The Kansas City Chiefs have shockingly clinched a playoff spot in 2015 despite looking like one of the worst teams in football at one point this season.
To start the 2015 season, the Chiefs were able to defeat the Houston Texans in Week 1 by a score of 27-20. A win in the first week of the season usually is a good thing for momentum to start the season, but for the Chiefs, it was their only win for a while.
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Following the win against the Texans, the Chiefs went on to lose five straight games, which included a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos with some questionable decisions by the team late in the game. The losing streak was not easy for the Chiefs, but against the Chicago Bears, it appeared that their season had ended when Jamaal Charles tore his ACL.
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Charles is one of the best running backs in the NFL with his ability to help in the passing offense in addition to the running game, where he has a ridiculous yards per carry average. With a 1-5 record and their star player out for the season, it would have been very easy for the Chiefs to pack it in this season, but instead, they have ripped off a nine-game winning streak, and will be playing in the NFL playoffs this season.
One of the most consistent bright spots for the Chiefs this season has been wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin. The Chiefs famously didn’t have a wide receiver score a touchdown in the 2014 season, and that resulted in the Chiefs signing one of the best wide receivers that were available in free agency. Maclin reunited with his former coach Andy Reid this offseason by deciding to sign with the Chiefs to help save their receiving corps.
Dec 6, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (19) celebrates after a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Maclin was a very solid wide receiver in his first four seasons with the Eagles, but in his contract year of 2014, Maclin really busted out. In 2014, Maclin totaled 85 receptions, 1,318 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns. It was a career-year for Maclin, and although many expected to see his statistics drop significantly, Maclin has done excellent in an offense that isn’t as high-powered as the Eagles’ was in 2015.
With the Chiefs in 2015, Maclin has totaled 84 receptions, 1,034 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. This season, Maclin has totaled three, one hundred yard receiving games, as he totaled 141 receiving yards against the Green Bay Packers, 148 receiving yards against the Cincinnati Bengals, and his season-high of 160 receiving yards against the Buffalo Bills.
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Having a talented wide receiver like Maclin has helped Alex Smith have a great season as well, as he has already set a career-high in passing yards with 3,330 yards. It was hard to believe that the Chiefs would be in the playoffs after a 1-5 start to the season, and the loss of Charles, but having a No.1 wide receiver in Maclin has helped keep their season alive.
The price to sign Maclin wasn’t cheap for the Chiefs, but it was a signing that has been a great one for the Chiefs in 2015.