Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Kansas City’s stop at the 1 nothing new for Vermeil

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 | 10:28 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4076.

You couldn't blame Dick Vermeil if he felt like he'd seen this before.

A key game in the national spotlight. His team from Missouri is up by seven points heading into the last play of regulation. The opposing team completes a pass but the receiver is tackled at the 1 as time expires.

Sure, the circumstances were different, but Kansas City is resembling the Rams of four years ago, when Vermeil coached them to an NFL title.

The Rams held off a late charge by the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, securing victory when Tennessee's Kevin Dyson was stopped at the 1 as time expired. It was Vermeil's third season in St. Louis.

On Monday against division rival Oakland, the Chiefs held off a similar rally, tackling the Raiders' Tim Brown at the 1 on the final play to remain unbeaten at 7-0. This is Vermeil's third season in K.C.

It's no surprise that Vermeil wants to party like it's 1999. Still, the prints he leaves on this Chiefs' revolution are decidedly different from those with the Rams.

Last year's Chiefs had a Rams-style approach, trying to outscore everyone they played. They finished 8-8, but became the first team in league history to lose four games despite scoring 30 or more points.

This season, the Chiefs have an improved defense, allowing a serviceable 18 points per game. The offense has struggled somewhat, but Kansas City still is scoring nearly 30 points per game and has the best special-teams weapon in the league, Dante Hall.

Hall is becoming the Barry Bonds of football. After returning a punt or kickoff in a record four consecutive games, teams in recent weeks are afraid to kick to him. Punters are intentionally kicking the ball out of bounds, conceding good field position in lieu of a possible touchdown return.

In the long run, though, this benefits the Chiefs, keeping their offense on a short field. Kickoffs are angled away from Hall, too. In a game where linemen weigh close to 400 pounds, the most feared guy is a 5-foot-9 cruiserweight. Go figure.

With Hall leading the way, Vermeil's club started the season with three K.C. masterpieces -- routs of San Diego, Pittsburgh and Houston -- but the Chiefs have squeaked by their past four opponents.

By winning the close games, though, Kansas City is clearly in the AFC driver's seat. After Sunday's home game against 4-3 Buffalo, the next time the Chiefs will play a team with a record currently above .500 is in December.

In K.C., that's the way they like it.