What's the Chiefs' secret in winning so many one-score games? 'Peace'

Prevailing under pressures makes Super Bowl champions. Case and point: the Kansas City Chiefs.

Whether it’s a game-winning 51-yard field goal by Harrison Butker as time expired in Week 2, a six-point overtime win in Week 9, Leo Chenal blocking a potential game-winning 35-yard field goal in Week 10 or defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dialing up a timely blitz on fourth-and-5 late in the fourth quarter in the AFC championship game, the Chiefs have thrived in late-game situations.

Andy Reid's squad has been victorious in 12 one-score games this season. Furthermore, Kansas City’s won the last 17 one-score games that they’ve played in, which is an NFL record.

“I think we had six or seven games where it was one possession. We could continue to build off that throughout the year,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “These games are very familiar to us, we’re used to being in these types of situations. We feel very calm, we feel very at peace with what we’re running – the speed of it, the pace of it – and the play calling.”

Patrick Mahomes is, of course, the Chiefs’ engine. The three-time Super Bowl champion has an uncanny ability to achieve whatever is required to be victorious. His 43 rushing yards and playoff-high two rushing touchdowns in the AFC title game are a prime example. But Kansas City’s defense routinely makes game winning plays when it matters most.

The Chiefs had a top-10 defense and was fourth in points allowed during the regular season.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked eight times in the divisional round. Cornerback Trent McDuffie and safety Justin Reid’s blitz on fourth-and-5 late in the fourth quarter forced Josh Allen to make a desperation throw that fell incomplete, paving the way for Kansas City to reach Super Bowl 59.

“They have this personality where they know how to bear down,” Chiefs head coach Reid said. “They know when to have fun, but they also know when to bear down.”

The Chiefs’ experience and comfort in late-game situations is an advantage as the team prepares to face the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans, a rematch of Super Bowl 57.

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It’s not luck that the team’s prevailed in 17-straight one-score games. Nor is it favorable calls from referees. It’s a two-time defending Super Bowl champion squad that understands how to close out games.

“It’s all year, building that. We’ve worked on situations throughout the year in practice of late game situations and two-minute situations.” Jones said. “For us, it’s just another play. We’re very comfortable in it and we trust in (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) to put us in the right position to make a play.”

The Chiefs reached the AFC championship game for the seventh-consecutive season, they’ve won nine straight postseason contests and are now vying to becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

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“These are historic moments. These are moments you're going to remember for a long time,” Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill said. “You're going to tell your grandkids about. We got an opportunity. We got a great team in front of us. They got great coaches, great players, offense, defense, special teams, and so it's gonna be another battle.”

The Chiefs beat Philadelphia by three points in Super Bowl 57. Super Bowl 59 might be decided by one possession. A one-score game, based on recent history, favors Kansas City. If it comes to that, like Jones said, they'll have “peace” in that situation.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The secret to Chiefs winning so many one-score games