Monday, October 22, 2007

Chiefs at Raiders - Week 7 - Record: 4-3

Just some random thoughts about this game:

- This made it nine straight against the archest rival of all arch-rivals. The last time they beat us was the last game of 2002, in Oakland, shutting us out 24-0 the year they went to the Super Bowl. I have to keep in the back of my mind that some day the Raiders are going to give us a good pasting. I'm just hoping it is not some crucial game we need to get us to the promised land.

- What a joy to see Priest Holmes out there today. I can't see how he'll ever be what he once was, but the question every Chiefs fan will ask for at least a few more years is, who-dya think's better all-time, Priest or LJ? As much as I love Johnson, as any Chiefs fan does, I can't say he's yet passed Holmes as the all-time best Chiefs back. Thing is, this year Johnson does not have that O-line Holmes had for those years, and Holmes never really got us deep into the playoffs. However, to Holmes credit, a lot of that is because we had such a sucky defense then.

- Heard during the game that the Chiefs traded Michael Bennett for draft picks. How sweet is that, not because I didn't like Bennett but because we're stock-piling picks to build this team, which today, let's be honest, ain't goin' to no Super Bowl. (Sure I hope I eat my words.) Thank goodness Herm and Chiefs management are thinking long-term. It will pay off.

- Does anyone miss Dante Hall like I do? He was such a spark, a fired-up guy-- and not just on special teams. It goes without saying that he was spectacular on kick-backs. I'm just sick of watching Eddie Drummond do his little dance thing and get clobbered. Dante just got it and headed up field. The worst he did was get us a few yards. Drummond gets zip.

- And pessimistic me, waiting for the other shoe to drop, namely the shoe of our kicker who will certainly one day miss one of those stupid field goals when we most need it. I just happened by chance to see that Lawrence Tynes missed an extra point for the NY Giants. I didn't feel so bad. I think.

Next week a bye, some rest, and a bit of wonderment (albeit gleeful, certainly) as to how we can possibly be in sole possession of first place.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Bengals at Chiefs - Week 6 - Record: 3-3

The main event of the day was certainly Touchdown Tony's performance, pulling in not one but two TD catches to become the NFL's all-time tight end touchdown guy. Hooray, yay, awright, cheerio, and all the rest of it. I'm not being fully facetious about that, I am thrilled this extraordinary player has been a Chief through his amazing career.

Even though we got a nice win over what should have been a much stronger Bengals team, we still have a lot to work on. Here in the sixth game of the season, we got our first rushing touchdown of the season. 'Scuze me? Our first rushing touchdown of the season? You've got to be kidding me.

I promise I won't mention our woeful offensive line here, but even though LJ got over 100 on the day, much of it was in a few big chunks-- including one nifty 34 yard non-touchdown jaunt. At the one yard line a Bengals defender yanked the ball out of his hands and out of the endzone. Neat. Anyway, that ended up not hurting us, of course, and Johnson may be more ready for such an occurance next time.

The more critical thing was when we needed to run out the clock with a 27-10 lead in the 4th, we kept getting stuffed. That doesn't bode well either.

Our transformer defense did its transformer thing again today, but it can also be said to be the "Give Up the Big Play" defense. Their second TD was simply an incredible pass from Carson Palmer, but the first was just bumbling on our part, just not having the coverage and then refusing to tackle.

As it is, if you can believe it, we're in first place in the AFC West. It is way too early to tell, but is it possible for a team here to win the division with a-- gasp-- 8-8 record? Or even a 7-9 record? That's just heretical.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Jaguars at Chiefs - Week 5 - Record: 2-3

Ahhck. Ergh. Eegh. Urpthl. Urrrng...

I just can't help but say three words. Just three words.

The offensive line.

Yes, yes, I will spare you the comment "It was offensive." But I will say what must be said.

It just isn't very good.

And that is to put it mildly. Does no one else see this? Are we all looking at this team with rose-colored glasses? Do we all like wallowing in our denial?

Whenever a more showcased player like a QB or RB is just plain sucking, you hear it somehow somewhere from someone. When the O-line sucks, no one says anything because, well, it's the O-line. Who cares? What do they do, anyway? They block, how boring is that? How hard is it to do that? I could stand in some guy's way and get paid half what they do.

You could quite glaringly see how bad it was in seeing how well Jacksonville's O-line played. Opened nice juicy holes for the runners. Allowed the QB to get off passes for clutch completions.

Hey, you don't have to take my word for it. The Chiefs have arguably the very best runner in pro football, getting tons upon tons of yards rushing over the course of the last two years. Now, how much did he get today?

12 yards.

12 yards on nine carries.

Herm Edwards. Carl Peterson. Ahem. Does this mean anything to you?

Yes, I know there is little a team can do mid-season. You can't put bionic parts on an Anthony Munoz and sign him up. At least not in the non-Hollywood world.

Edwards could make a few adjustments, and to be sure, give him credit for keeping the passing game decent in this intolerable situation. I am indeed amazed we can even pass at all. This is also because we have two phenomenal receivers, the vet Tony and the rookie Dwayne. What a joy to have Bowe out doing his dazzling thing there and at the same time pulling defenders off Gonzalez and allowing him to be even more studly.

But really. These guys are our offense. They're making Damon Huard look good. A very encouraging sign was watching Brodie Croyle come in and for a second time this season, hey, look like he really knows what he's doing out there. There's a glimmer of light there!

The season can still be something, I won't say it can't be, especially after last year's miracle finish. Our never-say-die spirit got us a final play TD to escape the shutout. Awright.

But whatever happens, if we don't pick the very best O-lineman available in the draft next April, Carl Peterson must be required by law to have a thorough brain examination.