KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Eric Berry credits Kansas City’s 4-0 start to the “family feeling” that held everyone together during the hapless 2-14 season of 2012.
But after the Chiefs (4-0) pounded the winless New York Giants 31-7 on Sunday, it’s obvious that importing a cool, savvy quarterback from San Francisco and bringing in a smart, no-nonsense coach from Philadelphia also had a lot to do with a rags-to-riches transformation.
Even in a league known for quick turnarounds and breathtaking free-falls, this seems preposterous.
Alex Smith, who lost his job last year in San Francisco, threw three touchdown passes, and Dexter McCluster returned a punt 89 yards for another score as the Chiefs joined the 1980 Detroit Lions as the only teams in modern league history to win two or fewer games one season, then rocket to a 4-0 start the next.
“To be honest, all we talked about all offseason was being 1-0,” said Smith. “Just get the first one.”
The Giants, proud Super Bowl champions of 2007 and2011 season, are 0-4 for the first time since 1987, a mass of injury and disarray.
“It is disappointing,” said quarterback Eli Manning, who’s been operating all year behind a patchwork offensive line. “The defense got us some turnovers and we weren’t able to do anything with it. We are just not playing very well offensively.”
The injury-ravaged Giants trailed only 17-7 after three quarters. They managed a69-yard catch-and-run touchdown from Eli Manning to Victor Cruz.
Smith hit touchdown passes of 4, 2 and 35 yards and was 24 for 41 for 288 yards. He was intercepted twice and the Chiefs also lost a fumble, Kansas City’s first turnovers in what may be turning into a magical season under first year Coach Andy Reid.
“I know they’ll battle,” said Reid, who spent the previous 14 seasons coaching the Eagles. “That’s what I know. There are a lot of things I don’t know but I do know this: We’re a tough bunch.”
Manning was 18 for 37 for 217 yards and 1 touchdown. He was sacked three times and intercepted once, but harried and hurried much of the bright, sunny afternoon.
Late in the first quarter, Smith hit Sean McGrath (Henderson State), Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe for gains of 12, 17 and 14 yards on successive plays. McGrath, the heavily bearded tight end and Seattle Seahawks castoff, got free in the end zone to catch Smith’s 5-yard touchdown pass to cap the 11-play, 98-yard drive.
The Chiefs led only 10-7 when McCluster fielded the ball and set sail on the first touchdown punt return the Chiefs have had since Sept. 13, 2010, when McCluster took one back a team-record 94 yards against San Diego during a rain storm. He juked one tackler, put a dizzying 360-degree spin move on another and then broke clear up the middle.
Ryan Succop, who kicked a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter, connected on a 53-yarder a few minutes later.
Sports, Pages 16 on 09/30/2013