Right now everyone seems to be worried about our cornerback situation. Yeah, I'm sure our cover guys can implode over the course of the season, that can happen to any team. But remember a few things.
It is hard to get good cover guys anywhere. I'd say that in light of that truth, Brett has done wonderfully working hard to address this area. We do have skilled guys there, especially in Breeland, Fuller, Claiborne, and Ward, and some have suggested that our pass coverage was so weak last year because of Bob Sutton's complicated system that did not take advantage of those skills. Maybe Steve Spagnuolo's idea of letting players be players will get these guys to show what they've got this year.
We've also upgraded our safety situation, especially with Tyrann Mathieu now the anchor, a bright Juan Thornhill growing into it, and tough Armani Watts now healthy after showing promise last year. Remember, last year Eric Berry was just never there, and without that strength at safety it makes any corner's job harder.
The main thing is that we do have that one component that makes any defensive lapses bearable. You know what it is.
Patrick Mahomes.
Having a total stud at the quarterback position makes up for a lot of things. We have a player at a position that gets a team the most return on the talent that is there, really. There is no question that if our defense can be serviceable -- it doesn't have to be terrific, just serviceable -- then we'll be fine. In fact, it may sound twisted, but there is something to be said for winning more than a few games by scores of 45-36...
It keeps Mahomes and the offense motivated and working hard. Sorry, nothing against them and their already fine desire and drive to excel, but even the best can suffer from debilitating ennui if we win every game 45-7.
Now yes, it only takes one ding-dong thing to happen to ruin a whole season in a close playoff game. But really, what would be different? We've lost eight straight playoff games decided by a touchdown or less. Just not going to worry about that right now.
The more telling stats: the 2018 Chiefs were the first team ever to score at least 26 points in every single game of the season. When you look at that, really, every single game, that's amazing. The lowest point total, by the way, was 26 they had against Arizona. The team also put up the third highest point total in NFL history. Only the '07 Patriots and '13 Broncos had more. And how about this. From 2014 to 2018, the Chiefs in the regular season had defeated the eventual Super Bowl participants, both of them, in either the year before or the year after. Last year in those two games they came within a scant touchdown of doing it again -- each time barely losing to the Patriots and the Rams.
No worries at all with this team.
No matter all the wailing about our defensive backfield, I can't believe there isn't a Chiefs fan who isn't thrilled with how much fun this season is shaping up to be.
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