From the FanPosts -Joel

Question: In sports why does it matter whether you take points off the opposing teams board or you put points on your own board? Holding an opponent to fewer points in a game is virtually the same as scoring points is it not? They both affect the final score. These hidden points that come from keeping opponents from scoring are often the difference between a win and a loss; it's just that most fans probably don't see them or appreciate them. -- But we're Chiefs fans, and we're smarter than most fans.

We all know Alex Smith is elite at avoiding turnovers. He is consistently one of the top QBs in the league when it comes to that metric. Avoiding turnovers keeps your defense from having a short field. Avoiding turnovers also keeps your opponent from scoring as much. Don't believe it? Take a look:

This table shows the points allowed vs QB turnovers in the NFL in the 2014 season. The dot with the circle around it is the Chiefs' data point. The blue line is a trend line. As can be seen, the more turnovers a QB has the more points their defense allows, which in turn makes their defense look worse. The trend line can work as somewhat of a balancer between good and bad defenses. Teams with high turnovers but few points allowed would be considered to have good defenses, i.e. Buffalo, and Houston who both sit at roughly 15 QB turnovers and 280 points allowed. The inverse could be said for teams that are high above the trend line. Green Bay's defense could use some work as they had eight QB turnovers yet gave up almost 360 points.

Every game Smith is safe with the ball he is preventing the opponent with easy opportunities to score. He is also keeping the opponent from getting extra possessions. Smith is the master of 'hidden points.'

Proof of Smith's positive affect on defenses can be seen in 2012 when he was pulled for Colin Kaepernick. Below is a table that shows points allowed in the 8 games they were each involved in. Alex is in red, and Kaep is in blue.

As can be seen, the games in which Alex Smith finished maintained lower defensive points allowed than the games Kaepernick finished. It's not like the 49ers defense switched in the middle of the season and started to lay down in games. The level of offenses both quarterbacks faced were relatively similar in scoring ability as well. This is the Alex Smith affect.

Now let's take a look at the 2012 Smith-less Chiefs vs the 2013 Smith-led Chiefs. The Chiefs defense did not have much turnover between those two seasons.

There were only four players difference on the defense. Tamba did serve a suspension on opening day in 2012 but I included him in this list. I should have also included Kendrick Lewis as he eventually played FS for more than half of the season in 2012. All in all there were roughly three different starters from 2012 to 2013, a turnover margin which is pretty good for the NFL. This means the two defenses are relatively comparable. The biggest difference for the defense was the addition of Bob Sutton. Sutton does play a factor in the defense's improvement but Alex Smith given his history also has to play a big role in the defensive turnaround. Here is another graph showing the 2012 Chiefs vs the 2013 Chiefs points allowed. The Smith-led Chiefs are in red and the Smith-less Chiefs are in blue.

It should be noted that Chase Daniel did start one game in 2013. Like the Smith-less 49ers, the Smith-less Chiefs defenses did much worse than they did with Smith. Repeat: This is the Alex Smith effect. Below is another graph that further displays the defensive advantages Alex Smith brings to his team.

As can be seen Smith-led teams have defensive points per game averages of roughly seven points fewer per game than the Smith-less teams. Alex Smith is scoring a hidden touchdown per game on average. It doesn't show up on the highlight reel, but his style of play and ability to not turn the ball over alters the score of games.

There is a lot of talk that Smith can't win without a great defense. So perhaps part of Smith's game is to help make a great defense. Maybe the two go hand in hand. What does it matter if a player scores points or takes points away? They make no difference on the scoreboard. So rest assured knowing each time Smith is taking the safe and easy route he is scoring in his own way; in 'hidden points.' Given these hidden points, if Smith could find a way to start pushing the ball down field like Andy Reid is asking him to and keep his turnover rate at the same clip he has shown in the recent past, he could become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. - Even if he doesn't throw for 40 TDs a season. Why? Because if he's helping the defense to the tune of seven points per game, that means he's finding 16 hidden TDs throughout the season. Add this to his normal TD contribution makes for a very productive player. Unfortunately it's hard to see and prove.