Will the Chiefs keep finding wild ways to stay undefeated? - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The celebration over the Kansas City Chiefs' latest final-play-of-the-game victory had barely died down when coach Andy Reid provided an unemotional look at how his team survived so many close calls.

«We've been given opportunities and we've taken advantage of them, and then we've made a few opportunities ourselves with some good plays,'' Reid said Monday, about 24 hours after the Chiefs blocked a field goal attempt on the last play to preserve a 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos. „You'd probably say that [the Broncos] outplayed us and then they end up not winning the game.

“You give credit to your locker room and your coaches just for being mentally tough and sticking with it.»

The Chiefs have done just that in running their record to 9-0, the NFL's last unbeaten team.

But many of their numbers say they're an unconventional 9-0 team. Their point differential of plus-58 is the worst for any of the 13 teams that started 9-0 since 2000. They've trailed in eight games. Their opponents have scored first in six of them. They've led by fewer minutes and trailed by more minutes during games than any of the other 9-0 predecessors.

As Reid said, Kansas City does deserve credit for battling in numerous close games and making the plays to win. The Chiefs have won seven games by seven points or fewer, including four that were decided on the final play.

But is that sustainable? Or, if it continues, are they headed for a fall?

The answer could come when they play at the 8-2 Buffalo Bills on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is among the Chiefs aware they need to play better this week than they did against the Broncos.

«We know it's going to be a great challenge this next week,'' Mahomes said.