In fact already on the drive I'm watching now, Yelder fumbled the ball away, but we got rescued by a Melvin Ingram penalty. Then a bit later McCoy fumbled yet again, but somehow miraculously recovered it. This is not championship-team-caliber football. This looks kind of like the Vikings game when we messed up a lot, but still won. If we pull this one out we can thank the Chargers for messing up so much themselves.
Anyway, I got the idea the Chargers have injuries on the O-line. This means we should be able to stop this Chargers offense, have something of a pass rush. So far we did get a big play from Frank Clark's "strip" and Derrick Nnadi's interception. We also got a nice pick from Tyrann Mathieu, but other than those big plays, alas, we have not been stellar on defense. Our run defense is still very very soft. The Chargers have tons of offensive yardage but have only managed three field goals.
We should hammer the Chargers, we really should. But so far we look just like we did last week. Just not able to take care of business like we should. And THE PENALTIES. Memo to Andy Reid: THIS TEAM IS NOT DISCIPLINED. With this offense -- why on earth are you committing so many penalties?
Interlude: As far as the rest of the season goes we should run the table. With the talent on this offense we should get to 12-4. Even though we should put away the Chargers here -- and right now, after Darrel Williams scored, the Chargers have to punt -- it'd be better if it's close and Reid can practice his 4th quarter work... It'd be nice if it were close for every game for the rest of the season so Andy can practice his 4th quarter management. As we saw last week all too well -- only the 4th quarter matters.
And in the playoffs, Andy - has - got - to - manage - the - late - game. Do you think this team is going to beat a Ravens or a Patriots in the playoffs? Wull, yeah, with this offense -- but then Mahomes had a horrible 1st half: only 63 passing yards, his worst 1st half so far in his short career so far. And we've lost Tyreek Hill to a hamstring -- how long he'll be out we'll have to see.
How about this idea -- hat tip to my work colleague: How about running the West Coast offense that Alex Smith did pretty well? And give our defense a little more time to rest? With this offense? But ugh, on one play when the Chargers intercepted a pass, we sent everyone deep. Whuh? Come on, bring someone back underneath! For that matter spread Mahomes around! When he runs he makes things happen!
Know what else I'm seeing? Yes Mahomes is amazing. But you know what Philip Rivers does that if Mahomes can do we would be utterly unstoppable? He just gets that ball in those tight windows.
Oh, there you go. Mahomes with the deep nice touch to Kelce, then Kelce with the toe-drag at the side of the endzone to score. Now it is 24-9. So far anyway, the blowout we thought it would be. Bad. Bad bad bad because we so need Reid to work like crazy on his skill at putting the hammer down in last minute when we need it the most.
Briefly I've also wondered how much the altitude is going to affect us, affect the Chargers. Errgh, maybe it has affected Philip Rivers throwing a duck -- and then affecting Tyrann Mathieu who dropped the easy pick. Errrrrrghck. Our run defense has picked it up a bit, so -- the altitude affecting them a bit more?... I knew Mexico City was high, but they said earlier that it is 2,000 feet higher than Denver's stadium!
And that Mathieu dropped pick? Allowed the Chargers to later on that drive score a touchdown. Nkay, good -- it's closer now. 24-17. Reid can now practice his close-game close-out.
Nkay, already Reid fails yet again. With eight minutes left we're moving the ball, get to midfield, and his playcalling becomes just inexplicable. He can't dial up a play on 3rd-& not-long to get that 1st down. It is just impossible for him to do.
The Chiefs just got a nice three-&-out with the help of a super stop by Frank Clark. Now can we grind and chew clock and here we go again: 3rd-&-3 how about Andy taking care of business here.
And no. Mahomes does what he did to fail in the previous 3rd down fail. He just steps back and dumps it incomplete. How about we get Mahomes to step back a bit more and throw that ball to that fine wideout in that tight window just past the marker? HOW HARD IS THAT?
PLEASE ANDY REID WILL YOU BE THE HEAD COACH YOU CAN BE???
Okay, now Rashad Fenton makes the clutch play and picks Rivers deep. What a sweet play. Rashad had to fight to get it. Very very very nice.
Now there're four minutes left for Andy to put the hammer down. I'm not listening to the game on ther radio as I sometimes do, but how many times so far tonight have Mitch and Kendall said "It's time to put the hammer down!" 7, 8 times?
Now 3rd-&-6, and... Mahomes just runs. Gets the 1st down. Nice. The announcer just said one of the most profound things ever. "The Chiefs need to play with some attitude."
Okay, Chargers have burnt all their timeouts and we have another 3rd-&-NOT-LONG-AT-ALL.
Well, so much for "having attitude." Nghckfnckghngh. Mahomes just strolled left and dropped. It looked like we didn't even know what to do out there. How about just "You go there while we make everything looks like we're going over here. I'll throw it to you." Bam.
Two minutes left, score is still 24-17. So yeah, I just feel like if we do win this we've just lucked out again. Ergh. Too many ::Ergh::s I know.
So Rivers has 1:53 with no time outs. Ball is deep in his own territory. Put the hammer down put the hammer down put the hammer down put the hammer down...
4th-&-4 after Rivers passes the ball into a very tall Chris Jones helmet. And on the next play he still gets the 1st down.
Remember last year? We're up good, at home, Thursday night football, then the Chargers score a touchdown in the last minute, then get the two-point conversion and win 29-28. Hmmnmnmmnmmmnn...
Sure enough right now Rivers completes a 50-yard pass. Are you even kidding me. (Never mind that the receiver totally pushed off the defender, and the refs stopped the clock when the receiver was clearly downed in-bounds)
Our defense is gassed. Their offense is moving the ball and it could be yet another miracle finish for the Chargers. Remember that game in 2013 or so? The Chargers had a miraculous last minute win after each team scored back and forth. Remember that game in, I believe 2008? We were up by 12 -- by 12! with under two minutes left and still lost.
So yeah. Even if we pull this off, there is no reason in the world Andy should have let it get to this point. We're playing at 7,000 feet and our defense has to be exhausted. 24 seconds left and the Chargers have the ball at the 14-yard line.
And wow. Daniel Sorensen intercepts the ball at the goal line. Oh my.
We saved it. We saved it.
Still.
Ngckghcknghckgtckmngk.
You know what I mean.
___
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