Chiefs: Rise (After the Deluge)!

David Bell

It all starts here!

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The Outlook On Saturday

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Theme Song

“Rise” is the Theme Song. Great Dance Music to which my second Ex would attest (on the Plaza, 1980 or 81). I loved this Album when it was released. Enjoy!

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Today is Saturday, and as I write this particular missive, I will add results for the day as I go along. I was interested in what the Kansas City Chiefs would do in the 2023 start-up because of some things posted by ArrowheadOne followers. Still, I am only going to comment as it applies to our Veterans (as every player will be a Chiefs veteran unless they depart for greener pastures in 2023). Laddie’s article on Saturday covered a lot of this ground, so refer back to yester-noon to see his articles, one called: “Laddie’s Ladder: NFL’s Top Six Teams Ranked” and the other called: “Chiefs Levels: On the Level” (on Friday).

I started looking at Laddie’s list in the last offseason to identify the Chiefs Foundation Players. I am still seeing this as a Work-in-Progress. Why? Well, the LB and CB groups were rebuilt on the fly –> Gay, Bolton, were added in the 2021 and 2022 drafts, and so was the OL with Trey Smith and Lucas Niang. Two significant additions were made to the secondary. Trent McDuffie was added via the draft, and so was Bryan Cook. Veach went out and signed Justin Reid in that offseason work as well.

Added to the DL was Carlos Dunlap via Free Agency, and Brett Veach drafted George Karlaftis. The WR group had to be a “Re-Tool-on-the-Fly” job after Tyreek Hill decided to dwell next at South Beach. In round 3, Veach drafted Skyy Moore. In the 7th round, Brett Veach selected RB Isiah Pacheco plus two more significant contributors to the secondary: Jalen Watson and Joshua Williams. One other player began to get more looks: S, Nazeeh Johnson. Veach and his scouting crew did excellent work to put together perhaps the greatest Chiefs NFL Draft of all time. The only remaining player from last year’s draft to mention is Darian Kinnard. I think they have a construct to move him to an OG Role in 2023, and I hope that Lucas Niang returns as a starter in 2023 at ROT.

Our Pro Bowlers of 2022 are a great place to start. The team has many playmakers arising this season, also highlighted in Laddie’s “Levels” article. As we get into the 2023 offseason, I will continue to build on the idea of “Foundation Players.”

When we get to the offseason, we can begin to see who the Chiefs retain among the veterans, who will be tendered new contracts (such as: Jerick McKinnon and JuJu Smith-Schuster). I expect to see Kadarius Toney emerge as a contributor in the WR room. Maybe more than just a contributor, a vital cog in the Patrick Mahomes Target list. I think Toney emerges as one of the top two targets for Patrick Mahomes, including JuJu Smith-Schuster, because I anticipate the Chiefs will tender JSS a multi-year contract. More players fulfill the need for role players every season. Then? The Draft!

Wild Card Weekend

The next three days (including Saturday) will determine the teams in the Divisional round of the 2022 post-season, which will educate us on who the prep week will be focused upon as in: the opponent. We will face either the Jaguars or the Chargers (Jags won, so it’s the Jags). The result of that game will be determined by late Saturday evening. The prep work will become more granular on Saturday night for the coaching staff. Then, a few days later, we will arrive at “Red Friday.” The fun starts before Monday’s playoff game has been completed.

Filling In the Blanks And The Chiefs Division Round Opponent Is?

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NFC Thoughts

49ers (the victor) hosted the Seahawks

(Sat. 3:30 PM Central)

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This game might also be considered to determine what happens after a Deluge (rainfall). The 49ers were favored, and rightly so. I had wished to see the Seahawks prevail in poor conditions and a low-scoring game, but the conditions weren’t awful.

The Seahawks played well and didn’t make mistakes in the first half. However, the errors began to pile up at the end of the 3rd Quarter. Seattle was driving, and inside the 49ers 10, a penalty set them back, and then Seahawks QB, Geno Smith, was stripped of the ball. That turnover was like a floodgate opened. Smith was intercepted in the 4th quarter as well. The 49ers reeled off consecutive scores to 41 points. Seattle continued to make mistakes. Finally, they drove and scored at the end of the game and tried an onside kick which failed. Those mistakes made it a near route in the 2nd half by a highly talented 49ers’ roster. After the onside kick, the 49ers drained the clock, and the final score was 41-23, 49ers.

I remain impressed with 49ers’ QB, Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant of the 2022 draft (last player taken in that draft). He was off-target in the first half, but from then on, he made plays and hit his targets. The 49ers have now won 11 in a row, and 7 in a row for Brock Purdy.

The NFC Battles

Giants at Vikings (Sunday, 3:30 PM CST). The Giants seem to be playing tough football. I can’t even tell you what might happen. I will just sit back and watch. The Cowboys face the Buccaneers at 7:15 PM CST, on Monday Nights Football. No doubt which team most Chiefs fans will be rooting for (or against). We are a bit sick of the Tom Brady syndrome. This is a game I will pick the WC team to win.

Back Over in the AFC

The Dolphins face the Bills on the Road (Sunday, 12 PM CST). There is a lot of talk going on down at South Beach. Tyreek Hill once again opened his mouth and inserted an 8-hour boot. In case you are wondering, a stinky old boot. The Bills are highly favored and will win this game.

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Ravens at Bengals (Sunday, 7:15 PM CST). Clearly, the Bengals are a top-quality outfit and should win this game handily. Burrow has all the tools he needs for the offense, and the defense is top in the AFC.

Chargers at Jaguars (Saturday, 7:15 PM CST). A game I would have said that the Chargers would win, but last week, the Bolt’s HC, Brandon Staley, played starters, and their top WR Mike Williams was hurt and won’t play today. So I thought to swap to the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence. They are +2.5. I will stick with Herbert to find a way to win. That game will determine the Chiefs divisional-round opponent.

The game started with a quick score by the LAC after a Jaguar Turnover. Two more picks of Lawrence led to another Chargers 10 points as they headed into the 2nd Quarter, but note that the Chargers were playing on a “short” field. The Jags appeared to be “Tight” and not playing within themselves. I was following the dialogue on RGR as they cover the game, and one of the followers observed: “Trevor Lawrence had completed six passes, half of them to his team.” That got a gut laugh from me. As the half approaches, the Chargers have the ball, they move and lead 24-0. As far as the first half is concerned, I see defects in the players on the field.

Doug Pederson, the Jags HC, was brought in to begin to fix the problems. My view of the Jacksonville team was their problems began with the former HC, Urban Meyer. He was fired in December 2021. For that matter, Jacksonville was not expected to make the playoffs. Meyer set the table with player personnel, and Doug Pederson inherited them. At the same time, much blame must go to the GM, David Caldwell. New GM, Trent Baalke took over for Caldwell in January 2021.

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Pederson’s arrival has aided Trevor Lawrence, but the team has seemed out of kilter among many player positions in the first half. Just before the half, after a punt, the ball dropped and and hit the receiver’s helmet. LAC recovered, but did not move the ball. Finally, something went right for the Jaguars (despite the error on the punt). LAC was forced to an FGA, which they made. LAC got the ball back, but went 3-and-out. On the punt return, JAX returned the ball to LAC territory and steadily drove, and scored a TD –> Lawrence to Engram. “Oh, Wonder of Wonder, Miracle of Miracles“… Jacksonville stopped the bleeding. The score at the half was 27-7. The Jaguars have turned the ball over five times in the first half and four of those turnovers were picks.

The second half kick saw LAC start possession at their 25. Unless a miracle happens, the Chargers will win this game. On the Jag’s 1st p session of the 3rd quarter, they scored a TD, with the PA and the score was 27-to-14. They did an excellent job moving the chains and drove the length of the field, but, it’s now a football game. LAC drove back into FG range, making the score 30-14.

Still, in the 3rd Q, the Jaguars moved the ball effectively and scored on a long Lawrence pass to Jones. They tried for a two-point conversion, but failed on the attempt. The score as the game entered the last period was 20-30. It now feels like a football game, one that is up for grabs. The Chargers got a roughing of the QB call on 94, Jags’ Josh Allen, but the foul was committed by #44, Travon Walker. A stupid play. Pederson almost threw his clipboard. Then Herbert scrambled for 15 yards out of the pocket, for a first down, across the 50 yard-line, followed by a completed pass inside the 35, but the Jags got a stop. Then, the LAC’s FGA was no good, and the game momentum shifted again.

If the Jags score a TD here, it will be a tight finish. If the Jags pull this out, it will be a classic LAC collapse. Bosa got a penalty for throwing his helmet on the ground, giving JAX’s 2-pt conversation attempt from the 1-yard line was converted. Now, the score is 28-30. Next, the Chargers failed to get a first down and punted the ball away. Good Grief! The Jags have a shot at a miracle comeback possibility. The Jags drove to the 15-yard line on a 4th down run. The Jags are going to win the game. Epic Collapse. Jags 31-3 over LAC from the time the score was 27-to-0 LAC. Now, all Doug Pederson has to do is run the clock down to 3 seconds for an FGA which was made! Jags WIN! Wow!

My Take on the Divisional Round?

For me, it doesn’t matter who the Chiefs face. It will be a game played at –> Arrowhead. So, I won’t have to leave the “House.” The Chargers completely collapsed. This was a miracle comeback by Jacksonville. Time to kick some Trevor Lawrence Booty — Again!!!!

After the Deluge

Now I’m Referring to the Deluge of Negativity by the Pundits Prior to the 2022 Season Opener

So take care of business, and the 3rd AFC Championship game in 5 seasons will be ours! This past off-season and pre-season saw numerous pundits and analysts predict that the Chiefs would not win the division and/or might not make the playoffs. That flood of opinion turned its back on reality. The reality was the Chiefs…

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SWEPT THE AFC WEST!

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The Chiefs finished with a 14-3 record. Unheard of. Many records were set in 2022. Brett Veach and Co. did an excellent job of working with Andy Reid in selecting players for the draft. I have not seen a punch of prognosticators sitting down to a meal of crow. They were wrong, and the Chiefs were right in re-tooling on the fly –> The Defense Front Four, Cornerbacks, Safeties, and WRs. Even the 7th round Draft Picks made a difference (Pacheco, Watson, and Williams)!

This is the crew the Chiefs go to battle with. After Saturday, specific prep work rolls forward, and the Chiefs will practice getting into the swing. The young roster is an outstanding, but competent group of young men. The young guys are stepping up, but we must wait for the Divisional Round, to see the first fruits.

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David Bell – ArrowheadOne

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