Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid wants to make sure that his team isn’t getting too comfortable just because it locked up the AFC West last week.
There is plenty of football left to be played for Kansas City, which will try to maintain its momentum when it faces the host Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon.
The Chiefs (12-1) clinched the division for the ninth straight season by edging the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17. Matthew Wright was the hero, doinking a 31-yard field goal off the left upright and in as time expired.
It was another wild win for a Kansas City team that hasn’t been rolling over opponents like it has in years past. Ten of the Chiefs’ 12 wins this season came by seven points or fewer, with five of those victories coming by no more than three points.
Perhaps that’s why Reid is insisting his players keep their focus while going against Cleveland (3-10).
“We’re not just putting the tent up right here and calling it a day,” Reid said. “We’ve gotta keep playing and playing aggressively. Like I said, we’re playing some real good football teams that are trying to get themselves into the playoffs, so they’re gonna be hungry and attacking. …
“Great achievement (clinching the AFC West), but there’s more left.”
While Kansas City drives toward the postseason, the Browns are simply playing for pride at this point. A 27-14 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week officially eliminated Cleveland from playoff contention, but Browns right guard Wyatt Teller doesn’t believe that’s any reason to stop competing.
“Every game’s a part of your resume,” Teller said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in the playoffs or not or in playoff contention. … You’re always fighting for something, you’re always working for something. You also have a family and a brotherhood within the team that you’re not going to let down.”
Although Cleveland dropped four of its past five games, it at least showed promise on offense, averaging 378.2 yards per contest during that stretch.
The last thing the Chiefs need on Sunday is a shootout, as they are scheduled to play again on Dec. 21 (against the Houston Texans) before engaging in a Christmas Day battle with Pittsburgh — three games in 11 days.
“You never want to play this many games in this short of time. It’s just not great for your body,” Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “But at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”
The Chiefs are about to see the return of starting kicker Harrison Butker after the 29-year-old was sidelined by a left knee injury. Butker was limited in practice on Wednesday, as was offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee). Offensive tackle D.J. Humphries didn’t participate because of a hamstring issue.
Personal reasons kept star defensive end Myles Garrett out of Cleveland’s practice on Wednesday, while guard Joel Bitonio (back) and tight end David Njoku (hamstring) also were missing from the session. Teller (glute) and cornerback Martin Emerson (shin) were among those limited.
