AP

The Kansas City Chiefs went the entire 2014 regular season without a single touchdown pass being caught by a wide receiver.

Starting quarterback Alex Smith went all of the 2014 season – preseason included – without hooking up with a wide receiver for a touchdown. Friday night against the Seattle Seahawks, Smith finally snapped the streak.

With an asterisk.

Smith completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin to open the scoring against the Seahawks in the second preseason game for both teams. It was the first touchdown pass to a receiver by Smith since Kansas City’s 45-44 playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts on January 4, 2014.

The caveat with the touchdown pass to Maclin was that Maclin was lined up in the backfield as a running back for the scoring play. Maclin beat Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin into the flat for the touchdown.

Chase Daniel completed three touchdown passes to receivers in backup duty last week against the Arizona Cardinals. So there appears to be some signs of life for the Chiefs passing attack in 2015.

The Chiefs passing offense has to be more effective this season. Maclin provides an explosive element at receiver that was lacking last season in Kansas City. It will inevitably get better for the Chiefs this year. It certainly can’t get worse.