KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Some within the media, especially at the national level, find it fit to criticize the Chiefs.
The offense stinks, they say. Quarterback Alex Smith has two touchdown passes in the last five games, they argue. The defense is the only reason the team is 9-0, some emphatically state.
But the comment that set social media on fire Sunday and became a morning subject on sports talk radio came from Pete Prisco of CBS Sports: “Worst 9-0 team I’ve ever seen.”
Worst 9-0 team I’ve ever seen.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) November 3, 2013
Nitpicking the Chiefs and their unblemished record in some ways is easy to do. The offense is far from flashy and Smith won’t be compared to Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers.
There’s no doubt in today’s NFL, offense sells and receives all the hype while defense is considered bland. The Chiefs are winning ugly football, but they’re winning nonetheless.
Nov 3, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) points to Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (99) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Chiefs beat the Bills 23-13. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
And one thing is certain about the professional football team in Kansas City. The Chiefs are 9-0 and they have no regrets for being the league’s lone unbeaten team.
“You kind of hear it all, but at the same time we don’t care what others think about us,” cornerback Sean Smith said during Monday’s locker room media session. “We’re playing some good football right now, we’re undefeated, we’re winning some games and right now we’re about to enjoy this bye week and get our bodies right and get ready for the second half of the season.”
Meanwhile, Kansas City’s quarterback appeared perplexed at the discussions over the best team in the NFL.
Smith said the NFL already has a system in place to weed out the best and it starts with a 16-game regular season, and then the playoffs.
“To be speculating right now, nine games in, who’s the best and who’s not is just talk,” Smith said. “They don’t give any trophies out after nine weeks, and we understand that and all the talk of any of that is just talk.”
So why all the chatter about the Chiefs being a bad team?
“Probably because they’re outside of the locker room,” defensive tackle Dontari Poe said. “They’re not in here with us and seeing all of the hard work we put into it as a team. That’s what I’ll say about it.”
