The Kansas City Chiefs headed into this season thinking it would be the best yet for quarterback Alex Smith, but it isn’t turning out that way. Many of Smith’s key statistics are down from last season, including yards per attempt (7.4 last year to 6.9), touchdown percentage (4.3 to 3), passer rating (95.4 to 91.2) and rushing (31 yards per game to 6).
Throw in the Chiefs’ scoring struggles -- they have two or fewer offensive touchdowns in six of the eight full games in which Smith has played this season -- and it’s easy to conclude Smith’s game has regressed this season.
Coach Andy Reid isn’t concluding that, at least not publicly.
Smith’s struggles have showed up most noticeably when they hurt the most: on third down and inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Smith is the NFL’s 26th-rated passer on third down. The Chiefs are 31st at scoring touchdowns from the red zone. They’ve had three games where they’ve kicked four field goals, including the one against the Jaguars in which Foles played.
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