Chiefs at Lions - Week 4 - Record: 4-0

Four years ago we played the Lions in London. During warmups at the stadium where they played, I believe it was Wembley, the sun broke through the open areas just under the roof illuminating the field with the team in quite interesting ways. I'm sure you remember, the Chiefs started that year miserably, but then got it in gear right about the time they hammered Detroit in that game. The team went on to run the table the rest of the season, and then added their first playoff win in eons.

I like to find more meaning in these kinds of things than they really have, I'm sure. But, it keeps the mind fresh and flowing. It can't be denied, however, that these years right now are some of the best any NFL team can enjoy. A future Hall-of-Fame coach directing a team of players led by the top quarterback in the league. All of them gathered together by a smart intrepid strategist who's taking care of business.

Not going to spend much time getting into all the usual suspects, bendy defense, steady offense, you know -- except this was kind of crazy with all the turnovers. The 3rd quarter in particular -- they fumble, we fumble, back-and-forth, too aggravating. The catch-and-pitch from Kelce to McCoy though, how fun was that.

I will tell you that two things stood out related to how the NFL officiates these games. I have to start with last week, when Mecole Hardman was clearly lined up off-sides just before he caught his 72-yard TD pass. Huh. I like that they don't call that, whether it is our team or theirs, because it is just too inconsequential, but again, just why again did they call it on Dee Ford against the Patriots, you know the call, the one that was the one most significant instance that denied us yet again?

Today there was a similar situation, you know, the refs actually managing the game like they should. Think back to Derrick Johnson slamming into Titans QB Marcus Mariota in that playoff game two years ago. Mariota clearly fumbles but the refs miss it. They blow the whistle. This even as Justin Houston scoops up the ball with acres and acres of open field ahead of him.

This game? At the goal line the Lions gave the ball to their pounding back who fumbled it in the pile. Credit the refs for not blowing the whistle! After a second that seemed to last forever, players just lying around, Bashaud Breeland reached in there to pluck out the football just waiting to be recovered by someone, and he heads for the endzone. I've seen this happen now a few other times in other games this year -- Let the play continue. Don't blow your whistle too early.

Huh, how about that. 100-yard touchdown fumble recovery.

Will this kind of smart, thoughtful, justifiable officiating be there when we're in a playoff game?

As it is we toughed out a close one, which is great. We need Patrick to get smacked around a bit, know what it takes to pull it out when it is very close. Today he had no touchdown passes, and hey -- how about we cool the expectations that he'll have 8,000 yards passing and 70 touchdown passes this year? I know it is fun to dream, no worries, but don't forget this is the NFL. All we needed him to do was matriculate the ball down the field when we were down 30-27 with two minutes left -- and his clutch 16-yard run on 4th-&-8 was a terrific part of that last-ditch drive to win it.

On to a couple of home games for once, and we're on prime time next week.
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Ravens at Chiefs - Week 3 - Record: 3-0

It cannot be denied that it is fun watching this Chiefs offense work. It is a blast. We all revel to it, just about every time Mahomes and his weaponry is deployed. And with General Reid making the calls -- just that last play of the game when we had to get a first down to keep the Ravens from getting the ball back. With the score a narrow 33-28 he calls a screen pass to Darrel Williams who scorches to the marker to seal it. And really, the plays that Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman made.

It is, however, quite aggravating to watch our defense wilt. We actually did do amazingly just stopping them from getting 2-point conversions, really, in one sense that was the key to this win. The Ravens scored four touchdowns today against us, but only made one single conversion, a 1-point kick at that. And what about all those interceptions the Chiefs should have made? Is this promising of a swarming D-backfield or just an indication of our inability to finish?

There were a couple of highlights on defense though. How about that Emmanuel Ogbah? A couple of batted passes and a sack! Again, that may be our saving grace is our depth on the D-line.

Here is something that is one of the most ding-dong things about these players. Lamar Jackson thought he was going to run in for a touchdown, and started waving his arms around in that celebratory manner. Then he was tackled. Please. What is with the NFL that they don't have the leadership to just take care of this. I know there are a thousand other things to address in the NFL, in all of society, but this kind of stuff is just symptomatically ugly.

In this game the Ravens were testing Mahomes, alternating 3 up & 8 back, then blitzing him. Good competition, this game was closer than it looked, the Ravens are a good team. It'll get Mahomes more of the experience.

Still, the refs... on one drive early two roughing-the-passers were called and one should have been. This Matt Judon of the Ravens, what a punk. At least the NFL is doing something to kind of protect the quarterbacks here. And then there was that non-offensive-pass-interference call where the Ravens guy really did push off, but they're all saying it is so subjective. They even said things like "Does it have a real impact on the play?" Well, this one did! The Ravens had a 4th-and-5 and the QB threw up a duck. They got it inside the 5 and scored a touchdown on the next play.

Thing I noticed about Lamar Jackson was he ran too much and was not throwing to his WRs -- that just can't work. He is a phenomenal talent, but he's got to throw those tough passes. Oh yeah, we could see this team again and he'll be better then, for sure. In fact, they finally got the idea that they should give the ball to Mark Ingram, and just run all over us. Our run defense, ugh. We are indeed all concerned that we just cannot stop the run. Yes Ingram is an excellent player, but were you like me? Screaming over and over: "Where are our linebackers?" My voice is hoarse!

Otherwise, the Reid-Mahomes-and-company assault makes it fun to see all the record breaking stuff they put on the screen. One was something I did not know, that the 28 points they put up in one quarter last week against the Raiders was the most in any quarter in any NFL game since 1992.

Fun!
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Chiefs at Raiders - Week 2 - Record: 2-0

This was definitely a very satisfying game. It was the last game we'll play at the Oakland Coliseum, it'll be nice not to have to run around on the infield dirt. That is so annoying. Next time we are at the Raiders' stadium it'll be in Las Vegas. I'd heard they won't be allowing Raiders fans to tailgate, is that right? Wow. Nothing like being a Chiefs fans and enjoying that community at Arrowhead for hours before gametime.

Thing about it though is that the Raiders look like they've got a team that if it gels over the years, could be very good. They had three 1st round draft picks this year, they've been able to plug holes, they want Jon Gruden to build something there -- I'd be wary of this Raiders team in the future.

In fact, it looked really good for them to start this game. They shot out to a 10-0 lead while we were flat-footed. Could they have had it come together so soon?

Well, not. We went off on them with 28 unanswered in the 2nd quarter. But at the beginning of this game I was wondering about our ability to get a team to gel. Brett got a slew of fine players to fill out this roster, but the big question is: Are all the pieces gelling? Especially our defense! We were far too bendy in the first two Raiders drives of the 1st half, and we were bendy again at the beginning of the 2nd half.

The Raiders got all the way down to the 4 on one of those first drives, I think it was that first one, but a Breeland INT in the end zone proves you often win by just not breaking even if you bend. Key guys making key plays on the D throughout the game -- Clark, Kpassagnon, Fuller, Jones, Ogbah, Ward. I'm sure I've missed some, but there were times these guys stood out. Something else that is also very nice: our depth. The rotation of several D-linemen keeps them from being tired -- especially in light of our quick strike offense!

It was also nice to see our new D-coordinator make adjustments that worked. The Raiders only had a few meaningful plays in the second half, one of which was a 51-yard run by their fine back Josh Jacobs, but again we did the job of nullifying anything major. Our big test will come next week against a very good Ravens team.

Before we get to the offense, two things are worrisome. Our penalties and our run blocking. First, the penalties. Still ugh. We had a 72-yard Hardman TD catch nullified by a LeSean McCoy hold. Maybe it was good he had to do that to protect Mahomes, but still, you've got to just block better. Second, our O-line did a decent job of protecting Mahomes, but our run blocking was atrocious. We could not get Williams or McCoy untracked. That groin injury to Eric Fisher may have been a major factor.

Couple other notes about the Raiders. First of all they had a lot of injuries. I think that demoralized them as the game wore on. But it is interesting that Derek Carr yet again had a poor game against the Chiefs. I just watch no other football, I really don't, but I hear he actually does really well against the rest of the league! He was picked twice today, sacked three times.

Now to our explosive offense. Wow, all that could be said. Just that Andy Reid, for one, dials up plays like they're on a mega-rolodex. That 2nd quarter was phenomenal. We're down 10-0 then, BAMM.

Then, naturally, what more can you say about Patrick Mahomes. It was as if the Raiders made him just liiiitle bit angry. I mean, his reads, his decision-making, his timing, his touch, his arm strength -- I mean...

It goes without saying that we just have too many weapons. For one, I've always believed that Demarcus Robinson is tremendously underrated. Did you know he was drafted before Tyreek Hill? I have never seen him do anything except make Mahomes look good, snatching everything thrown to him, either in traffic or making his way open so very nicely. Today he had two long touchdown receptions.

Of course we have the extraordinarily reliable Travis Kelce -- he was his typical superman out there. His TD grab was bobbled but clutched firmly just before he rolled out of the end zone. Mecole Hardman had his first touchdown grab, just outrunning the D-backfield on a post route.

With that 2nd quarter display, I just wonder, why even run the ball at all? With this offense, setting up the run with the pass sounds like the way to go, but with Reid calling anything and everything in the cupboard and Mahomes whipping up some fine passing touchdowns... I mean.
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Chiefs at Jaguars - Week 1 - Record: 1-0

Remember that year not too long ago, I believe it was 2013, when the Chiefs did not have a single touchdown by a wide receiver the entire season?

Today we had a wide receiver touchdown on the third play of the game. In fact Sammy Watkins added two more on the day. Wow. Last year a lot of people took on the role of detractor in dismissing Watkins' contribution, but I believe it was obvious through the season he was severely underrated. This year, he's worked his butt off, and today did it pay off. While Mahomes' passes were studly, Watkins did everything getting open then separating for touchdowns.

The big question from all of us in the Kingdom was the defense, but it came through when it needed to, forcing a clutch turnover when the Jags were driving and the score was a relatively close 23-13. When Jacksonville scored on their second possession it looked like we were just barely missing making the plays, and things came together for us much better as the game wore on. Our push up front was stalwart, and we held uber-back Leonard Fournette to under 100 yards on the ground. Also of note was Kendall Fuller's fine coverage of Dede Westbrook, helping keep their offense in check. Yes I know Fuller missed a couple of swats he should have had, but he was just one of those who showed today that our defense does have promise this year.

One of the storylines, as it is often regrettably too much a storyline, was the injury situation. Their quarterback Nick Foles went out early with a shoulder injury, but his replacement brand spankin-new Gardner Minshew actually did reasonably well. Our major injury was to Tyreek Hill, who actually had to go to the hospital to have his collarbone examined. Turns out preliminary reports are that it won't need surgery, but he'll be out for a few weeks.

Then there was the ankle injury to Patrick Mahomes. Early word is it is just a sprain -- he did go out but came back in to play. This is why depth on a football team is so critical, and it is neat to see Brett really address that area. It is also why we put Chad Henne on the able-to-return form of IR so he can still come back this year just in case.

The Jags are a mid-level ability NFL team with very positive upside, and remember, they were in the AFC championship game just two years ago. I'd even heard Mitch say on the radio that the Jags defense even last year allowed the fewest points at home of any team.

Meanwhile we still put 40 points up with the highlight play of a wide receiver who I think will make people take notice.
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Chiefs 2019 Preview - Part X

I've been so busy I can't put in as many Chiefs preview posts as I'd like, but I thought I should make it an even ten posts to close out this off-season's thrilling anticipation of great Chiefs things this year. That's the key thing about this year, is that whatever happens with our Chiefs throughout the season, it has been a blast so far. Just marveling at what Patrick Mahomes is capable of. Just watching Brett Veach work his magic. Just seeing people like Frank Clark come over to give our defense a lift. Just knowing what Andy Reid is doing with the playbook. Just beholding the amazing wide receiver depth we have when we've never had it like this. Just delighting at how we can snatch up someone like LeSean McCoy to help in the backfield.

Sure there is the thought that McCoy isn't what he was, I mean, why did Buffalo let him go? Sure it could be because they want to develop other younger backs, while we're in it to win it this year. But that's just the thing. It has been fun to enjoy just the invigorating nature of this Chiefs off-season knowing what we've got, but after Saturday I know I've got to temper all of that and be real.

This is the NFL.

Teams are filled with really good players and they themselves have good game plans and good coaching and every year there is always some team that surprises everyone, much of it simply because they got the right combination and they've set themselves up to have good things happen for them on the field. I'm sure most Chiefs fans are convinced we'll win every game 45-7, but as I wrote last time, that would not be good as much as we slobber for that. Look for many more 31-28 nail-biters, even losses by those kinds of scores -- and really, those are good things.

I even happened upon an Arrowhead Pride link to an ESPN playoff predictor that had the Chiefs not even making the playoffs. Huh? Are you kidding me? But that's cool. Tempers things a bit so we're not so crushed when the Chiefs lose a game. I am indeed enthralled by all the talk about how Mahomes will be the greatest ever, but hey, let the kid go out and do his thing and appreciate all-things Chiefs whatever happens. Let's have as much fun as he is just slingin' it and competing against the big boys just having fun. Let's even see if we're up to the challenge of late season battles when we're 8-5 and angling to position ourselves for the playoffs. Or as I always have to say to myself...

Embrace the competition.

Yeah I hope Mahomes throws 58 touchdown passes. Yeah I hope the defense returns 17 turnovers for touchdowns. Yeah I hope LeSean McCoy still has it, and if he does, then -- damn... because in his prime he was very good.

So yeah, time to have as much fun as we've had this off-season by actually seeing it all happen on the field.

Chiefs Kingdom!!!
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