KC Seeks to Bounce Back

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KC Seeks to Bounce Back From an 0-2 Start, Continue Its NFC Dominance at Arrowhead
Sep 26, 2006, 2:06:19 AM by Pete Moris

KC Has Shown the Ability to Bounce Back From 0-2 Starts

The Chiefs are faced with an 0-2 start for just the fourth time since ‘88, but in all three of those previous instances KC bounced back for a victory in its third game of the season. Dating back to the ‘90 season, 17 clubs have opened the season at 0-2 since and have still qualified for postseason play, including the ‘93 Cowboys and 2001 Patriots who both went on to win the Super Bowl after an 0-2 start.



KC Seeks to Continue Its Dominance of the NFC at Arrowhead
The Chiefs are tied for the NFL lead with an 18-4 (.818) record in interconference games at home dating back to the ‘95 season. Kansas City will face a San Francisco squad that owns a 3-22 (.120) road record dating back to the start of the 2003 season, a mark that is tied with Arizona for the lowest road winning percentage in the NFL over that span. The Colts are an NFL-best 20-5 (.800) on the road over that timeframe.

The 49ers have lost seven consecutive road games against AFC foes and haven’t won on the road in an interconference contest since posting a 23-20 OT win at Oakland (11/3/02). Dating back to ‘95, KC is 15-7 at home in the month of October and has won six of its last seven October contests at Arrowhead.

KC is Tough to Beat When It Wins the Turnover Battle
The Chiefs boast a 14-game winning streak at Arrowhead when posting a positive turnover ratio, the third-longest active streak in the league. Dating back to ‘95, the Chiefs own a 41-4 (.911) record at Arrowhead with a positive takeaway margin. KC will try to get back on the positive side of the turnover column this week after posting an uncharacteristic -3 (2 takes/5 gives) mark thus far in 2006.

KC will face a San Francisco squad that has lost 15 consecutive road games with a negative turnover ratio dating back to 2001. After posting an NFC-best +12 turnover differential (37 takes/25 gives) in 2003, the 49ers are -30 (50 takes/80 gives) since the start of the 2004 campaign, including a -2 (3 takes/5 gives) mark in 2006. While San Francisco has struggled in the turnover department, the 49ers do own a 3-1 record under Mike Nolan when posting a positive turnover mark.



Chiefs Seek to Improve Scoring Defense vs. San Francisco
The last 22 teams to win the Super Bowl have all ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in scoring defense. The last NFL champ that didn’t rank in the top 10 in that category were the ‘83 L.A. Raiders, who were 13th that season.

KC ranked 16th in the league in scoring defense in 2005, allowing 20.3 ppg and is currently tied for 10th in that category at 16.0 ppg in 2006. KC has won 19 consecutive games at Arrowhead when holding opponents to 21 points or less, a mark that ties as the third-longest active streak in the NFL. Dating back to ‘95, the Chiefs are 50-7 (.877) at Arrowhead when holding their foes to 21 points or less. SF has lost 18 consecutive road games when its been held at or under the 21-point plateau dating back a 30-21 loss at St. Louis (12/30/02).

Regardless of location, the 49ers are 3-27 (.100) in regular season play when being held to 21 or less since the start of the 2003 campaign. However, the 49ers did record a 20-13 home win vs. St. Louis (9/17) earlier this year. KC traditionally plays strong scoring defense at Arrowhead where the Chiefs have given up just 11.0 ppg in their last three home contests. Dating back to ‘95, the Chiefs are a perfect 34-0 at Arrowhead when holding opponents to 10 points or less. SF has been held to 10 points or less 15 times dating back to 2003. Three of the NFL’s top six teams in terms of total points allowed in 2006 reside in the AFC West – SD (1st – 7 pts.), DEN (5th – 31 pts.) and KC (6th – 32 pts.).



More Chiefs-49ers Scoring Stats
The Chiefs are seeking to increase their point production this week after averaging 8.0 ppg in their first two contests of the 2006 campaign. Kansas City averaged 28.4 ppg at Arrowhead last season, the fourth-best home scoring average in the league behind the Giants (29.8), Seahawks (29.6) and Chargers (28.6).

The Chiefs are 69-7 (.908) since the start of the ‘90 season when scoring 21 points or more at Arrowhead. San Francisco has lost 11 consecutive games when allowing 21 points or more and is just 4-29 (.121) in such contests dating back to the start of the 2003 campaign. Last season, only Houston (26.9 ppg) allowed more points than San Francisco (26.8 ppg) and St. Louis (26.8 pgg). SF actually allowed fewer points on the road than at home in 2005, permitting just 22.8 ppg on the road.

Chiefs Seek to Rev Up Rushing Attack vs. San Francisco
Kansas City averaged 147.3 rushing ypg per game in eight games at Arrowhead in 2005, the fifth-best home rushing average in the league last season. The Chiefs would like to get back on that torrid rushing pace in 2006, particularly at Arrowhead. KC currently ranks eighth in the league in rushing, averaging 129.0 ypg in its first two contests, including a 145-yard performance in a tough, 9-6 OT loss at Denver (9/17).

Chiefs RB Larry Johnson has topped the 100-yard barrier six times in eight career starts at Arrowhead, averaging 124.5 rushing ypg. The Chiefs have won nine consecutive games at Arrowhead when boasting a 100-yard back, including a 7-0 mark when Johnson accomplishes that feat. Overall, the Chiefs boast a 10-4 (.714) record when Johnson tops the 100-yard plateau. Should he achieve his 15th career 100-yard performance this week, he would trail only RB Priest Holmes (24) for most 100-yard ground games in KC history. San Francisco has lost 19 consecutive games when allowing a 100-yard rusher dating back to 2001.

Chiefs Rushing Defense Typically Strong at Arrowhead
The Chiefs have not permitted an individual 100-yard rusher at home in 16 consecutive contests, the longest such streak in franchise history. That streak also ties San Diego for the longest active string of games in the league without permitting a 100-yard runner. Kansas City’s defense allowed a league-low 76.1 rushing yards per game at home in 2005, permitting a total of just 609 ground yards (76.1 ypg) at Arrowhead all season. SF has won its last four contests when boasting a 100-yard back, including the final two contests of the 2005 season and a 20-13 win vs. St. Louis (9/17) when RB Frank Gore had 127 rushing yards.

Arrowhead Traditionally Tough For First-Time Coaches, QBs
Since ‘94, the Chiefs are 23-5 (.821) against head coaches making their regular season debuts at Arrowhead. Kansas City has also won 17 of its last 19 games against QBs in their first or second year as NFL starters who are making their initial appearance as a starter at Arrowhead. SF head coach Mike Nolan and QB Alex Smith will both make their initial appearances in their current roles at Arrowhead on Sunday.

Gonzalez Keeps Moving Up the NFL Charts
TE Tony Gonzalez needs one more TD to surpass WR Otis Taylor (57) to become KC’s all-time leader in TD receptions. He also needs three catches to move into second ahead of Ozzie Newsome (662) in career receptions by a tight end in NFL history. With 22 more receiving yards, he will move into third in league annals for receiving yards by a tight end.



Winning on First Down is a Must
KC led the NFL by averaging 6.29 yards per play on first down in 2005. Seven of the league’s top 10 teams in that category reached the playoffs last season, including both Super Bowl participants. SF ranked 31st in the league in average yardage on first down last season, gaining 3.99 yards per first down play. KC (5.58) currently ranks 11th in yards per first down play in 2006, while SF (6.05) is sixth in the league.

Huard Seeks First Victory with Chiefs, Other Arrowhead Notes
Chiefs QB Damon Huard is seeking to become the first Kansas City QB other than the club’s Opening Day starter to register a victory since QB Rich Gannon led the squad to a 20-17 win vs. Dallas (12/13/98) … Dating back to ‘95, the Chiefs own a 47-7 (.870) record at Arrowhead when leading at halftime … KC is 29-3 (.906) at Arrowhead dating back to ‘95 when forcing two or more INTs. SF QB Alex Smith has thrown four TDs and 11 INTs in 10 NFL starts. The only current NFL city where the 49ers own a longer victory drought than in Kansas City is Denver, where San Francisco hasn’t won since registering a 36-34 victory (9/23/73).

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/0...tart_continue_its_nfc_dominance_at_arrowhead/


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