Kansas City Chiefs Laddie Morse

Chiefs Endure Their Own Feeble Foils

LadnerMorse November 12, 2018 No Comments

 

 

 

Chiefs Endure Their Own Feeble Foils

by Laddie Morse | November 12, 2018

 

 

The Kansas City Chiefs scored the fewest points they’ve scored all year long and survived a valiant effort by the lowly Arizona Cardinals, in a 26-to-14 victory. Although the Chiefs defense has been getting the Lion’s Share of blame for their horrid play, they held the Cardinals offense to 260 total yards while the offense was held to 330 total yards and QB Patrick Mahomes was held to 249 passing yards, the first time he’s thrown less than 300 yards in a game since opening day.

 

Patrick Mahomes Breaks Len Dawson’s Record

Patrick Mahomes threw his 30th and 31st TD passes in this game, both to Tyreek Hill, thereby surpassing the Kansas City single season passing TDs record held by Lenny Dawson of 30.

 

A “Back to the Past” Scheme

While Patrick Mahomes continues to set records, HC Andy Reid looked like his offense had returned to his old habits, habits from 2013 to 2017: kicking field goals in the red zone and predictably turning to the running game ONLY, late in the game. If this is the offensive look the Chiefs will be taking with them to Mexico, and more importantly, the playoffs, they can kiss a Super Bowl championship this season goodbye. While this approach may have worked against the Arizona Cardinals, it will not work against the good teams that the Chiefs will face in the playoffs.

 

Penalties and a Selfish Streak

The Chiefs shot themselves in the foot on several drives with untimely penalties. The most notable penalty was the one on Tyreek Hill who, after scoring a TD, jumped into the stands and took the network camera control away from the camera man. That forced the Chiefs ensuing kickoff to be done from their own 20-yard line. Those kinds of plays have to be stopped and if they’re not stopped it will have a great negative effect in the playoffs. Tyreek Hill may be a highlight machine but he can’t forget he’s part of a team.

 

Sack Nation: Eric Fisher

The Chiefs left tackle, Eric Fisher gave up sacks like they were on sale on Black Friday. Not all of the sacks were on Fisher. In fact, Patrick Mahomes simply didn’t get rid of the ball like he has in previous games. 5 sacks for 34 yards is unacceptable… especially when you consider that the Chiefs had only given up 17 sacks all season long up until the game vs the Cards.

 

The Defense Came Through

Here’s all of the Chiefs defensive stands in this game against the Cardinals:

 

  • Cards scored a TD
  • Cards Punted
  • Cards Punted
  • Cards Punted
  • ——— End of the First Half ———
  • Cards Scored a TD
  • Cars Punted
  • Cards were Intercepted
  • Cards Punted
  • Cards gave up on Downs
  • Cars were Intercepted
  • ——— End of Game ———

 

Anytime you can hold the other team to two TDs, it was a good game for your defense… for the most part. However, if the Chiefs D had not produced those INTs and forced them to turn the ball over on downs, the offense would have been in trouble, and the outcome in danger. The defense was the reason for this victory when it comes right down to it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offensive Woes and November Snows

It may be rare, but the offense was not at it’s best in this game. It had its moments, but being held to their lowest point total of the season against the Cardinals 20th ranked defense was a bad look. For those who have been thinking that Patrick Mahomes was going to have a down game, this may have been it. Although Mahomes completed 75% of his passes (21 of 28) and had a superior Rating at 125.4, the offense sputtered and stopped many times including 5 punts and 2 FGs. Many may argue that FGs are scoring plays but scoring FGs is part of a past pattern and not a good sign for this offense in terms of Red Zone effectiveness: 2 of 4. Plus the Chiefs offense was 4 of 11 on 3rd downs. Also not a good sign.

 

The offensive line looked like they couldn’t protect Patrick Mahomes at many critical junctures of the game. It’s another way the Chiefs were not up to par in this contest.

 

Absence Makes the Heart

WR Sammy Watkins was not available for this game and it seemed to have a deleterious effect upon the offense. Not to worry… while the Chiefs were “barely” winning, Sammy was recuperating and will be available for next weekends soiree in Mexico City. 

 

Clouds With a Silver Lining

1. A Win is a Win. Any time you can win in the NFL, you have to be happy with it.

2. Winning the Game Day Rushing Crown: the Chiefs ran the ball for 118 yards for 5.1 yards per carry. The Cards ran it for 94 yards for 3.7 yards per carry.

3. PMII had his lowest total passing yards in this game at 249 yards but, Alex Smith, in his best season as the Chiefs QB, averaged 269 yards per game with a 104.7 rating. This season, Mahomes is averaging 315 yards passing per game and a 116.7 Rating. Compare and contrast, it’s good for the soul.

4. Did I mention that Patrick Mahomes broke Len Dawson’s 53 year old record of 30 TD passes in a single season by throwing his 30th and 31st TDs versus the Cardinals?

5. Ford Has Gone A-feasting and A-beasting: with a sack of QB Josh Rosen in this game — not to mention all the pressures he applied — Dee Ford is now up to 9 sacks in 10 games. At this rate, he should vie for the league lead in that category by year’s end. Only Danielle Hunter of the Vikings with 11.5, and Aaron Donald of the Rams with 10.0, have more Sacks than Dee Ford.

6. Five Sacks and 2 INTs: Ron Parker, Allen Bailey, and Dee Ford all had one sack while DL Chris Jones had two. Justin Houston going up for an Interception in this game was a highlight for sure. However, the INT by Steven Nelson, who continues to ascend, was the more timely of the two INTs… essentially bringing the Cardinals drive and efforts to stay in the game to an end… with 00:22 seconds left on the game clock.

7. The Trap is Closed: It appears that this may have been a trap game for the Chiefs. Although they didn’t lose, it’s clear, the Chiefs could have, and easily. The Cardinals had a much more stout defense than either the Chiefs expected, or were prepared for. Either way, now that they’ve passed this test, the Rams await.

 

Championship, Shampionship!

When we watch these games of the Chiefs, we’re all looking for signs. What signs you ask? The signs of a championship caliber team. I didn’t see that today. I saw a coach who was coaching, “The Same As It Ever Was” and I saw a new QB who still was learning the ropes but not being given the support he needs to succeed… or take a team to the heights of the NFL. If the Chiefs play this same way they did on Sunday… when they face the Rams, I don’t see any way they can win. Now, if these same bad habits continue, the playoffs will be a Novella with a bad ending, tragic really, considering the potential.

 

In Requiem: Brittany Matthews, Patrick Mahomes

On a sad note… it was reported later in the day that Patrick Mahomes’ girlfriend’s father passed away after the game on Sunday. Appropriately, Mahomes skipped the post game media events to be with Brittany Mathews and her family. Peace be with you at this difficult time. Prayers of support are on the way.

 

 

 

 

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