Are The Chiefs Who We Thought They Were?

 

 

Watching the game the other night was a wonderful experience, I think you would all agree. To see our team hang in there and go toe to toe with the Super Bowl Champion, New England Patriots, was something I have been wanting to see for a long time. It seems any time we fall behind to a team that is considered top tier, we just can’t win. Early in the game there were several points this could have happened. But, it didn’t.

 

As I am sure the stats have been hashed and rehashed, I probably don’t need to go over them again. However, I think we should take another look at some. Or, we can just call it a re-rehash. Below are are few stats that I think deserve some further discussion.

 

 

 

 

First Up – Alex Smith’s Performance

Our very own quarterback, some love and some hate, had an outstanding game. On the road. In New England. Against the Patriots. And came from behind, for a win, without a dink and dunk. AS11 put up some gaudy numbers in this game.

 

 

368 passing yards
4 TDs/0 INTs
4 throws over 20 yards (so, still limiting the low probability plays downfield and the Pats had 9)
28 of 35 for an 80% completion percentage including throw-aways
Rating of 148.6, not too shabby

 

 

The 78 yarder to Hunt isn’t something we would have seen from Smith in the past. Hunt had 3 defenders near him and was just breaking free as Smith was launching the ball. That would have typically been a check down or scramble. I wouldn’t think Smith got that comfortable with the rookie, Kareem Hunt, that quickly.

 

The offensive line did a nice job yesterday, keeping AS11 pretty clean throughout the game. When pressured, Smith didn’t seem to have happy feet. He slid around a bit and gave his receivers time to get open.

 

Is this a glimpse of the contract year Smith? OR, maybe the Patrick Mahomes is breathing down my neck Smith?

 

 

 

 

Tyreek Hill – Cheetah Mode

I just had to throw this video in. It was one of the funniest ones I have seen in a while. I can see how it would be easy to forget about Hill. He is relatively unknown and hasn’t done much in his career yet. Let’s hope many other teams lose him on the field.

 

 

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Kareem Hunt’s League Debut

If he plays the way he did Thursday night, after a fumble, I say cough it up every first drive. Credit to Andy Reid for coming right back to him and regain his confidence. And credit to the coaches and players on the sideline telling him to shake it off.

 

 

 

 

Shake it off and come back he did. Hunt had an historic performance in a debut game. He amassed 239 yards from scrimmage (98 receiving and 141 rushing), 3 TDs,  and broke 6 tackles. Oh yeah, and a lost fumble.

 

 

 

 

The other thing I noticed and really like about Hunt is the way he attacks the run (and unfortunate defenders) when he gets to contact. Here is a good look at what I mean.

 

 

 

 

 

A Look at the Defensive Effort

Early in the game I kept asking myself “Where is the pass rush?”. I couldn’t see a good defensive strategy against Tom Brady to be drop 8 and rush 3. It wasn’t until late in the game that we finally started getting to him, ending up with 3 sacks, 2 hits, and 12 hurries (I think).

 

 

He also missed on 9 of his 20 incompletions, 2 drops, 4 break ups, and 5 throw-aways. So, maybe the drop 8 and rush 3 was working. If he was hurried on 14 of the 20 misses, to the point it affected his accuracy, then who am I to complain.

 

 

After thinking it over a bit more, that might have been the perfect call. Tom Brady is known to be one of the best at getting the ball out quickly, when the pass rushers are coming. So, what if you don’t send them on a pass rush, but into covering a zone/player on a route? If there are 5 guys going out for a pass and 8 covering them, it apparently negates the quick pass (under 3 seconds). Then, mix in the rush and blitz once they get complacent.

 

 

 

If we take that strategy and combine it with the performance of our secondary, we might just have the right recipe. To take a look at the main characters in this drama, Eric Berry (get well soon), Marcus Peters, Terrance Mitchell, and Ron Parker, we can check out some key stats that tell it all.

 

 

 

     Berry locked down Gronk, 2 receptions for 33 yards
     Peters was ignored, 1 target with 0 receptions
     Mitchell – 2 receptions on 9 targets
     Parker – 11 tackles, 10 solo

 

 

 

While I will admit it was weird to see Dee Ford downfield in coverage, they all did the job. Let’s hope Bob Sutton can dial these plans up weekly.

 

 

 

 

The Unfortunate Carnage

This was a costly victory, with the loss of team leader, veteran safety, and mentor to Marcus, Eric Berry. It seems like the new bug affecting the team is the ruptured Achilles. Berry went down late in the game (4:56 remaining) while covering Rob Gronkowski. It was a non-contact injury and just an unfortunate part of the game

 

 

 

The other thing we lost (hopefully not for the season) is player discipline. In 2016 we average 6.8 penalties and 53.4 yards per game. Against the Patriots we were flagged for 15 penalties for 139 yards. That is simply ridiculous. The worst was probably Travis Kelce showing his frustration at getting a forearm shiver to the facemask by providing a cup check with the football. There was no need and it could have ended up being the difference in the game.

 

 

 

Parting Thoughts

 

 

   The Team, By The Numbers
          26 first downs, 17 passing, 8 rushing, and 1 by penalty
          4-11 (36%)on third down
          8.3 yards per offensive play, What?
          13.1 yards per completion
          3 for 16 yards in sacks
          27 rushes, for 185 yards, 6.9 yards per carry
          Possession 30:14
          Sacks – 3 for 20 (2 Houston 12 yards and 1 Bailey 8 yards)
          Tackles – 63 (Parker 11 with 10 solo, DJ 8 with 4 solo, Berry 7 with 4 solo, Bailey 6 with 5 solo)
          Return game – Punts anemic, Kickoffs 21.5 yards per return only slightly better than kneeling in the end zone.

 

 

 

Who is wearing 84 these days? Used to be Demetrius Harris, but this obviously isn’t him since this guy is catching balls, in the end zone no less.

 

 

 

And, perhaps my favorite stat from the night:

 

 

     Most points (42) and yards (537) ever against a Belichick coached team in New England.

 

 

 

And there’s The Rub!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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