Chiefs at Raiders - Week 8 - Record: 7-0

The big news this week was that Brett worked out a sweet deal to bring in DeAndre Hopkins. Just a couple years ago he was definitely one of the elite wideouts in the league, let's hope he still has something meaningful to give us on our grand quest. Sure enough he got that deep out route on our third play of the game to get a clutch 1st down on our way to our first touchdown.

This is one of the great things about the Chiefs right now. With Andy Reid we've developed such a phenomenal culture of excellence and winning that these kinds of players want to come here. It seems like every year we work out bringing in somebody or even somebodies to give us that extra lift. This year there have been a few: Kareem and JuJu and Mecole, all again, and now D-Hop. 

The first half was fine, we actually got a TD, then forced the Raiders into a nice 3-&-out, and could zip down and bang through a FG to make it 17-10.

But then the 2nd half started and it was bad. A drop, a bunch of penalties (poor Wanya Morris -- we do have an issue at left tackle, I think), and the Raiders were in business. Fortunately they could only manage a FG, and when a tipped Mahomes pass dropped into their laps and they had the ball right next to the goal line, our D put together a super nice goal line stand.

No Raider points at all.

On offense our superior interior line -- you know, just like Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance, it is now Thuney-&-Humphrey-&-Smith (and if you don't know the late 1900s Cubs infielder reference, look it up) -- along with the pounding of Kareem Hunt enabled us to chew clock throughout the second half and keep the Raiders offense off the field. Our 3rd down efficiency is also pretty danged great -- I know we take it for granted that whenever there is a 3rd down and within 10 yards to go there's a pretty good chance we're going to get it.

Travis Kelce had a game, and the word is D-Hop really helps opens things up for him.

As usual, the latest on Mahomes success against AFC West teams -- he's now 32-5 against them. This stat is just phenomenal in a parity-overwhelmed NFL.

Thing is we lost Nazeeh Johnson to a concussion and he may be out for a while, making us very thin at the corners. Brett then addressed that need today (remember I'm posting this on Monday) by rushing out and trading for a pretty good edge rusher from the Patriots.

Guh? Why not an actual cornerback?

Really, it is because if your pass rush is extra ferocious, it makes the coverage guys' jobs easier. Yes, we've already got a pretty danged good front seven, but Brett is thinking fresh legs -- so critically important when you've really got to stop an opposing offense that is working it, getting good chunk yardage, staying on the field and make things difficult late in a close game.

Our D is slowly being considered elite, and it is because of Brett's emphasis on getting the best D guys he can, as well as Spags' amazing game planning and later adjustments.

Next up major revenge action against the Buccaneers!

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The photo is from Sam Lutz at the official Chiefs site. Thank you.

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