The main and really only preview note:
How much will the Scorecasting officiating and the propelled narrative that goes with it keep the Chiefs from winning.
That's it. I've belabored the point to death, but, yeah, as usual, it doesn't really seem to take. People all over blap about that Chiefs thing or that Lions thing but the only thing that matters is whether or not the officials are going to hose the Chiefs making it really hard for them to win.
Yes, I know, the Lions are a fine football team. Yes, I know the Chiefs may do dumb things again to make it a bit harder for them to win. But it is simple.
If the Chiefs play like they always can play, like they've plainly shown they can play on a regular basis, they will win, period.
If the officials get in the way or the Scorecasting proven narrative keeps the Chiefs on their heels, it will be very difficult or even a loss.
Let's watch, shall we?...
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Okay, 1st half take:
The Lions O-line is absolutely demolishing us. Our front seven us get plowed under. Their running backs are having their way with us, but so far we've gotten bailed out by an illegal motion call against the Lions negated a touchdown and a failed 4th down conversion.
We've done a little better against their passing game, but we just aren't getting to their QB enough, we're just not. We did a couple times forcing incompletions and stalling their momentum, but Goff has had too much time too often to make clutch completions.
After our first touchdown, guess what. Harrison missed the PAT. Derrrp. I've been giving him the benefit of the doubt when people have said, "I think now we should be concerned." "Nah," I've thought, "He'll come around." Is it time to join them and truly wonder about him?
And could doubts about him seep into decision-making? We had the ball at the Lions 20 and went for it on 4th down, and failed. Could have had the field goal.
And then there was that failed play. Worthy really needed to flatten his route and he'd have kept the defender from batting away Patrick's pass. Know what? This is where we need Rashee there. Fortunately he's slated to be back next week. As far as Worthy goes he got our first TD, so he's coming along.
So yeah, even though their offensive line is having their way with us, it is 13-10 us.
Oh, and yeah, what about the officiating? It has been a very clean game so far, both teams making decent, solid-play, open-field plays, offenses and defenses, that there isn't anything really close that requires an official's interpretation of things, those things that can be so detrimental to the Chiefs efforts.
And they just showed a stat as the 2nd half starts: Lions, some high number of tons of offensive yards in the first half, as well as a high for not being rushed on pass attempts.
Eeegh.
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Okay, quick 3rd quarter report. We got a really nice TD from Hollywood to make it 20-10, that's where it stands now.
We absolutely need to get Brashard Smith in the mix more. Why we don't is, um, well, kind-of known because Andy Reid just refuses to do more to get good rookies in there even when they clearly show they can play. Maybe many times he's right, and wants to keep from taking a chance on rookies making rookie mistakes. But so far every play Smith has had he's been terrific, but they've been so few.
On that TD drive Travis made a tricky catch that may have been questionable, but the Chiefs ran a super-quick play to prevent a challenge. The television official said he thought it was a catch anyway, so that was a close one -- close with that official's interpretative call that would've needed to be made.
And just a note about our left tackle replacing Josh Simmons who is out tonight. Jaylen Moore is doing really well against their excellent DE Aiden Hutchinson. Patrick is actually having a little bit of time to do things back there.
Okay, here's the 4th...
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How about that. A nice, clean, hard-fought game -- for both teams -- with no officiating or narrative issues. They were on fire in the first half, but the Lions just looked more gassed in the second half. We had a comfortable lead for most of the game, so I believe the Lions just couldn't lean on that really good running game, and Spags made his adjustments.
Our O-line played really well, and our running game was productive in the second half. Isiah, Kareem, even Brashard got the job done.
They also said the Lions had serious injury issues with their secondary, so that was likely a factor that helped our fine offensive effort tonight. Hopefully we can keep up the good work there when an opponent's defense is at full strength.
Next week the Raiders rivalry continues!
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The photo is from the Jacob Rice at the official Chiefs website. Thank you.
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