Laddie Morse
Ah, returning to the scene of the crime. Well, that’s when the Kansas City Chiefs last played in Phoenix, when the won the most recent Super Bowl. You kind of have to wonder if there’ll be as much field slippage this time around… like many Eagles fans claim there was and also claimed that was the main reason for their loss… but in reality, we just don’t want to see any more players get hurt. Period.
With this year’s Training Camp beginning on July 23rd and the Chiefs first regular season game beginning on Thursday, September 7th… the Preseason is technically over half way finished. In fact, following today’s game versus the Cardinals, the rest of Training Camp will be held in Kansas City.
The main purpose of these games yet to be played on the preseason schedule is to see who will perform up to standards… and who will not make the grade. Thus, the Chiefs have some position battles yet to be determined. I believe David Bell will address those battles on Monday morning.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cards played the Denver Broncos last week and beat them 18-to-17. Although, their first team battled through a 9 play drive then punted. So they’ll be looking for better first team production this week, as will the Chiefs. Last week, the Chiefs first team offense didn’t play well either, on their first series of downs, which was also the only series they were in the game. So, you have to hope the Chiefs put on a better show than they did last week.
Although… the Cards held Denver to a 3-and-out on their first drive, so their Defense played better than K.C.’s Defense did out of the gate. In a piece by Sion Fawkes for raisingzona.com (a FanSided web site), called: “3 reasons the Arizona Cardinals will go over their projected win total in 2023” he stated that:
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“The Arizona Cardinals projected win total sits at 4.5, per Fox Sports, a meager number that many think they won’t hit, but some of us believe they can soar over that mark. Sure, the Redbirds are a rebuilding football team, and no, they aren’t going to contend for the playoffs barring anything short of a storybook run.”
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Fawkes lists the reasons why they’ll surpass the 4.5 wins barrier as:
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1 – More talent than many think on defense.
2 – Run-first system can win many time of possession battles.
3 – Kyler Murray’s return.
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Indeed they may have a boat load of talent on Defense, but not enough to combat a Mahomes led offense for K.C.. Also, while it may be a good contest for the Chiefs to see if they can stop this “run-first” offensive approach, I don’t believe hey’ll win many games that way. Then, I’m not a Kyler Murray fan and he may be able to lead them to a win here or there on their schedule, he won’t do that in the Chiefs second preseason game this weekend.
Fawkes has another piece called: “3 things to expect in Preseason Week 2 vs. the Chiefs” in which he says:
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1 – Drew Petzing (new OC) calling plays from the press box
2 – Starters to see more action
3 – Intensifying position battles
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If an OC is calling their game against the Chiefs from a press box, that’s an overall advantage for the Chiefs. Why? Because the Chiefs DC, Steve Spagnuolo, will be on the field WITH his players and can make adjustments more readily. It doesn’t matter how long the Cards play their starters, they will only be successful to a limited degree… even if it means them winning the game, they know the Chiefs have a much better roster. Intensifying position battles??? On my gosh, get real… that what’s happening for each and every club in the NFL this weekend.
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Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs first Preseason game was not great. Why? Because the first team they sent out on the field didn’t execute or play fast enough. The Defense allowed the saints to produce a 12 play drive that ended in a TD then the Offense had. a6 play drive that ended in a Punt. That’s not what the doctor ordered. Sick, you say? Absolutely. In the end, it was jsut a preseason game and the outcome mattered little. the production on the field did matter. The Chiefs second and third teams produced much better and went into the ending of the fourth quarter with a lead and expected to win the game. The only reason they lost was a bad execution in the Chiefs last play of their last drive which resulted in a an INT by their Defensive lineman deep in Chiefs territory. deep enough for thei Kicker to boot a FG through the uprights for a victory.
We’ll be looking for a much improved first drive by both units and a much improved outcome to the game as well.
Even though… preseason games don’t matter.
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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