Chiefs at Titans - Week 10 - Record: 6-4

This was definitely a game we simply could not afford to lose. It always seems to be like that when we play the Titans.

Opening game, 2014. We lose to a thoroughly lousy Titans team that would go on to win only one more game the entire season. We miss the playoffs by one game. That was the game we could not afford to lose. That very first game of that season, that was the blow-it -- a season that later featured a complete thrashing of the eventual Super Bowl champion Patriots. Go figure. (Well, we now figure, that's what this post is all about.)

Playoff game, 2017 season. We're up 21-3 at halftime to a very mediocre Titans team, and somehow find a way to lose 22-21.

Today, it was just as ugly. Just as typically ugly. Right now I feel the way I did during the middle of that 2017 season when we had a stretch of games against not-that-great New York state teams, remember that? The Giants then the Bills then the Jets -- a season we were playing great, buuut we lost them all. And sure enough at that time I had the opportunity to do exactly what I'm going to do now, although I truly believe it is still just as justified as it was back then.

Share my standard Andy Reid what-the-hell-are-you-doing rant.

Here is this version. It isn't a whole lot different than the others, but I reeeally don't think there aren't quite a lot of us who share these sentiments.

I really do not believe the Chiefs will ever win a Super Bowl with Andy Reid at head coach.

Yes we've all had these thoughts before, but they always seem to be muted by the times we watch him do his playmaking and his management of the team as a player's coach. We behold how wonderful he is at those things and simply brush off any detractions.

But sure enough, what happened today was inexcusable, and sure enough it was yet another one of those "Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Fool my thrice shame on me some more. Fool me four times it is ridiculously shameful. Fool me five times is shamefully criminal. Fool me..." I really think we're up to about 23 times of being fooled, to be honest with you. All Chiefs fans should be serving life sentences for the most feloniously shameful foolishness.

Here's why, for the 57 thousandth time.

Reid cannot manage things at the end of a game.

Sure we have Patrick Mahomes. Sure we have Tyreek Hill. Sure we have ___ (any of all the other playmakers we have). But when we need the head coach to make that one call that will win us the game because WE'RE TRYING TO WIN THE GAME DAMMIT AND NOT TRYING TO JUST NOT LOSE -- it gets really gruesome.

Here's the evidence. This year we've lost all four of our games by a touchdown or less. Does that sound familiar? It should. The Chiefs have lost eight straight playoff games decided by a touchdown or less. Thing is, Reid is responsible for five of them. Sorry, but there were definitely things that could have happened with the sideline judgment that would have avoided:

A 1-point loss to Indianapolis after the 2013 season when were ahead 38-10 in the 3rd quarter.

A 7-point loss to New England (2015) when Reid was just outcoached by Belichick again. (Reid's 4th quarter management of the 2004 season's Super Bowl was abysmal.)

A 2-point loss to Pittsburgh (2016) when the opponent did not score a single touchdown the entire game.

A 1-point loss to Tennessee (2017) when we scored zero points in the 2nd half.

A 6-point loss in OT to New England (2018) when Reid was just flat outcoached by Belichick YET AGAIN.

In this game we were up 29-20 early in the 4th quarter, right after Mecole Hardman's streak to the endzone after a terrific pass from Mahomes. It should have been over at that point. We should have been "putting the hammer down" then. Up by nine with 11 minutes left.

And sorry, not getting the job done was on Reid.

So, note to Andy Reid, a reminder for about the 83rd time: "Step it up and be a clutch leader. Lead this team to win, don't just stuff your face in a play sheet to not-lose." ::Sigh:: To be honest I really don't think he will ever do that.

This game is just another brick in the wall. So here's the bottom line. I reeeally hope Clark and Brett are paying attention. I think every Chiefs fan feels this way. Again, I've seen nothing online or on the twittersphere or anywhere, but I know it.

Here's what's what:

Andy Reid, there is no excuse for you to being doing this, none. You have one of the most phenomenal offenses ever in the NFL. Yes today we had stupid turnovers (well, really, just one, but it was really costly as it was returned for a touchdown). Yes we had unfortunate injuries (but fortunately people like Tyreek Hill and Mitchell Schwartz came back in). Yes we had a slough of penalties (but that, really, is on you anyway because this team is simply not disciplined enough, it really isn't). Yes our special teams fell apart at the end of the game (but why are we relying on them so much in instances when it looked like they were frantically trying to make up for situations that shouldn't exist anyway?)

See the issue is with this talent and your playmaking we should've been ahead 21-0 in the 1st quarter. By the middle of the 4th quarter we should have had a comfortable 49-27 lead. Even with the rotten stuff there - is - no - excuse. With this team with this talent?

And we're frnckgckngcking 6-4???

So, here it is. Even with all of that, you can rectify that with one more valiant attempt to get the critical 4th quarter call right. Please, we beg you. Please, in the 4th quarter rally the troops to go for the jugular. To take no prisoners. That last series when we had the ball in Titans territory, up by 5 with a little under two minutes left? Super Bowl teams make the 1st down and send us home happy, especially against a team we moved the ball against pretty much at will all afternoon.

Instead it looked like everyone out there on the field was just expecting us to lose. I'm sorry but it just did, and that comes directly from your obsession with NOT-LOSING. I mean, please, today's 4th quarter was a collapse of epic proportions, it really was.

I wonder. Mahomes had 446 passing yards today. Really, how many quarterbacks with over 440 passing yards have ever lost an NFL football game? I'd say a few, but I know it isn't many, in all the annals of NFL history I'd bet it is very few. We had twice as much yardage as the Titans, and still lost. We had twice as much time of possession, and still lost. We got 1st down after 1st down by barely trying, yet couldn't seem to get one when we needed it because you played --- to --- not --- lose.

Well, let's just say this, from every Chiefs fan on the planet.

Go for it Andy Reid. You have our wholehearted support: win the Super Bowl this year. And please, you will have no excuses if you don't, not with this talent, not with your -- granted it is extraordinary -- playmaking ability. There is no excuse.

But we promise you, all of us know as much as we know the sky is blue and the sun is hot: you will at some point HAVE to make a critically beneficial 4th quarter call that will win us a game by a close score. You will, guaranteed.

If you do, we will screech with joy and we will want to carry you off the field with all the well-deserved accolades. We've got you. You're there. Way to go.

But if -- okay, this is for Clark and Brett -- if Andy doesn't, then see-ya, and let's see Eric Bieniemy in at head coach. He's already got all the Reid playmaking stuff in his hands, working with him for so long, and then, and then, not only do we get that but we get a coach who -- let's hope -- will...

Ahem...

PLAY ----- TO ----- WIN.
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