Chiefs at Jets, Week Four: OPEN THREAD

Laddie Morse

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We’ve all been waiting for years now for the matchup between Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes… but… it is not to be. I had to change the graphic feature image for this piece to show Zach Wilson instead of AR, but my problems are the least of the worries for the Jets. This week the long time patriarch of the team, Joe Namath, has criticized Jets QB Zach Wilson. The 80 year old Namath was interviewed on the “The Michael Kay Show” and called Wilson’s play “disgusting” and that he’d never develop into a good NFL QB. Wilson responded by saying:

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“I mean, he’s passionate. He’s obviously one of the greats, so as an offense we’ve got to do everything we can to try to prove him wrong.”

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Apparently, the Head Coach of the Jets — Robert Saleh — is at odds with the team about the standing of their QB (Zach Wilson) as Saleh supports Wilson, but the locker room doesn’t. In a piece written by Ryan Shafer for thejetpress.com called, “How can Robert Saleh win back the NY Jets locker room?” he says:

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“It seems to just keep getting worse and worse for NY Jets’ fans. After all of the buildup and excitement of the preseason, draft, and summer workouts, this season has gone off the rails before September ends.”

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“Receipts”

The Jets difficulties don’t end there either. The Jets Right Defensive End Jermaine Johnson said this about the Jets pass rush:

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“We’ve got something for him, we’ve got some-

thing for him (meaning, Patrick Mahomes).”

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In this weeks episode of New Heights the Kelce brothers interviewed Chris Jones and several times they (CJ and Travis) said we keep “receipts” meaning: they watch out for the bulletin board material and remember it come game time.

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While many, including myself, are feeling good about the progress of the Chiefs Defense, it’s the Chiefs Offense that has me concerned. It sounds like Jermaine Johnson has a blitz or two in mind for Mahomes, but the history books tell us that teams that blitz Mahomes don’t do well against him. Actually, I hope the Jets do blitz Mahomes and blitz him… a lot! Fantasypros.com shows that this season, Patrick Mahomes ranks 31st among those QBs who are blitzed. That may be because Mahomes does so well against teams that blitz him.

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Receipts Continue

In an article called, “Jets CB Sauce Gardner sends stern warning to Travis Kelce ahead of Week 4 showdown with Chiefs” he is quoted as saying,

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“I always want to go against the best, no matter what position it is. The best teams, the best receivers, the best tight ends. No matter who it is.”

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While Sauce Gardner will get his wish with Travis Kelce, I haven’t seen anyone who can cover Kelce yet. Except maybe Taylor Swift (that’s another subject we’ll get to later).

The point is, this may be a game in which the Chiefs come out on top by a lot of points…. just like they did last week in a 41-to-10 blowout. Sportsnaut.com has the NY Jets Defense ranked as the 3rd best Defense (while they have K.C. at #10). Here’s what they have to say about the Jets D:

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“It’s a shame one of the best NFL defenses in 2023 is going to be wasted… The Jets’ defense should still play at a high level for awhile, but NFL history has proven great defenses start to give up late in the year when their teammates on offense are an anchor on the team’s performance.”

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The same site says this about the Chiefs Defense:

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“It’s just different when Chris Jones is on the field. If an opponent decides to double-team him, the Kansas City Chiefs have the talent on the defensive line to take advantage. With the All-Pro defensive tackle elevating this pass rush, consistent pressure means wide receivers don’t have time to get open against a Chiefs’ secondary that is underrated in pass coverage. Next up is the New York Jets offense. We don’t have to tell you the Chiefs D/ST is a phenomenal play in Week 4.”

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Although I have concerns about the offense, with Patrick Mahomes running the show, those concerns diminish considerably.

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The Chiefs Defense has a chance, for the second week in a row, to shut out their opponent. Rish Baldinger says he sees the Chiefs D as the best in the NFL:

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With L’Jarius Sneed one one side and Trent McDuffie on the other side, the Chiefs have the best combo of CBs in the league covering opponents WRs and it doesn;t matter to me who those teams are bringing to the table, the Chiefs have enough men in coverage to weaken thier effect.

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We all know how good LJ is and has been. It’s wonderful to see our rookie CBs from last year having a good year this season.

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While we were wondering if they’d have a sophomore jinx, they’ve had nothing of the kind and the only reason Jaylen Watson is out this week is to protect his shoulder because this should be a great opportunity for this year’s 7th round rookie Nic Jones to get some playing time to see what he can do. Chiefs Concerns has it right (2:18).

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Off the top of your head, name a Jets Wideout? Hard to do? How about Randall Cobbs… he’s the only one who comes to mind for me and he signed with the Jets so he could play with Aaron Rodgers… who is now out for the year. Next in the WR line if Allan Lazard and Garrett Wilson. Yes, Mecole Hardman signed with the Jets this offseason, but his deal was made with the idea he’d be getting passes thrown to him by Aaron Rodgers too. The Jets Offense should be shut down while K.C.’s Defense runs them into the ground.

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Rough Ref Call

Alex Kemp and his crew will Referee this game. That’s not necessarily good news for the Chiefs. Kemp and his flaggers have thrown a lot of flags this year. More than he’s ever thrown:

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It looks like he’s averaged 13.0 flags thrown per year per game but this year his crew has taken a jump to 17.0. That’s a penalty per quarter in each of his games. Not sure what to make of it but any time the Chiefs are playing against an opponent AND the referees, it’s not a positive sign. Charles Goldman agrees with me.

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MetLife Stadium Weather

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Game time is at 7:20 PM CDT.

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The Taylor Swifties’ Effect

I almost forgot… how could I? Taylor Swift will be at this game sitting in Travis Kelce’s booth again this week. In an article called, “Taylor Swift Effect” boosts ticket sales for upcoming Chiefs-Jets game” by CBSNews.com, Caitlyn O’Cane reports:

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“The so-called “Taylor Swift Effect” is not just boosting Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs, but other NFL teams. Swift, who appeared in Kelce’s box at the Chiefs game on Sept. 24, is affecting tickets to the team’s upcoming game against the Jets at Met Life Stadium on Oct 1.”

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O’Cane goes on to say:

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“On Sept. 21, she urged her Instagram followers to register to vote at Vote.org – and 35,000 did, according to the organization’s CEO Andrea Hailey. Another 50,000 verified their voter registration status… While several new examples of the “Taylor Swift Effect” have surfaced in recent days, Swift has made a big impact on fans in the past.”

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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