Kansas City Chiefs on pace to set NFL sacks record

Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey (97) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey (97) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey (97) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey (97) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Kansas City Chiefs hired Andy Reid to be their next head coach this offseason, the initial thought was that he would upgrade one of the most anemic offenses in the NFL. While he has certainly done that, no one would have thought the defense would make the kind of leaps and bounds they have from last year.

After finishing with a mere 27 sacks year, tied for the third-least in the league, the Chiefs defense now leads the NFL in sacks with an astounding 31 through their first six games. No opponent has scored over 17 points, and three teams failed to even score double-digits against a vaunted unit that features the likes of defensive tackle Dontari Poe (4.5 sacks), linebacker Tamba Hali (7.5 sacks) and the man tied for the lead in total sacks, linebacker Justin Houston.

The Chiefs’ second-best single-game total came just this past week against the Oakland Raiders after they sacked quarterback Terrelle Pryor an unheard of 10 times, and put them on pace for 82.5 sacks by the end of the regular season.

Not only are they likely to break the franchise record of 60 set in 1990 at this rate, but they may even threaten the NFL record of 72 set by the ‘84 Bears.