No Beating the Chiefs Experience – for some it’s the fly-over, for some it’s the smell of barbecue, for some it’s the end of the National Anthem, for some it’s the game itself. I say, it’s all of the above and more. There’s just no beating the Chiefs experience.
It’s been some time since I last got to go to a Kansas City Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium and that’s mostly because I spent the better part of the past 20 years living in the Dallas area… and now because I don’t have the stamina to stand up during a whole game. That’s right, if you plan on going to Arrowhead, and I hope you can and will if at all possible, you should plan on standing the better part of the game… unless your seats are in the front row. This little clip captures 2 minutes of a recent game from the seat nearer to heaven, but captures a lot of the real Arrowhead — in game — experience:
Last time I was at a Houston game at home. pic.twitter.com/BxKrGLrvqI
— Dman9999999 (@dman9999999) January 7, 2020
That’s not far from the season ticket seats (on the opposite side of the stadium) where I had tickets and had the privilege to watch Joe Montana perform in a Chiefs jersey. It’s also just as fond a memory that my teenage daughter attended her first game with me… and then fell asleep with cheering fans all around… with her head on my shoulder. Yes, Arrowhead is a family environment and if you can take anyone in your family there, it’s an experience that should not be missed.
It was mentioned this week that the Chiefs haven’t won but one single playoff game at Arrowhead in the past 25 years. Here’s a tweet-video that was published a year ago today showing a game at Arrowhead 26 years ago today, of a Joe Montana victory, AT Arrowhead:
How long's it been since the @Chiefs won a postseason game at Arrowhead?
Well, today's the 25th anniversary of their last home playoff win. And even that one didn't come easy. pic.twitter.com/WHdG8t5uVK
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) January 8, 2019
Of course, the Chiefs did beat the Colts at Arrowhead a year ago… plus, as I like to say, and firmly believe, “The past does not equal the future”… so more playoff victories will be forthcoming, forthwith.
If you get to go to this Sunday’s playoff game vs the Texans, be sure and arrive early to do some Tailgating. There is nothing that compares to the feeling of “community” and of course the smell and taste of K.C. BBQ done the only way” –> your way. That’s right, bring your own grill and see how many friends you can make… you’ll be so pleasantly surprised.
NFL: Arrowhead Stadium is by far the coolest. At the end of the National Anthem, instead of singing “home of the brave,” the entire crowd chants “home of the CHIEFFFFS.” Its a chilling experience. The full game atmosphere and the food absolutely rocks.
— Brandon Gibson (@bgib_24) June 28, 2019
If you’ve never been in the stadium when the National Anthem comes to an end, and heard 76,416+ Chiefs fans yell in unison: “… and the home of, THE CHIEEEEFS!!!”… then you are missing out on the experience of a lifetime! Just a suggestion here… but be sure and take extra ear plugs. Arrowhead Stadium holds the record for the loudest stadium in the world at 142.2 decibels. My father was an acoustical engineer and would tell you that permanent ear damage can happen at sounds over 92 decibels so… I’m just sayin’…. Not to worry, you’ll love Arrowhead.
There are also those who do a great job of capturing the Chiefs on the field as well. One of those people is Seth Keysor of the Athletic. Here are a couple of his recent video tweets:
Mike Pennel, still strong. The Chargers didn't have much luck testing the interior early on and noticeably shifted towards pitches and other runs to the edge. pic.twitter.com/qf6C3IkjR9
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) January 1, 2020
Next, Keysor shows how the Chiefs defense can be good against the run. It looks like no matter who they play after they dispatch with the Texans, the Chiefs will have to be their very best against the run:
I'm not sure I can recall a more doomed play, lol. The moment Gordon has the ball both Jones and Ragland are in the backfield. pic.twitter.com/a69tLMTsDE
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) January 1, 2020
While there are those Chiefs fans who are concerned about the absence of Safety Juan Thornhill for the playoffs, Seth Keysor makes a good point about Rashad Fenton:
Fenton being healthy and playing well is crucial with Thornhill injured. It allows KC to use Fuller in a variety of ways if they can trust Ward/Breeland/Fenton to handle CB duties (with Mathieu pitching in). https://t.co/4S2bDdKQ0P
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) January 1, 2020
CB Mo Claiborne should also be healthy for this game too.
Another person who does a great job of capturing the essence of who the Chiefs have become on the field, is Brian Baldinger. Here’s a recent vid clip of his:
.@chiefs and their track team are resting their “Hammy’s” this weekend. Good luck slowing these sprinters down. #chiefskingdom #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/Lwrnyfj5Pe
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) January 1, 2020
Badly makes me laugh every time I watch this. “Who’s slowing this track team down?”… or his commentary on Damien Williams long run vs the Chargers… “… but the race is on. Who’s going to finish the race? I see three Chiefs, I see Damien, I see Tyreek, I see Demarcus, all finishing one, two, three.”
Local AM radio stations, 610 and 810 on the dial, also do an excellent job of covering the Chiefs. Here’s Baldinger discussing Tyrann Mathieu and his impact on the Chiefs defense on 610 radio:
ICYMI: Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) joined us on #TheDrive to discuss the importance of Tyrann Mathieu & how he's been the catalyst to the #Chiefs' improved defense.
PODCAST: https://t.co/GeQPIwaTW6 pic.twitter.com/c7S0oGCXMN
— 610 Sports Radio (@610SportsKC) December 20, 2019
To get a better appreciation for how much better Steve Spagnuolo’s 2019 defense has become, here’s a video of Brian Baldinger presented by Soren Petro of 810 AM radio showing a TD catch by Amari Cooper from 2 years ago…
Some film breakdowns from Brian Baldinger on Chiefs coverages. Keep in mind… Pass rush would help on this as well. https://t.co/6agHwiQOgr
— Soren Petro (@SorenPetro) October 24, 2017
It’s hard to imagine that kind of breakdown in the Chiefs defensive coverage happening now. The Chiefs are too good on the back end and the front four can put more pressure on the QB than they did then, two years ago. Also, it carries a different kind of weight when you here Brian Baldinger say, “We’ve just never seen anything like Patrick Mahomes.”
You know who else does a tremendous job, not just covering the Chiefs, but giving you a real feeling that you are right there with the team… is B.J. Kissel. I am such a schmuck… but I can’t recall a time when I have… laughed and cried and had the chills... ALL AT THE SAME MOMENT… as when watching this following video by BJ Kissel:
You’re gonna wanna watch this. https://t.co/TL5n7D6CBI
— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) January 7, 2020
If you haven’t been able to get out and see a Chiefs game LIVE at Arrowhead Stadium, hopefully I’ve given you a little taste of what that feels like here today. I have found, there’s no beating the Chiefs experience. Go Chiefs!
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
P.S. Now for the Yummy Morsel of the Day: the Chiefs are the only team still playing at this time of the year… who was also still playing at this time of the year one year ago. Been there, done that can mean: confidence, competence, and understanding the challenge.
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