The Kansas City Chiefs and My Pre-Bye Rant
It’s halftime of the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers and I’m ready to turn the channel. The Chiefs fan in me won’t let me, and of course we all know that this team is capable of turning in a second-half comeback, but really?
When the NFL schedule was released earlier this year, many fans wondered why the Chiefs–who made the playoffs and won a game–only got two primetime games. I think you have your answer. When the only game that is on television is one in which the home team scores nearly 30 points in the first half, it’s not hard to figure out. The Chiefs generally poop the bed in primetime.
I put the blame on squarely on head coach Andy Reid’s shoulders. How could he possibly have his team this unprepared to play. It’s not like it was going to be a surprise what the Steelers were going to try to do. With one of the best arms in the league in Ben Roethlisberger, there wasn’t a question that he would air the ball out. But most probably didn’t think he would air it out against the Chiefs’ best cornerback in Marcus Peters.
Oh…the Steelers just scored another touchdown, and it was upheld on review. Now the score is 35-0.
Reid has failed this team. The offense wasn’t ready to face the Steelers defense and the Chiefs defense was certainly not ready for this offense. Why in the hell was rookie D.J. White guarding Antonio Brown for most of the game? Why does defensive coordinator Bob Sutton insist on keeping his cornerbacks on one side of the field instead of moving them around to cover the best players on the offense? Why am I even wasting my time writing about this team?
This isn’t a game in which the Chiefs lost a close one to a good team. The Chiefs completely looked like the worst team in the NFL tonight. They couldn’t do anything in any phase of the game. And the fact that Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator is Todd Haley with his stupid beard makes the loss that much worse. I hate you, Todd Haley. I stuck up for you when you were in Kansas City, but now I hate you.
On the night that was supposed to be Jamaal Charles’ return and you play him for three plays? Are you kidding me? When Spencer Ware was clearly not up to the task, you should have utilized Charles, coach. I get it that he’s just coming back from an injury, but he gets paid, and paid well, to play football. He should have been used more.
And who taught the Chiefs how to tackle? Especially Marcus Peters and D.J. White? I saw them miss more tackles tonight than any team, ever. It was miserable. Everything about this performance was miserable. I hope this team is embarrassed by this performance, because I’m embarrassed to be wearing my colors right now. Truly embarassed.
I rushed home from a steak and shrimp dinner to watch this? Are you kidding me?
I’ll let you all fill the comments with how wrong I am, but remember this: The Chiefs have now played 16 quarters of football in the 2016 season and only five of them have been what I would call “good.” Oh look, they finally scored a touchdown.
This team isn’t very good, and I’m not sure why. I hope things look better in the morning, but for right now, I’m going to keep drinking. Heavily.