Chiefs Dominate the Jags

Chiefs Dominate the Jags

by Laddie Morse

It was an enjoyably strange trip on this gloomy dreary day in the 100 acre wood of the Kingdom. Oh my, another victory? Yes, and this time over the vaunted Jacksonville Jaguars defense, 30-to-14. In a contest that featured 7 turnovers along the way, there were plenty of chances for the Heffalumps and Woozles to change the course of this game but in reality, the Kansas City Chiefs dominated the Jags in most every part of the game.

Another reality the Jags had to face was that 5 of those turnovers belonged to them. 4 INTs and one lost fumble which happened to come one play after Patrick Mahomes threw his first INT of the season. One kind of negated the other: the defense was responsible for flipping any momentum the Jags had gained by intercepting Mahomes. That timing helped keep the game on a winning track for our boys in red and gold and the Jags never seemed to catch a break… which often happens to the Chiefs.

A tip of the hat to the Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill. He appeared to win the battle with the Jags All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey. Hill had 4 catches for 61 yards with a long pass against Ramsey for 36 yards.

I’d also like to officially announce that the Tony Romo Hex is now over. The Chiefs had not won a game for which he was the announcer… and now… they have. Expelliarmus!

A couple of Chiefs who performed their magic without a lot of fanfare were TE Travis Kelce and WR Sammy Watkins. Kelce had 5 catches for 100 yards receiving and Watkins had 6 receptions for 78. Wingardium Leviosa!

If you were going to sum this game up in one word for the Kansas City Chiefs, it would be passion. Yes, the Chiefs had two players thrown out — Chris Jones for elbowing someone after the play was over, and Dee Ford for taunting — but those were due to the passionate way that Chiefs players were approaching this game.

It’s growing tougher and tougher to criticize the Chiefs defense when they keep winning like this. This game showed that the Chiefs defense has some grit and gristle. Yes, they gave up 502 yards but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the main reason for all the yards is due to the Chiefs quick strike offense which gets a lead and then stretches that lead, forcing opponents to play catch-up and revert to a predominantly passing style scheme. That’s called controlling the game and the scoreboard.

The Chiefs defense has become stellar in the Red Zone. Which also means it doesn’t matter much how many yards you give up because there’s next to no way the other team can keep up with you. So, in this game, the Chiefs won the possession game too by holding onto the ball for 32:43 while the Jags had it for 27:17. While we can reason that the Chiefs offense scored quickly… you also have to give the defense a nod for taking the ball back again and again and again… and building a moat around the End Zone.

The Chiefs had 424 total yards. That’s 78 less yards than the Jags… but does it matter? Not when you win by 16 points. Fans betting on the Chiefs in this game should be hap hap happy because they covered the spread easily. Let’s take a closer look at the difference in total yards for the Chiefs so far this season.

Only once in the Chiefs first 5 games have they out performed their opponent in total yards… and yet their record is 5-and-0. On the season, the Chiefs have been out gained by 244 total yards, and yet their record is 5-and-0. With Justin Houston, Dee Ford and Chris Jones out of the game for the last part of the game (Houston was out by the end of the first quarter)… the Chiefs front four stepped up and were able to continue to put pressure on Blake Bortles.

Pressuring the quarterback was responsible for helping to create the 4 interceptions as well. Chris Jones, Jordan Lucas, Steven Nelson and Orlando Scandrick all had INTs and Scandrick’s theft came near the end of the game helping to thwart another Jags drive inside the red zone.

You might come to the conclusion that the Chiefs defense is playing with fire by allowing so many yards. Until we see them lose a game for the Chiefs, then you’d have to give up on that theory.

With the victory, Kansas City takes firm hold of the drivers seat in the AFC conference. With…

• the Jags moving to 3-2
• Cleveland beating the Ravens to push them to 3-2
• the Bills beating the Titans to make them 3-2
• and although the Steelers won, they are sitting at 2-2-1

It looks like the Bengals, who are 4-1, are the Chiefs closest competitors, as far as record is concerned. Sure, it may be a bit early for projecting playoff possibilities but the facts are, outside of Cincinnati, every team in the AFC is at least two games behind the Chiefs after 5 games.

That’s why next week’s game vs the 3-2 New England Patriots is so important. They are sure to be treating that game like a playoff game because they already have two losses and if they lose to the Chiefs, they’d be three games behind K.C. after only six games played.

When you can win a game like that, and still get a good look at the players who will presumably be taking over the OLB positions sometime in the future — Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks — it’s a great day. It’s also a great day when your amazing new QB — Patrick McPhenom — throws zero TD passes, but instead throws two INTs… and you still win big, then you begin to wonder if the Football Gods have finally nodded in your direction.

Admittedly, anytime your defense gives up more than 500 total yards, you would wonder if they’re any good or not. However, there were definite signs that they have turned a corner and are playing better as a unit. My premonition about this game was “that we’d see something different” and indeed we did. That difference was the defense stepping up and helping to win this game. I’m not willing to say the Chiefs played a “complete” game — as in, their defense and their offense and their special teams all won out — but there’s no denying that players like Jordan Lucas, Armani Watts, Chris Jones and yes, even Steven Nelson, made a big difference with their play.

Nine Times… yes, 9 times, the defense either forced the Jags offense to: Punt… or they got and INT… or they forced a Fumble… or they took over on Downs.

That equals nine stops. Any defense that can do that to another team… is most likely to win that game. Of course unless, their offense is a steaming pile of pooh. Which… the Chiefs offense is not. When you have one of the up and coming, and best, QBs in the league, your defense has an opportunity to shine and that’s exactly what happened on Sunday: shine, shine, shine. Which wasn’t easy, since it rained almost the entire game… in the 100 acre wood.

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