Chiefs vs Jaguars Recap
by David Bell
Preliminaries
This game was anticipated to be a tough game for both teams. Prior to the game the pundits went largely to anticipate that the Jaguars would win the game. However, Vegas believed otherwise. At any rate, my view of the situational nature of players missing and the Chiefs playing at home had the score projected as 32-19. It turned out 30-14.
Before the game began the Chiefs had injuries that were a worry. Sammy Watkins and Dee Ford were questionable but both were ready to play.There was some thoughts that Armani Watts was also a question but he had full practice on Thursday so I felt he would be ready to go.
Injuries Arise
During the contest, LD-T suffered a fracture in the Fibula and will miss several games. The Chiefs lost Justin Houston to a hamstring injury, Armani Watts suffered a groin injury and Steven Nelson a leg injury. The severity of the latter 3 is not known.
The Contest
Two players on the Chiefs were ejected for personal fouls: Dee Ford and Chris Jones. Let’s call this stupidity and hope that Reid sets them on their ear and fines them internally. Kareem Hunt was also called for a taunting penalty in the game. Reid probably will have his disciplinary hand busy Sunday Night.
Patrick Mahomes suffered two interceptions during the game so his string of wracking up zeros in this category is now ended. He also did not have a passing TD.
The Chiefs initial two drives resulted in 10 points, the first being the rushing TD by Mahomes. The play-calling and game plan for the offense was dynamic and kept the team in sync and motivated. While the Chiefs offense scored the first 13 points of the game, it was the Chris Jones Pick Six deep in Jaguar territory that put the Chiefs in a commanding position for the remainder of the contest. The half-time score was 20-0.
The second half saw another Mahomes pass intercepted, the ejections of Ford and Jones, some sloppy play by both ball clubs and a generally good defense by the Chiefs who gave up a TD that came before garbage time as the game ended. Bortles had perhaps 150 yards passing on two possessions after their initial score but that resulted in only 7 points which was where the scoring ended.
Young players, rookie or not, made a big contributions in this game. It should be noted that Armani Watts made a big play in the first half but ended up in the medical tent with groin injury. Steven Nelson had an interception and played well until he suffered a lower leg injury. Jordan Lucas, a backup safety had 7 tackles and assists along with an interception. This was a simple acquisition but Lucas may prove to be a boon to the secondary due to his versatility. He is also a top special teams player as well. Tremon Smith had a quarterback sack as did Chris Jones. To end the game, Orlando Scandrick intercepted a Bortles pass effectively ending the match. The subsequent snap led to timing expiring.
Due to their second score, the Jaguars attempted an onside kick and recovered the kick to give the ball back to their offense. This is a Special Teams blow up and the first I have seen for eons. Dave Toub will be having a little chat about that, if not tonight, then I am sure sometime Monday.
Bortles moved the Jags into scoring position but was promptly intercepted. If anything, having the younger players contribute to the effort, especially on defense was one big key to the game. With Tanoh Kpassagnon and Justin Houston exiting the game early due to injury, Breeland Speaks, Dee Ford and Chris Jones had outstanding efforts at keeping pressure on Craig Bortles. The stupidity of these two players ejections might have resulted in putting the game in danger but… all is well that ends well. I hate to use that line.
With a 13 point lead in the first half and turning the ball over to the Jaguars on the first pick of a Mahomes pass, it appeared that the Chiefs had handed over momentum to Jacksonville. This turnaround was short-lived as Bortles threw a sloppy short pass that was picked off by Chris Jones who promptly ran it in for the score. Later in the game when a momentum change might have occurred, Bortles was again intercepted.
I won’t give the Chiefs an “A” for effort in this game on either offense or defense. My view of Chiefs scoring in all 4 quarters is high. I also valued the effort by the defense in the first half as an “A.” The rest of the game devolved into some mindless and nasty football. Stupidity appeared to flow into the brains of some of the Kansas City players.
The Chiefs overcame their own malfeasance and came away with a strong win against a good defensive Jaguar team. My view of the Jaguar offense proved to be correct. They lost one of their RBs during a game in which Fournette was out due to injury, proved correct and the loss of Grant left the Jags with one major contributor. The Jaguars ended up with 101 yards rushing.
Keeping the opposing defense on the field for long stretches of the game I believe was an important factor. In the second half, after giving up a TD to the Jacksonville, the Chiefs marched downfield and scored a TD of their own. The sloppy play and prevent situation make it difficult to evaluate the defense in the 2nd half. At the same time, losing 3 major forces on defense, Houston to injury and Ford and Jones to ejections were things difficult to overcome. This is where the young guys came through and it was good to see. I think the Chiefs deserve a B- for this game but I was extremely happy with defense in the 1st half and the control of the tempo of the game.
The Chiefs are 5-0 to Start 2018
The Chiefs have an immediately tough game next weekend against the New England Patriots on tap. This upcoming game is the last of the opening 6 where I had felt to be 3-3 during this part of the season would have been a decent result.
Some Statistics
- Patrick Mahomes – 22/38-313 yards, 2 INTs and 1 Rush TD
- Travis Kelce – 100 Yards receiving, 5 catches
- Sammy Watkins – 6 catches, 78 yards
- Ty Hill – 4 catches, 61 yards
- Hunt: 22 rushes, 87 yards
- Other rushes: 48 yards