Chiefs Host Raiders: OPEN THREAD -

Laddie Morse

Merry Christmas morning. I hope all your wishes are coming true.

Three games to go. That’s it. Just three more. The Las Vegas Raiders in Arrowhead today at noon, the Cincinnati Bengals on New Year’s Eve at 3:25, and lastly, the Los Angeles Chargers. That game has the time and date –> TDB (To Be Decided). I think, at one time, some people thought this would be a tough game for both teams, but the Chargers are 5-and-10 and going nowhere fast plus, they just lost a game to the Buffalo Bills, 24-to-22, and have yet to play the Broncos next weekend and will then finish up their ever so miserable season vs the reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. So, does it really matter when they play. I’d say not.

Today’s game versus the Raiders holds some importance for the Chiefs. They need to win out — all three games — to have any hope of nailing down the number one seed in the AFC. With the Dolphins beating the Cowboys in the final seconds on a field goal yesterday, 22-to-20, their record is now 11-and-4 and they are just one game ahead of K.C.. Here’s a look at the current state of affairs (the top five) in the AFC Conference (note the ESPN’s numbering system on the left):

Baltimore plays at the 49ers tonight so we’ll ahve to wait and see on that front.

The Dolphins won over the Cowboys yesterday on a last second Field Goal. They need to beat both of their final two opponents to grab the top spot but it isn’t going to be easy. They face the Conference leading Ravens this week then meet the Bills who they lost to the first time, 48-to-20.

The Browns will not best the Chiefs.

The Chiefs need help to win the Conference #1 seed, but it’s still quite possible.

Buffalo is on a roll, but needs help to get there.

Note: The Bills may be the most feared opponent in the conference because no one will want to face them come playoff time (not even at Home) if they keep up this pace (the Bills have won 4 out of their last 5 games and will play the Pats — a sure fire win — at noon today).

Zip Code 64129 Weather

No snow is projected for Christmas day in Kansas City nor will there be any at Arrowhead Stadium today.

Referee Assignment

I’m not happy about this one… but referee Clete Blakeman and his crew will be the Chiefs and Raiders officials today. Prior to this season, I would say that referees targeted the raiders more than any other team. Now it seems the Chiefs are being targeted. Anyone specifically? Yes, our new Right Tackle, Jawaan Taylor leads the NFL in penalties with 17 overall penalties while second place has 11. Taylor has been called for: 8 False Starts, 6 Offensive Holding, 3 Illegal Formations, and 1 Face Mask. Will having Clete Blakeman and his crew help with this situation? We’ll see about that but it doesn’t look hopeful right now.

Penalties

After a recent game against the BUffalo Bills, not only did Patrick Mahomes get upset, but Head Coach Andy Reid did too, each spouting off about the officials in the post game media event. Kadarius Toney was flagged for being offside by inches, and while many fans compared that Offensive Offside Penalty to the one following 2018 season when Dee FOrd was fallged for Defensive Offside, and just like 5 years ago, everyone blamed the refs. ] As a result, the league office published a fine for both the Head Coach and Quarterback” $100K for Andy Reid and $50K for Mahomes. Reid said in his post game remarks:

“Normally, if it’s even close, you get a warning… the head coach gets a warning. I don’t know, I didn’t have a protractor out there, but it’s a bit embarrassing [for the league].”

What Mahomes said was even more striking:

“It’s obviously tough to swallow… not even just for me but… for football in general… to take away greatness like that, I mean, for a guy like Travis to even make a play like that. Who knows if we win? I know as a fan you want to see the guys on the field decide the game. That’s why last week, I didn’t say anything about the flag, that didn’t get called on [the] Marquez [non-call]. I mean they’re [the refs] human man, they make mistakes, every week we’re talking about something [that has to do with the officiating]. All I can do is go out that and give the best that I have [and] I’m proud of the guys cause that’s what we did cause it was a great football game… another great football game that ended like that, it’s just a tough thing to swallow.”

Here’s that play that Mahomes remarks followed and the cause for him getting so upset (0:23):

Here’s the other play (in the previos game) that Mahomes was also referring to with the Packers DB draped all over the back of Marquez Valdes-Scantling before the ball arrives:

Should those two penalties have been called? I’m of the opinion: yes. The game needs rules and those plays may have helped to determine the outcome of each game, but they were necessary… the first one — above — and the flag that wasn’t called, but should have been. So… it puts the Chiefs in position to win one game (vs the Packers), but not the other (vs the Bills). It all comes out in the wash. Just please provide a fair game.

Plus, if Andy Reid had been warned about Toney lining up off-sides earlier, maybe KT would have lined up on-sides his last time.

One Last Note to the Refs: please leave RT Jawaan Taylor alone… and “NO!”… he’s never played for the Raiders.

Game Day Injury Reports

Chiefs: