Chiefs at Patriots in
Primetime Football:
OPEN THREAD
by Laddie Morse
For the Kansas City Chiefs, the games just keep on getting more and more meaningful. That’s what happens when you win your first five games of the season with a new first round quarterback in place. It also just so happens that the Chiefs will be going up against what many believe is the GOAT — Greatest Of All Time — QB in Tom Brady and that makes the significance of this game even more meaningful-er. On top of that, Patrick Mahomes could be seen as unseating Brady as the best QBs in the AFC… if he and the Chiefs torpedo the Pats in Gillette Stadium tonight in front of a primetime national audience. After all, when the Chiefs went to Denver in week 3 and faced the Broncos, they had the highest NFL primetime rating in over a year and blew away the competition from other sports that night:
Primetime v Showtime?
Patrick Mahomes has become a hot button topic for fans in Kansas City and beyond. Local, as well as national, pundits have tried their best to give Mahomes a nickname but “Showtime” seems to be the one more people are using… and yet, it doesn’t work for many, like myself, who grew up cheering for the “Showtime Lakers.” This week, the NFL made a move in the schedule to flex the Chiefs noontime game with the Bengals next Sunday, to Sunday Evening, once again in Primetime. With three more games in primetime following next weekend, that will give the Chiefs six total primetime games this season. Showtime Mahomes? Primetime Patrick… seems more fitting.
Mania, Madness, and Nostradamus
As much as I am thrilled with the development of Patrick Mahomes… the megalo-manical way many are treating the Chiefs view from the top (5-0) is waaaaay over the top. I’ve heard some say Patrick Mahomes is headed to the Hall of Fame. I’ve heard predictions of 2, 3, and 4 Super Bowl victories in the coming decade. Just yesterday, radio sports commentators were saying, “If the Chiefs can beat the Patriots, then 16-and-0 is a real possibility because the schedule gets a lot easier from here on out.” Are you kidding me?
Now, I like to take stats and “tweak” with them and “twerk” with them (well, maybe not… twerk), as much as the next knucklehead out there… but these kinds of Nostra-dramamine style forecasts are moving us forward so fast they’re enough to give anyone motion sickness. Plus, they’re wildly irresponsible. I say, “irresponsible” because, where do we go from here? If the Chiefs do win a Super Bowl this year or next… or go 16-and-0… what then? Will the “believers” be ready to call Patrick Mahomes a deity? Maybe fans will be ready to call Mahomes the GOAT… before he’s even played his third season. It’s just a level of cray-cray that needs to cease. So, let’s stop, smell the preverbal roses, and enjoy the ride while there’s a ride to enjoy.
The Chiefs Defensie Backfield
The Chiefs defensive backfield has been much maligned… and sometimes for good reason. Sure, they’re 31st in the league in passing yards allowed, but they are also part of a unit that is tied for 7th in the league in sacks. You may wonder what does that have to do with the DBs? This defensive backfield is covering long enough for the front 7 to apply pressure and create sacks. They work hand-in-hand and this defensive backfield is not only excellent in the red zone but making timely stops. Sure, the Jaguars are first in the league in passing yards allowed… but then again, the Chiefs just wiped their noses and sent them to bed early. This week’s “Under the Helmet” features the defensive backfield, enjoy:
Reid is Belichick is Reid?
You probably recall Andy Reid saying during the offseason that he planned to throw the ball more to Kareem Hunt, and his running backs, during this season. Last year Hunt had 455 receiving yards for more than 28 yards per game average. This year? Hunt is averaging 13.2 yards per game receiving for 66 total receiving yards. Guess who is leading all their WRs in receiving yards? If you read David Bell’s article this morning then you know it’s the Patriots RB James White with 270 receiving yards (btw, TE Rob Gronkowski has 308 yards receiving). What does it all mean? Firstly, I’d be really concerned if I was coaching Anthony Hitchens or Reggie Ragland because neither one of those ILBs has done a good job in coverage this year and covering RBs out of the backfield has been their faux pas supreme. Let’s hope Chiefs DC Bob Sutton has a better scheme than sending Hitch or Rags out in coverage in this game. It could be this game’s Achilles heel for K.C..
Time for Predictions:
Chiefs 35, Patriots 24.
What’s your prediction for this game?
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-at-patriots-in-primetime-football-open-thread/#disqus_thread)
Laddie Morse I know that Halloween was a couple of weeks ago, but since 13…
Laddie Morse I will say right up front, that it appears to me that both…
Laddie Morse Here's the "Pick a Little Talk a Little" song off of the Music…
Laddie Morse Chiefs 16, Broncos 14 I have relatives in the Denver area and I'm…
Laddie Morse The Kansas City Chiefs will be shooting for a 9-and-0 record today and…
Laddie Morse Playoff Picture We’ve technically reached the half way point of the 2024 NFL…