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Chiefs Hold On To Undefeated Record, Barely

Greg Echlin
/
KCUR

A loss by the Denver Broncos Sunday night leaves the Kansas City Chiefs as the NFL’s only undefeated team. But, the Chiefs had a difficult time securing their seventh straight win.

From the outset, everything seemed to favor the Chiefs: a home game at Arrowhead Stadium a week after setting a Guinness Book world record for the loudest outdoor stadium and an opponent that named a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start. But the Chiefs, rejuvenated by Alex Smith — a quarterback with a fresh start this season in Kansas City — grabbed the lead for good on his five-yard run.

"As a quarterback you’re judged on winning," said Smith. "That’s the name of the game and doing everything you can to win. Fortunately the defense and the special teams bailed us out there at the end and got it for us."

The Chiefs held on for a 17-16 victory and Smith became the second quarterback since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to win seven games in a row for a new team.

Sports have an economic and social impact on our community and, as a sports reporter, I go beyond the scores and statistics. I also bring the human element to the sports figures who have a hand in shaping the future of not only their respective teams but our town. Reach me at gregechlin@aol.com.
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