David Bell
Finally!
I have waited for seven games for the Chiefs Offense to Emerge and Erupt… and on Sunday Afternoon, it did. Last week I wrote an article with a question about where was the Mahomes wizardry, entitled, Chiefs: Where are the Mahomes’ Miracles? Check it out if you haven’t already.
I cannot say that PMII made miracles happen vs. the Chargers. However, what I saw was… Patrick Mahomes, as I expected to see him:
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–> He made plays and connected with four different targets for TDs.
–> He connected to receivers who made things happen
–> Mahomes had 424 aerial yards, 4 TDs, and sometimes used his feet to move the chains
–> 10th time in his career PM exceeded 400 yards in the air
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Not necessarily… Miracles? This performance is what I think of as the basic PMII… his standard fare. Okay, okay… I guess I should say that the Mahomes Magic finally arrived in 2023.
There was magic, and it was evident in the game since his apparent kinetic surreal connection to TE Travis Kelce was –> magic personified. Kelce resulted in 12 catches on 13 targets with 179 yards receiving and 1 TD. Maybe I should write more about Taylor Swift being present as part of the new mystique! Certainly, Kelce was magic on Sunday!
The spark that I felt… was in Patrick’s game being back, unlike what I had felt over the previous six games. Sure, Patrick Mahomes missed some passes and was intercepted once. For example, he missed a deep pass to Skyy Moore, but for most other passes, he was on target, completing 32 for 42 — about 76% — and his QB rating was back where we all had wanted to see it at 129.5.
Am I satisfied? Unequivocally, my answer is a huge –> “YES”!
With Mahomes success, the offense didn’t sputter either, which was something analysts and fans knew had been absent in previous outings. The result was winning the game going away, with two late TDs that put the icing on the cake. Finally, the offense was as expected – a powerful force that the Charger’s Defense could not stop.
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Adding a Powerful Defensive Player
Enter Stage Left – Charles Omenihu! Though Omenihu was playing his first game of the season, he provided a sack, two tackles, and a deflected pass that resulted in an interception. His success rate in pressuring Herbert was meaningful at the same time. I think it was nearly 23% on his limited number of snaps. This was the type of contribution that I expected once he was signed by Brett Veach. Further, it was evident that he and Chris Jones worked well in tandem in creating havoc. I was a bit disappointed with the defense against the run, but overall, the Chiefs ended up holding a powerful Chargers offense to 17 points –> 2 TDs and an FG (all in the first half of play).
The point output by the Chargers was still below my magic number of 20 and was even a match to my old magic number of 17. This is a significant accomplishment for the Chiefs defense, the only team in the NFL to hold every opponent to 21 points or less, the only team exceeding 20 was the Detroit Lions who scored 21 in the opening-day loss by the Chiefs.
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This Week’s Outlook
Fans and pundits will contemplate the upcoming game vs the Denver Broncos as a potential “Trap” Game. However, I do not. With our defense firing on all cylinders and offense finally having reached it’s stride, the Chiefs will win their 7th game of the season at Mile High… and that will make 7 in a row. The weather forecast from Bianchi Weather is just this:
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“Looks increasingly likely that Denver will
get its first snow of the season this weekend.
Won’t be a huge storm, but models coming into
better agreement on at least some. Also,
temps will drop into the low 20s, maybe
upper teens early next week.”
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Remember, Mahomes has said, “I think I’m a snow game guy.” Cold weather will not deter the Chiefs and we are talking about a “Dry” cold at that.
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Bad News From the Chargers Victory?
Nick Bolton suffered a dislocated wrist and will need surgery, thus being placed on the IR for a number of weeks. Watching the injury occur, I anticipated that this was bad news. Fortunately, the Chiefs feature Willie Gay (WLB), Leo Chenal (SLB), and in steps Drue Tranquill as the Green Dot LB until Bolton returns. I am very certain the LB success of 2023 continues unabated. Willie Gay probably had the best game of his career in Sunday’s victory at Arrowhead with 5 tackles, one for a loss, one pass defensed, one QB Hit, and one sack.
I have written previously about my view of adding Tranquill to the mix. I cannot see the defense faltering. The Chiefs will most certainly emerge with a 7-1 record before heading to Germany to face the Dolphins.
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All In All?
I am a believer in these players, this team and it’s coaching staff. The Chiefs are now “All-In”… one for all and all for one.
Go Chiefs!
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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