Chiefs: Week 4 Reflections, by Paul Pulley – The first thing I would like to say about the Chiefs versus Lions game, is that if a person did not have any type of attachment, emotionally or otherwise, with either team, this was an absolute fantastic game on an entertainment level. Great plays by both teams, on both sides of the ball, the massive turnover spree in the 3rd quarter, five lead changes in the second half, the Chiefs taking the lead with only 20 seconds remaining in the game and still the Lions able to attempt two Hail Mary passes to end the game. This could easily end up as one of the most exciting games of the 2019 regular season.
Ball Security
The Chiefs need to hire a boxer, maybe Mike Tyson is looking for a side job. These receivers and backs need to put in some extra work on holding on to the football. Justin Coleman practically dominated Sammy Watkins Sunday, and Watkins body language was starting to show defeat. It wasn’t just Watkins either, Hardman, Thomas, Williams, shoot, they all need to improve because they now have a target on their back that the ball will come free.
Un-Special Teams
Special Teams were once again, anything but special. Penalties, penalties and more penalties, add in the poor ball security and if this kind of play keeps up, heads need to roll, and I’m looking at you Toub.
On the subject of special teams, we’re really missing Tyreek Hill on punt returns. Thomas just isn’t getting the job done, not with his decisions or his performance.
The Boomerang Defense
The defense is still making some excellent plays, but then turn right around and make horrendous plays. Back and forth, twist and turn, we have to expect opposing offenses to make plays, but we also need to expect more consistency from the defense. The good news is, they are making some excellent plays, they just need to string a few of them together, as well as limit the opposing offenses chunk plays.
Matthew Stafford made several excellent throws that were practically indefensible, but the massive holes in the run defense is a big problem. Middle linebacker is a huge weakness to date. It also seems there are communication issues as well, as I noticed a few plays where we had two LBs attacking the same gap, leaving a nice big lane for the Lions RB.
Pringle the Pinball
Byron Pringle only had one reception Sunday, but it came at a most critical time. The hits he took while still managing to not only stay on his feet, but to hang onto the ball, made the play pretty special.
Mahomes Misses
Patrick Mahomes had an un-Mahomes like day in Detroit. His long ball was off, sometimes by a lot. Some of this had to do with the physicality of the Lions DBs, but I believe the biggest miss was on the free play at the end of the first quarter. Hardman was in motion, looped around the QB for the fake hand-off, and then Mahomes threw the inside screen to Kelce, that went nowhere. If Mahomes had looked slightly to his left, Hardman was absolutely wide open at the 10 yard line and could have waltzed into the end zone for a TD. Instead we settled for a field goal early in the 2nd quarter.
Andy the Magician
Third string tight end Deon Yelder, made his first two career receptions Sunday, both catches, for a combined 43 yards, came on the Chiefs very first drive, and then we didn’t see him again. I didn’t hear anything about an injury, so I have to assume that Coach Reid borrowed a trick from David Copperfield and somehow vanished Deon.
Clock Management
I know, I know, this isn’t breaking news, but the clock management at the end of the first half was once again… questionable, to say the least. Mahomes made an excellent throw to RB Williams, who was tackled at the Lions 26 yard line, with 25 seconds still on the clock. Instead of calling a timeout, the offense attempted to run to the line of scrimmage, and run a play. The play was as incomplete pass that left only 7 seconds remaining, and in came the field goal unit. The Chiefs got the 3 points, but went into the half with a timeout still on the board.
A timeout called at the 25 second mark, could have set up a decent opportunity to get the ball into the end zone to end the half with a lead instead of a tie. I assume Reid went conservative, thinking he would have the ball to start the 2nd half, but we know how that turned out.
The AFC West
A win is a win and the Chiefs maintained their 2 game lead in the division by edging the Lions on Sunday.
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- This week the Raiders play host to the Chicago Bears, so yeah, hehe, good luck Oakland.
- Denver travels to Los Angeles to face the Chargers, and as much as I hate to write this, “go donkeys.”
Finally, the Chiefs will collect their 5th victory of the year, Sunday night at Arrowhead. I hope everyone enjoys the game, it should be a fun one.
Paul Pulley — ArrowheadOne
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