a few sports gigs, and now here we are! I cover games, trades, player drama—whatever needs words.
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