There was a time when the NFL season consisted of only 12 games, and in that case, this season would have ended by now. That was in 1960, and yes, I can remember watching NFL games that far back. By the way, there was also a time when the NFL season was comprised of only 10 games, but that was a bit before my day.
Now, with the Chiefs going into the 15th week of the NFL’s 17-game-18-week-season, we should know some things by now. However, with Thursday’s game yet to be decided, against a division foe, the Los Angeles Chargers, we still can’t be sure who the winner of the AFC West will be. That’s why they play the games. In my mind, it’ll be K.C. all the way! Let’s take a look at some things we’re surprised about as we enter Week 15, and some others that we’re not so surprised about.
“Logo” in the Cabasa
When the Las Vegas Raiders decided to gather in the middle of the field prior to the game on Sunday at noon, and trample all over the Arrowhead Logo, I was surprised. It reminded me of Terrell Owens taking the football, holding out his arms and looking skywards while planting himself firmly on the Dallas Cowboys Star logo after a TD, which I took as a major sign of disrespect. The year was 2000, the date was September 24, and Owens did it not only once, but twice… and both times, during a game.
Dallas DB, George Teague, came at Owens the second time and leveled him… and deservedly so. Consequently, on Sunday, I was also concerned that some Chiefs might take the bait and get involved in a ruckus of some kind, then get thrown out before the game even began. Did I think Owens was “Loco en la cabasa?” [Crazy in the head?] Absolutely, and that’s also what I thought about the Raiders prank on Sunday.
The Chiefs went on to beat the Raiders 48-to-9 and also led them 35-to-nothing at one point. Consequently, their petty prank seemed more like a precursory death sentence, a death sentence for themselves.
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Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith
Sometime before the season began, David Bell and I were talking on the phone, as we often do each week, and we both thought that Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith would be very good interior offensive linemen. Then again, we both thought Lucas Niang would be an excellent RT as well. That may still happen for Niang as yet, but for now, we’ll take having one of the best Offensive Centers in the game and one of the best up and coming Right Guards around, who, happens to love to pancake his opponents… which started back in training camp:
That’s probably why I’m not so surprised.
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Josh Gordon
I’m a bit surprised it’s taken this long to work WR Josh Gordon into the mix. With a total of four (4) receptions on the season and one touchdown, it doesn’t seem much like “getting into the mix”, but it’s at least a start. I know Reid and Bieniemy wanted to get him a TD weeks ago. They tried him at the goal line once before but the ball bounced off his hands then off of Jerick McKinnon’s helmet and into the hands of a defender. The TD Gordon achieved on Sunday was one of the easiest catches and simplest play designs I’ve ever seen at the goal line.
One aspect of Gordon’s game that can’t be measured by reception stats, is his ability to block as a bigger wideout. He’s 6-foot-3 and goes 248 pounds. The Chiefs haven’t had someone to do that since Chris Conley (and no, Sammy Watkins could not do what Chris Conley could do), Conley was also 6-foot-3, but only 205 pounds. Gordon is only 12 pounds and 2 inches smaller than Travis Kelce. So, he not only offers a bigger blocking wide receiver, but someone who has enough of a history of success in this league that other teams DCs must take him seriously.
I know some fans are filled with 2013 expectations for him — his second season — when he had more than 1,600 yards receiving, and while I think that’s totally unrealistic, he can offer a large weapon over the middle of the field, who won’t be scared off by a big hitting Safety. It won’t surprise me at all to see Gordon get more and more reps and targets as the playoffs approach. In fact, the plans the Chiefs have for Gordon, may be a reason why Mecole Hardman is seeing fewer snaps these days (Gordon had 24 snaps on Sunday while Hardman had 23). I just didn’t think it would take this long to get Gordon up to speed. Color me surprised.
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LB Nick Bolton is Very Good
Guess who is leading the Chiefs in tackles this year. That’s right, rookie phenom, Nick Bolton. Bolton not only brings the wood, but he also brings an excellent head and attitude. I had tried to convince David Bell this past offseason, prior to the draft, that Bolton was too small to fit in with the Chiefs linebacking core. Boy was I wrong, wrong, wrong.
Now, it’s hard to believe that Brett Veach had such a good draft this year and that three of the Chiefs draft picks are real, live, in the flesh, impact players. DC Steve Spagnuolo has had some complementary things to say of Bolton. Here’s Spags just last month:
“I’m trying to go back on my Rolodex of memories of who it might remind me of. Listen, Nick’s been impressive in a lot of ways, the way he plays and certainly the intelligence part of it. We’ve asked him to do a lot of different things and that’s hard for a veteran linebacker to do, and yet he doesn’t blink.”
With Anthony Hitchens missing a couple of games earlier this season, Bolton has had to learn on the fly, and has come out with flying colors. John Dillon of USA Today has said of Bolton:
“It seems Bolton has won the favor of Kansas City’s coaching staff and could perhaps earn himself a starring role on the defense in short order.”
Nick Bolton has averaged 59% of the team’s defensive snaps this season so it looks like he’s well on his way to starting reps. What do you think? Do you have any surprises this season… or perhaps something that has not surprised you?
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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