Chiefs Headliners: 1-6-23

Laddie Morse

Reviewing the NFL this past week was like sticking my hand back down the mouth of a shark after I’d already stuck my hand down the mouth of a shark earlier this week. And… I think you know why. Reviewing the Kansas City Chiefs Week wasn’t much different, because they are a big part of the NFL, and the game in which Damar Hamlin was hurt, had a tremendous impact on the team.

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Normally, and who knows what “normal” is any more… we’d have to be considering who the Head Coaches heads are that will roll come this Monday Morning. The process of deciding who the next head coach will be for a NFL team has a tremendous impact on the future of that team, almost as much as finding the right QB. This year, and perhaps more than any other year, Eric Bieniemy (EB) could get the call with an offer to be the next head coach for a team. While I’m hoping that team is not the Denver Broncos, I will support EB no matter where he ends up, unless they happen to be playing our K.C. Chiefs.

Charles McDonald wrote a piece this week for Yahoo Sports called, “As NFL Black Monday 2023 nears, here are the names to know on the head coaching market” in which he names coaches who are most likely to be considered for HC openings which include (in the order he names them):

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Lou Anarumo, defensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals

Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs

Ken Dorsey, offensive coordinator, Buffalo Bills

Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator, Denver Broncos

Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, Buffalo Bills

Jonathan Gannon, defensive coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles

Jim Harbaugh, head coach, University of Michigan

Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator, Detroit Lions

Jerod Mayo, linebackers coach/defensive play-caller, New England Patriots

Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator, Dallas Cowboys

Sean Payton, retired – Saints own his rights. A team will likely have to give picks for him.

Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator, Dallas Cowboys

Frank Reich, free agent

DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers

Jeff Saturday, interim head coach, Indianapolis Colts

Shane Steichen, offensive coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles

Steve Wilks, interim head coach, Carolina Panthers

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Three (3) NFL teams have already moved on from their Head Coach including the Indianapolis Colts, the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos.

Jeff Saturday was named the Colts Interim HC in early November and in his first game rallied the team to beat the Las Vegas Raiders. Since then, his Colts have lost six (6) straight. I consider the Indy job one of the best NFL HC jobs available this coming offseason. I doubt Saturday will be coaching games on Sunday’s this Fall.

Jerry Rosburg is the Interim HC for the Denver Broncos. Although his Broncos nearly upset the Chiefs last Sunday in Arrowhead, his chances against the Chargers in Denver don’t look good.

When Matt Rhule was fired with a 1-and-5 record in early October (2022) by the Panthers, Steve Wilks was named Interim HC. Wilks’ Panthers have gone 5-and-5 since that time and although he was the HC for the Cardinals in 2018 (with a 3-and-13 record), his status as a HC will end on Sunday.

The NFL teams that will be looking for a new HC should be the Colts, Broncos and the Panthers… at the very least.

How This Affects K.C.

Of all the names above mentioned as possible HC hires, 75% of them come from the ranks of successful assistant coaches for teams at the top of their game. That’s as expected, as it should be.

However, the question of whether or not Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy or HC Andy Reid calls plays in K.C., will continue to hurt him. If a team does hire EB, the Chiefs will gain a third (3rd) round pick this year, in the coming draft in 2023, and a third (3rd) round pick in next year’s draft of 2024 too.

Two reasons to cheer and support EB getting hired!

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John Breech published an article on Wednesday this week for CBS Sports called: “2023 NFL playoff picture: Here are the 14 teams projected to make the postseason with Dolphins sneaking in” and he projects the AFC to look like this:

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Here’s what Breech had to say about the AFC and the Chiefs:

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“If the NFL does NOT reschedule the Bills-Bengals game, then that puts the Chiefs in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. With the Bills playing one less game, the Chiefs would just need to beat the Raiders on Saturday to clinch the top seed.”

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While I doubt that the NFL will just cancel the Bill-Bengals game (oops, they did. See ChiefsWire tweet below), the above statement by John Breech would be hotly contested — not to mention revolted against — by Bengals fans. If the Chiefs lose to the Raiders, the Bengals would have a very good reason to play and beat the Bills, simply because if that happened, then they’d get the #1 Seed in the AFC (assuming they’d beat the Bills, and the only way to know is to play the game).

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Here’s Adam Schefter on what he thinks the league might do during the Playoffs:

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I guess Dianna Russini mean the owners will meet today, since she posted that yesterday. If you’re as confused as I am, that’s no surprise. Once we find out which teams have won this weekend, the real playoff picture will become much clearer… well, clearer than mud. Maybe James Palmer can make it clear…

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Uhhhh…. not really.

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In my mind, there’s just one player who can be the Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022-20223 NFL season and that is the Chiefs DL Chris Jones. Here Brian Baldinger explains it best (thank you David Bell for sending me this!):

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Here’s a review of the Chiefs Transactions this past week:

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JANUARY

01/04

Daniel Wise (DE) signed to the Practice Squad.

Bryan Edwards (WR) Practice Squad contract terminated.

Mecole Hardman (WR) activated from Reserve/Injured.

Geron Christian (OT) waived.

01/02

Jerrion Ealy (WR) signed to the Practice Squad.

Cornell Powell (WR) placed on Practice Squad; Injured.

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The most significant move has to do with Mecole Hardman being activated. I doubt he plays much in tomorrow’s game and if he does, his snaps will be limited, I’m sure. K.C. needs Hardman for the playoffs most of all. I’m also surprised that the Chiefs let go of OL Geron Christian. He was then picked up by the Dolphins and they sent Eric Fisher — remember him? — to their IR list.

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I’m leaving Damar Hamlin to the last with the hope that I hear or see a positive update on his condition. From Adam Schefter:

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“Bills S Damar Hamlin opened his eyes last night [Wed. night] and is responsive. Truly incredible. One thing that’s very clear from speaking to those close to him: They are endlessly appreciative of the medical care given to Hamlin on the field immediately, then over the last 72 hours.”

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I also understand Hamlin was awake enough to write a message to the doctors asking, “Who won the game.” When we were watching and heard that Damar Hamlin needed CPR on the field of play… we knew it was LIFE alteringly serious. What we haven’t known is exactly who gave him CPR and… now… here’s one of those people:

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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