Chiefs Magic in Denver
It was a game for the ages. Fans will be talking about this one, decades from now, and people will say, “I saw that game.” As much as this game was nerve-rattling from the scoreless defensive war of the first quarter to the Chiefs second overtime Field Goal that hit one upright and barely missed the other… this game was magic. The last FG was the equivalent of a 7-10 split on the last shot of a tournament and making it.
Painful Bliss
This game was like straddling a cactus and fortunately, the Chiefs forced the Broncos to sit down hard because losing this game had to be hard to take. For now, it clears up the AFC West standings with Oakland sitting on top at 9-2, K.C. in second place at 8-3, Denver picking the cactus from their rears at 7-4 and San Diego, who won on Sunday holding down last place, but moving up fast, at 5-6.
Magic. That’s what it was. Here’s just one incredible statistic from the magic night in Denver:
Tyreek Hill: first player with a rushing TD, receiving TD and kick return TD in a single game since Gale Sayers (1965 Bears against Vikings)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 28, 2016
Tee For Two… Err… Three
Just as little boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tail, hyperbole and misinformation are the substances NFL TV announcers are constructed of. If I had to listen to Chris Collinsworth talk about Von Miller for one more minute last night I was going to have to commit hari-kari with kicking-tee. As it turns out, the kicking-tee was one of the weapons that won this game. Normally I am grunting and groaning at the TV because the Chiefs are kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns. Last night, Andy Reid did the unthinkable by taking points off the board when the Broncos were called for a penalty on a successful FG try by Cairo Santos. Without that TD, the Chiefs go down in flames in Denver. Consequently, Santos is teeing it up to kickoff with 7 on the board instead of 3.
Swaying Goal Posts and Swaying Seasons
The football Gods looked down on the Chiefs last night and smiled. Not just because the Chiefs won the game, but how they won the game. Sure, there were so many situations that could have swayed the game one way or the other but when I went back and watched the last field goal by Santos… I noticed something I had to look at again and again to make sure I was seeing right. It was the goal post that Cairo Santos hit. If you keep your eyes on the goal post, you’ll notice it swaying this way and that way, back and forth. However, what is truly amazing is… that as the Santos kick is approaching the goal post, it begins to sway in the direction that allows the ball to hit it and ricochets into the end zone, good! Without that swaying at the exact right moment… the Chiefs lose that game… and perhaps their season.
That’s why I say magic. The games earlier this season should have been a clue that the Chiefs could and would win this game. However, I’ve been a Chiefs fan long enough to look past a few “lucky” wins and think, “Here we go again.” But there was no, “Here we go again” this time. Only the strong survive? No, only those with perseverance survive. Now, that’s exactly what these Chiefs have… PERSERVERENCE.
Call it what you will, Sunday Night Football in Denver was magic and I’ll never forget it. That game will be forever etched into my football soul.
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