Chiefs: It’s Time for 4Q

Chiefs: It’s Time for 4Q – it’s time to answer the four (actually six, this week) most pressing questions facing the Kansas City Chiefs as they prepare to travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans.

Question 1

Will Patrick Mahomes play this week?

If I was a betting man, and I’m not and never have been, I would guess that Patrick Mahomes will play this week. Do I have inside information. Not today. Like Reid has stated, Mahomes would have gotten up from the turf after his injury and played right then and there so, there’s is nothing in his character keeping up from doing that. Now, when a player has to rely on doctors to make a determination of “readiness” the question becomes, how much of their decision is based upon feedback from the individual player? So there’s that. Meaning, Mahomes is going to do and say everything he can to get back on the field. One note; the powers that be, higher up than Reid or Veach, will be wanting assurances from doctors that they aren’t putting their franchise guy back in harm’s way enough to guarantee that he won’t be lost… not only for the rest of this season… but for good. So, there’s also that.

Question 2

Should the return date of Patrick Mahomes be tied to the return date of LT Eric Fisher?

I would say yes… and… that’s a firm yes. This is one of the reasons I believe Mahomes will return this week… Eric Fisher should be back in the lineup this week too. Of all the starters who have taken time off over the last several weeks, it’s the Chiefs left tackle, Eric Fisher, who’s been missed the most. Meaning, Cam Erving has been horrible, forcing Andy Reid into placing an extra man on the left side to help block or, calling a pass play that requires the QB to get the ball out of his hands quickly or suffer the consequences… and one of those consequences was having Erving step on Mahomes ankle.

I could also be exactly wrong about Fisher’s return date too: a week ago, Matt Derrick said this:

This may be an indication that Eric Fisher may not be back until another week goes by. I know Reid likes to have a player take on two weeks of practice before returning. Since he shut down Fisher after he tried to practice two weeks ago… we may have to count this week as his first week of full practice (if he practices this week) which I expect him to do.

Now, back to question 1… if Fisher is out another week, I would support Mahomes waiting another week as a result.

Question 3

Has RB Damien Williams proven he can be the #1RB for the Chiefs?

In one 91 yard breakaway run, Damien Williams catapulted his ypc average from 2.1 to 3.8. So, is he the player who averages 2.1 yards per carry… or the player who is a long threat and can take it to the house 91 yards on any given occasion? Obviously, both are true. When DWill was brought in to fill the backup role for Kareem Hunt last year, I believe it was with the idea that if Hunt was gone at some point (because it’s hard for me to believe that the Chiefs didn’t have an idea about multiple problems with Hunt, which he was lying about) then Veach and Reid had to believe DWill could “be the man” in their backfield scheme. After all, Williams has 4.40 speed and catches the ball out of the backfield with the best of them.

The problem with the Chiefs running back room right now is… they don’t have a proven banger between the tackles who can guarantee a first down or a TD in short yardage situations. The kind of back who can be called upon 15 times per game to take it between the tackles and punish DL and LBs. That may be one reason Andy Reid called a QB sneak on the play that got Patrick Mahomes hurt a few weeks back.

Question 4

Has the Chiefs Defense earned some respect, yet?

Yes… and no. Is the Kansas City Chiefs defense a top ten defense yet. No. Are they a bottom feeder defense still? Also a no. So, respect? It’s hard to say. It’s likely true that there is no team out there planning to avoid a Chiefs lock-down corner… because they don’t have one of those right now. It’s also likely the case that teams aren’t planning to place extra help on the outside during pass protection because of a guy like “Derrick Thomas” because the Chiefs don’t have one of those guys either… but then again, no one else does either (however, the Chargers pair of pass rushers are causing some havoc). What teams may be respecting is Chris Jones (more on him later).

The Vikings had several high ratings prior to Sunday’s game. From PFF:

“Before Sunday, the Vikings had the 2nd best Team Offense grade in the NFL. On Sunday, the #Chiefs had a 71.4 Team Defense grade and 79.7 Team Run Defense grade, both season highs. CB Charvarius Ward was targeted 7 times, allowing only 3 REC for 24 yds. DL Chris Jones had 7 QB pressures. Had the highest grade for #Chiefs vs run & in pass rush. When “under pressure,” #Chiefs DEF held Kirk Cousins to 4/16 for 55 yds. Following their win over the Vikings, the #Chiefs are 3rd in Offensive EPA per Play and 16th in Defensive EPA per Play.”

A 16th (expected points) rated defense? That’s a far cry from the 31st rated defense of 2018. Respect? It’s could be referred to as, “A Coming Attraction.“

PSQ

Like me, can you keep from smiling (laughing) as you watch Tyreek Hill run 23 mph catching Damien Williams and escorting him to a TD?

I can’t stop laughing everytime I see the clip of Hill racing from one end of the field to the other like everyone else is in slow motion. Keep your eyes at the top of the screen where Hill starts out and almost comes to a complete stop first… and then……… whoooosh!

I just can’t stop laughing for some reason.

PPSQ

Is it time to pay Chris Jones?

Inspired by Dean Dahlquist, Ransom Hawthorne once wrote a piece here on AO called, “The Harsh Truth: Chiefs Unlikely To Extend Chris Jones” in which he outlines why it would be difficult for the Chiefs to pay Chris Jones.

However, after seeing CJ hurt… then return to action… and blow up the game on Sunday… I think the Chiefs need to find a way to pay Chris Jones. Furthermore, if the Chiefs want to draft a mammoth mother DT early in next year’s draft and move Jones to Defensive End, where he played much of the day vs the Vikings… the Chiefs could end up with a DL for the ages.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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