Chiefs: Nearly Buzz Cut in Detroit – In the aftermath of a buzz saw, it’s important to understand what eposures existed that put the Kansas City Chiefs in a 0-10 hole. In a phone conversation with our illustrious leader, Ladner Morse, I told him that I was very unhappy with the play calling by Andy Reid. The net result was to have the Chiefs failing to score in the first quarter in a road game while at the same time spotting the hometown team +10. You cannot win on the road very easily when you give up 10 unanswered points.
If the playcalling was below par, so was team motivation. The Chiefs weren’t flat, but they were not performing as if the game mattered–until the second half.
What this did
It gave a good ball club playing in it’s friendly confines a robust attitude heading into the 2nd quarter despite their having failed on a couple of drives themselves. By the half, the Chiefs found their way back to a 13-13 tie.
My point was illustrated in an article by Nate Taylor of the Athletic who wrote in an article published on October 3rd:
“For 22 consecutive games, the Chiefs had scored in the opening 15 minutes, which tied the 2014-15 Green Bay Packers for the longest such streak in NFL history. One of the many reasons why the Chiefs’ offense was prolific last season — averaging 35.3 points per game — was because the unit always put pressure on the opponent through successful drives early in games.”
Adding to Blame Taking
Andy Reid, in his Wednesday presser, observed about the lack of dynamic offense which had a 22 game success streak of putting the opposing teams behind in the score out of the gate and failing to do so in Michigan, observed:
“… the other (teams) have done a good job. We’ve got to do a better job all the way around. I’ve got to give them better plays.”
What made matters worse, Patrick Mahomes was not having a stellar targeting day. His passes seemed to be characterized by near misses. They were a foot or two off target which made it very difficult for receivers to rein in the ball for a reception. It wasn’t until the 2nd half that Patrick seemed to get himself under control and make better passes. It also made a comeback that much more difficult and ended up being a drive killer.
Faux Pas Central: Stalls, Missing FGA, Penalties
The Chiefs defense did nothing to help the situation at this point, having allowed a drive by the Lions which resulted in a successful Field Goal attempt on their first drive. On KC’s possession, the Chiefs drove to good position to score but 3 successive passes by Pat Mahomes fell incomplete and the
KC Special Teams unit was forced to attempt a FG from 36 yards. I cannot for the life of me recall Pat Mahomes having three successive passes go incomplete. It is uncharacteristic of Pat’s accuracy. The passes were not horrid but they were not perfectly targeted balls either.
Harrison Butker’s missed FGA hurt and appeared to give energy to Matt Stafford and Lion’s offense which promptly drove 74 yards for a TD. Again, the defense failed to curtail the Lions, who added the extra point to take a 10-zip lead. On this 5 minute drive, the Chiefs committed two, difficult to swallow, penalties that provided 1st downs or extensions of first downs and prolonged the drive resulting in the TD.
Subsequently, KC drove to the Detroit four yard line and failed to convert in the red zone, having to accept three points on a Butker FGA.
Into the 2nd quarter and trailing 3-10, the offense has appeared to be anemic, and the defense piled on with drive extending penalties which opened the door to a Lion’s TD. Detroit continued to play with hometown exuberance and were upbeat after holding the Chiefs to three points. You could see that despite KC tying the game at the half, 13-13, the Lion’s players were playing stronger and working to build on their “Undefeated Status.”
The ensuing two possessions of the first half yielded the lead to the Lion’s on a FG and this was countered by a KC drive that stalled resulting in a Butker FG that tied the game, 13-13.
Second Half: Fumblitis and potential loss pending
Fumble #1 – Strippers vs MMA
The Chiefs open the second half with a fumble and giveaway. Highly disconcerting to me was how the fumble was forced. The Lion’s defenders were coached to pound the ball out of a receiver’s grasp with their fists which they did very well. This fumble was no different. Juxtapose that with what the Chiefs attempt to do, which is to “Strip” the ball from the ball carrier’s hands, and it demonstrates a different view as to how players are coached to force a fumble. KC loses the kickoff with fumble by kick returner Mecole Hardman. Detroit defender Agnew pounded the ball loose and it was recovered by Reeves-Maybin at the KC 36.
Fumble #2 — The second “GiveAway”
The Chiefs return the favor. They reel off 4 plays on the ensuing possession and fumble the ball away a second time, this time by RB Darrel Williams when our man “Flowers” knocks the ball loose and Detroit returns to the KC 28 after the recovery when the teams are tied, 13-13.
One Hundred Yard Oddity
You would think that “Odd Thomas” was taking part in the fracas. After the recovery by Detroit, they again pound the ball down to the one yard line. Out of the Shotgun, Matt Stafford is being pressured, evades to his right and Fumbles the ball. At the LoS, inside the 1 yard line Bashaud Breeland picks up the loose ball and scampers 100 yards for a takeaway TD! The Chiefs take a 20-13 lead.
After the ensuing kick, the Lions next drive stalls at the KC 35. Prater kicks a 53 yard FG spotted at the 35 to make the score 20-16.
Fumble #3
KC earns good field position on a return to their own 40 yard line. The problem is, the Chiefs were flagged for a holding infraction and the ball is placed on the KC 30. Jordan Lucas did the deed on the return that originated from the 1 yard line to the 40 (39 yard return reduced to 30).
This drive by the Chiefs is short: 3 plays and on the 3rd, Sammy Watkins has the ball pounded out of his grasp by Lion’s defender Coleman resulting in the 3rd giveaway. You will recall this possession because it is here on this possession the apparent serious injury to TE T.J. Hockenson occurs and he is carted from the field. If you go back to the draft, I wrote about obtaining Hockenson as an ideal #2 to Travis Kelce. He was hurt by trying to leap a defender and was turned around in the air and pounded the ground hard
with his shoulder. As it turns out, it wasn’t a critical injury. He will miss time.
Still, the Chiefs defense is unable to stop the Stafford led Lions and they score and make the Extra Point to regain the lead, 23-20.
The Chiefs are trailing at this point and take the kick off and drive the ball to the 44 yard line but the next play is a 2 yard loss. Here is the probable key to the game. Pat Mahomes throws a strike to Travis Kelce who laterals to LeSean McCoy and Shady advances the ball for another 15 yards to the Detroit 13. The Chiefs complete the drive and score on a 1 yard run by Darrel Williams with the Chiefs Extra Point converted.
The Chiefs again take the lead, 27-23. Think back now because this is the drive where Tyrann Mathieu blitzes and is through the line as the ball is being caught by Stafford — a deer in the headlights backing the Lions to their own 34.
Our Man Kpass
They punt the ball away. On the punt, Kpass commits a blocking above the waist infraction that was enforced at KC 30. KC comes up empty and Colquitt Punts the ball to 31. Detroit takes over and Matt Stafford masters a drive of 79 yards and another TD giving the Lions the lead again 30-27.
I think Andy was Out Coached
Matt Patricia has engineered a game plan that worked. Early on the Lions blitzed Mahomes and the defenders were pounding the ball loose. This drive leaves 2:26 on the clock.
Patrick Mahomes returns to “Cool”
The Chiefs last possession results in a quick, masterful drive led by Pat Mahomes. At the KC 34 and also at the two minute warning, the Chiefs are facing 3rd and 8. Mahomes pass falls incomplete intended for Robinson. On the down, KC calls time out and the ensuing play appears to be Mahomes
calling his own number, or at least using the RPO and he scrambles straight up the gut for 15 yards to save the drive.
The Chiefs drive continues to the Detroit 13 with 39 seconds left, and the Lions stop the clock. The next snap, Mahomes completes a pass to the Detroit 3 for a first down. Detroit uses it’s second time out. On the next play Darrel Williams takes it home to make the score plus extra point, Chiefs 34 – Lions 30 with 20 seconds left on the clock and Butker kicks off and no return is attempted. The Lions take over for 4 plays, a successful completed deep ball to the 50, a short pass to the KC 44 and then last two attempts fall incomplete to end the game in regulation. KC Wins: 34-30.
KC has a Buzz Cut And Still Wins
It was not pretty. There were many flaws in the game, beginning with play calling sequence errors by Andy Reid. Execution problems existed due to the fired up Lions defense and the blitz they employed to bother Pat Mahomes especially in the first quarter. These “hurries” were probably a big reason I noted that Mahomes accuracy was a part of the problem. Uncertainty and releasing the ball sooner than Pat wished may have been a good portion of the reason why I thought his accuracy was off.
I do not think the Chiefs were ready for this game. They went away from home, ran into a buzz saw and still came out of Detroit with the win.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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“The Great Meme Wars of 2019: Chiefs vs Colts”
by Michael Travis Rose
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