Chiefs at Bengals - Week 17 - Record: 11-5

It's nice to see our fine team leap out to an effortless 14-0 lead. Then make it 21-7. Then 28-14. We're coasting now, oh yeah, this Cincy team doesn't know what it's up against.

It's also nice to have a legit offensive rookie of the year candidate in our nice new center, Creed Humphrey, who has indeed been playing phenomenally all year long, firmly anchoring the interior of our line.

Until you go up against the player who will be the OROTY.

The Bengals have him in receiver Ja'Marr Chase, and he absolutely had his way with our defense today. Let's just say he's good, or our defense is bad. I'd like to think it is more of the former because our defense had been playing pretty well. Only thing is today this Chase character did set a record for yards receiving in a game by a rookie, ever. Ever. That's nice.

Whatever the case it was kind of discouraging to see our team play so well at first, four touchdowns on four straight opening touches, then manage a dingle-tinkle three points the rest of the way. Thing is we lost our two fine tackles right outta-the-gate, Orlando Brown before the game started then Lucas Niang just a few plays in. 

This doesn't give our defense an excuse, however. As good as Chase is, that's its maybe. Our defense had better wake up because maybe it may just not be as all-that as everyone has been saying it is. Good to happen now before we start playoff action in a couple weeks when we can perhaps make the proper amends there.

The most crushing play of the game was very late letting that guy get a catch for 30 after we had them at 3rd-&-27. Sure they can say Burrow and Chase are that good, give them credit, but letting them do that on 3rd-&-27 when it counts is inexcusable, very much so. 

That was the game, right there.

It must be added that the officiating was very much in play in this one, for sure. It was so bad no one in the Kingdom needs to say anything, it was so obvious. Just let everyone see it, remark about it, and ultimately watch the Chiefs take it in as motivation to work that much harder as they move forward. (I do, however, feel a "Scorecasting" factor reminder take coming on, maybe if I have some time later I'll make that post...)

Likely we've lost the playoff bye, but at least we've got a home game to start things in a couple weeks.

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