Laddie Morse
If you’re already as sick as I am of hearing about the “greatness of Joe Burrow” then we’re
riding in the same sinking boat. CBS and ESPN and every other sports news outlet are singing the praises of you-know-who and it’s making me want to vomit: excuse my French fried Italian.
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When I think about the Kansas City Chiefs there are far more issues which arise than Patrick Mahomes’ right ankle. However, since everyone wants to know about the health of PMII’s ankle and just how well he’ll be when Sunday’s game against the Bengals rolls around in just five more days, let’s get into that first.
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“Patrick Mahomes woke up WAY better today than what people in btw organization thought he would”
-Jay Glazer
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“He told you guys … that he’s going to play. That’s his mindset — and then we’ll just take it day-by-day and see how he does.” -Andy Reid
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“Mahomes has said he plans to play in next Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.” -Adam Schefter
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The best news I’ve heard yet about Mahomes is… that HC Andy Reid said, “Mahomes’ ankle injury ‘isn’t quite as bad’ as 2019 sprain.” In a 9/8/19 game against, oddly enough, the Jacksonville Jaguars (the same team they played this past Saturday), Mahomes injured his left ankle (this time it’s his right ankle) in the second quarter, had it re-taped, went back in the game and ended up throwing for 378 yards in a 40-to-26 victory. BTW, Mahomes played the very next weekend and whipped the Raiders, in Oakland, 28-to-10 –> while throwing for 443 yards... in another win.
While the consensus is that Patrick Mahomes will play on Sunday, no one knows yet just what percentage of the normal, magical, Patrick Mahomes we’ll get. So, since we won’t know until Sunday evening, let’s take a look at some other storylines we may be missing out on simply because of a high ankle strain. I’m in no way trying to minimize PMII’s injury, it’s just that it looks like everyone is focused on that, while other issues are not getting any attention.
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When Will Chris Jones Get Off the Schneid?
Again, CJ recorded zero sacks in a playoff game. That seems like big news to me. It may be negative for CJ but it is a big story non-the-less. While not recording a sack — again — in the playoff game versus the Jags on Saturday, here’s what CJ had to say:
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“I thought (I) was going to dodge the question. Unfortunately, I have 10 to 11 playoff games with no sacks. That’s not a huge priority, but I’ve got to make sure I get one this go around just to shut you guys up [meaning: the media].”
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If I was Joe Cullen, Jones’ DL coach, I’d be scheming up every possible way he can get CJ a sack. After all, it’s now also on him too, if CJ does, or doesn’t, get one, right? Sure, I’m glad the Chiefs won that game against the Jags, but the Chiefs best defensive lineman has NEVER gotten a sack in 10+ playoff games while registering 15.5 sacks in the regular season. Yes, other teams may be scheming up ways to stop CJ… but that’s all the more reason Cullen should be scheming up ways to get CJ home. Seems like the perfect game — against the Bengals — for this negative streak to come to an end. Especially since they have several starters along their OL missing in action.
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How is Carlos Dunlap as He Preps for CIN?
No one seems to be asking Carlos Dunlap this question: how’s he feeling as he prepares to go up against the team that drafted him ans which he played for, for 10 and a half seasons? Dunlap was the Bengals 54th pick in the 2010 NFL draft and although he played in a handful of playoff game while in Cincinnati, his first playoff victory came last Saturday versus the Jaguars. Although Dunlap has played in just 50% of the offensive snaps this year, he had 4.0 sacks to add to the 55 gotten by the Chiefs Defense, which helped to place them second in the league (a far cry different than the 29th place they were in 2021 with only 31 sacks).
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Can the Bengals Stop the Indomitable Mr. Kelce?
TE supreme, Travis Kelce, averaged 6.5 catches and 79 receiving yards per game this season and added another 1,000 yard season to his HoF to-be resume. On Saturday versus the Jags, Kelce needed to step up — because of an injury to his quarterback, which I’m sure you have all heard about — and he came up with 14 receptions for 98 yards. It was another stupendous performance for Kelce and many are wanting to know if he’ll be able to repeat that performance this Sunday vs the the vaunted Bengals defense. The last time the Chiefs met the Bengals, earlier in the season, Kelce had only 4 receptions for 56 yards. Both below his seasonal averages. While the Jags seemed to let Kelce run wild and especially across the middle of the field where Mahomes could readily locate him, and connect, many are projecting the the Bengals will allow no such carrying-on.
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Will Nick Bolton Assert Himself as Usual?
Nick Bolton had 16 combo tackles in the first game against the Bengals and he also added 10 combo tackles in the game last Saturday against the Jags. In both cases, Bolton was the team leader in tackles. Going from ILB Anthony Hitchens last season to ILB Nick Bolton this year has been a Godsend for this defense and Bolton finished the regular season as the NFL’s second leading tackler with 180 combo tackles while also breaking Derrick Johnson’s tackles record. DJ set his record (131 tackles in a season) in his 7th season, while Nick Bolton has set his record (180) in his 2nd season.
In Anthony Hitchens 5th season in the NFL, and his first in Kansas City, he had 135 combo tackles and the future looked rosy for our LB crew. However, he never broke 90 combo tackles in a season after that point. In the meantime, in Bolton’s first season with the Chiefs — his rookie year I might add — he had 112 combo tackles. It may be like comparing apples to oranges… but not really. The Chiefs were confident enough in Bolton to let Hitchens walk last offseason and he has become entrenched as the MLB for the team. BTW, Anthony Hitchens is a free agent and hasn’t signed with any team. He must be living off of the Dead Cap salary the Chiefs are still paying him of $4,223,750 for 2021. His name and contract comes off the books next season. Hallelujah!
Nick Bolton and his improved play as the Chiefs MLB, is one of the big reasons why I believe the Chiefs will beat the Bengals this time around. After losing the last three games in row the Cincinnati, fans must realize the each of those losses were by only 3 points in each case. One excellent player, like Nick Bolton, can make all the difference in the world v the Bengals.
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Biggest Reason the Chiefs Can Beat the Bengals
The Chiefs young secondary has taken a lot of flack this season. However, the Chiefs secondary has taken on many other changes, much more than can be typified by saying, the “secondary is young.” Let’s examine the Changes to the secondary:
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The secondary has been improving as this year (season) has progressed. Now, they may be improved across the board. Juan Thornhill has improved in he last few games and appears to have return to this high level of play when he was a rookie. L’Jarius Sneed is improved as well and is clearly the best player in the secondary. While Charvarius Ward began the season on a high note, he’s not been as good in the second half of the season while Trent McDuffie has begun to assert himself. McDuffie will soon be a better choice than Ward. Although Mike Hughes played himself out of a contract with K.C. and is now making $2.25 M for the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal. He’ll be a free agent. Whereas, the Chiefs 4th round selection in last years draft, Joshua Williams (6-3, 195) is improving and it looks like he has a higher ceiling than the former first round pick, Hughes.
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Patrick Mahomes Highlights
Perhaps the biggest storyline missing from these playoff days, is the focus that would be, should be, placed on Patrick Mahomes incredible performances. Here are 27 of his best plays (so far). The following clip comes to us from the Kansas City Chiefs YouTube account:
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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