Converting Third Downs Didn't Help Chiefs Against Broncos

by Chris Thorman on Dec 7, 2009 7:45 AM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Yesterday against the Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs converted 6 of their 17 third down attempts.

The last time they completed six third downs in a game? Only two weeks ago against Pittsburgh, a game Kansas City won.

What happened between a win over last year's Super Bowl champion and a blowout by a division rival?

We take a look after the jump.

I'm probably as guilty as anyone of looking at box scores and trying to draw conclusions without including the context of the game around them. When you look at the Chiefs six third down conversions - 35% on the day - it's easy to let yourself think the Chiefs had some success on offense, or at least success relative to their other outings.

The problem with only looking at the 6/17 stat line? Four of those six first down conversions came on one drive.

The Chiefs had perhaps the drive of the season yesterday in the first quarter, driving 75-yards in over eight minutes on twenty plays. The Chiefs converted four of the five third downs on that drive, with that final third down failure costing the Chiefs a touchdown.

Here's how those third downs went on that drive:

3rd & 5, KC 47-yard line - Chris Chambers 6-yard reception
3rd & 4, DEN 30-yard line - Leonard Pope 7-yard catch
3rd & 7, DEN 20-yard line - Jamaal Charles 8-yard run
3rd & 1, DEN 3-yard line - Jamaal Charles 2-yard run
3rd & 4, DEN 4-yard line - Matt Cassel incomplete pass to Jamaal Charles

This was a really great drive by the Chiefs. The play calling was very good IMO - 11 rushes and 9 passes, which were evenly spread out throughout the drive. The Chiefs even went no huddle a couple of times, a move I really love seeing this team make.

After this drive, through essentially three quarters, the Chiefs only converted 2/11 third downs.

Here's how the conversion stats broke down by quarter:

Q1	Score	3rd downs	TOP
Denver	7	1/1	6:42
Kansas City	0	4/5	8:18
Q2
Denver	14	0/3	9:57
Kansas City	6	0/5	5:03
Q3
Denver	34	0/3	7:44
Kansas City	6	1/4	7:16
Q4
Denver	44	3/6	11:32
Kansas City	13	1/3	3:28

This just goes to show that third down conversion percentage, a stat we talk about around here a lot, is only one piece of the puzzle.

One good drive cannot win the game for you.

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Comments

Quite remarkable what happens when receivers catch the ball...

…and also run routes past the first down marker. Once all of the drops happened and the game got out of hand, throwing becomes a lot harder, since the defense knows that a pass coming.

by DanielUM on Dec 7, 2009 8:16 AM CST reply actions

wow, look at

Q2 and Q3….

they were 0/8 yet the score was 14, then 34 in spite of their lack of converting.
I think they converted a lot on first and 2nd down to move the chains but
our turnovers pretty much gave them the win…

Just like novocaine. give it time; always works..

by be cee on Dec 7, 2009 9:09 AM CST reply actions

I agree and disagree with this post

After our long drive the D came out and stuffed Denver. I think it was at most a 5 play drive, but i’m pretty sure it was a 3 and out.

If our O can more consistently extend drives that will give our D time to rest and reason to believe that if they get the O the ball they will do something with it.

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http://www.turnleafdesign.com/

by Scaryclouds on Dec 7, 2009 9:35 AM CST via mobile reply actions