NSLU: Numbers That Count? Chiefs, 30 – Chargers, 13

I took notes tonight with a good deal of meticulousness. A review of the successes of the game follow below. They are exceed the errors. It should be noted by all, and I think most of us had the same question before the opening Kick Off [The Chiefs won the toss and deferred so the Chargers received]. That question was: WHICH CHIEFS TEAM WOULD SHOW UP THIS TIME?

The Successes Were Obvious

1. The Chiefs played football on both sides of the ball
2. The Chiefs ground game was a huge positive
3. The Chiefs won the turn-over battle 4-zit
4. KC’s defense forced the Chargers to use Gordon
5. Al Smith went deep to Hill on a 30 yard pass and 64 yard TD
6. Marcus Peters returned, kept his emotions in Check and had 3 contributions to item number.
7. KC kept their “way stupid penalties to a minimum.

There is more to be observed.

Back to the game notes:

Andy Reid should, by now, have determined that Nagy is a far better play-caller than he. The Chiefs, perhaps should have scored 2 more Touch Downs but settled for 2 Field Goals but in the end, it didn’t matter.

What About the Play-calling?

Nagy’s play calling was very good. In the first Quarter on the first possession, the Chiefs went an anemic 3 and out. It wasn’t until late in the 4th Quarter that the Chiefs had a 3 and out after that. I am pleased with this. Still, thy shot themselves in the foot, such as on their second drive where they ended up settling for a Butker Field Goal. This was due to a dropped pass by Travis Kelce and a scrambled play that resulted in a Smith incomplete pass to Ty Hill.

KC went up 10-0 on the 3rd possession but the Chargers came right back and scored their own TD but the Extra Point was wide. Chiefs 10-6 but failed to convert despite moving the ball on a 53 yard miss by Butker. This is where I found a worry or two because Rivers led a charge right back and went up 13-10 just after the half. Note that on their preceding possession they had gon to Melvin Gordon to move the chains. After starting the 2nd half and punting, the Chargers came back with a score and took the lead. At this point, the Chargers had trailed in a game for more minutes than the previous 3 and their score to take the lead was on an Antonia Gates wide open strike from Rivers.

At this point my observation picks up the missed LB assignment and I am not sure of which LB it was to have been. From my view, this was Reggie Ragland’s err but I wonder about KPL and his injury and whether the assignment was shifted and missed. Oh: Kevin Pierre-Louis had a superb pass defense during this game and it wasn’t a simple 5 – 8 yard pass play.

The Rest of the Game?

From this point, KC trailed 10-13 but held the Chargers scoreless the rest of the way.

I had made a note to myself just before the half that the Chiefs would have to figure how to stop Gordon who was used very effectively but to no true avail. The Chiefs focus had clearly been to stop the Rivers aerial antics and for the most part they did so.

The Chiefs settled for 3 points on Peters Interception to the Chargers 6 yard line with two Faux pas in a row. There was a no call of interference in the end zone on Harris within the mix of plays that resulted in the FG, which iterates once again the no-calls that I am constantly seeing against the Chiefs.

Three subsequent Turnovers by the Chargers, interception by Ron Parker and a fumble recovery forced by Peters and recovered by Ron Parker plus Marcus Peters 2nd INT sealed the deal. This was the Chiefs defense that has been missing all along — something we have grown accustomed to seeing but has been largely the missing ingredient for two seasons.

Other Major Achievements?

• Hunt rushed for well over 100 yards and had more than 200 total yards. It was good to see him breaking runs loose again. He scored 2 TDs.
• Smith went long to Hill, taking advantage of Hill’s speed on a 30 yard pass and a 64 yard TD.
• Chris Jones had another major game with a sack and at least 2 harried/hurried throws by Rivers. [I like what I am seeing from Jones]

Bottom Line for a Game Summary?

The Chiefs took care of business and had their way with a major rival. It wasn’t a perfect game but it was a good game for the hometown crowd. The loser of this game likely will not make the playoffs. For the Chiefs to clinch? A combination of two losses next week by the Raiders and Chargers OR, Chiefs win out.

Sure, there were errors. For example, Hill had a great punt return negated by a Chiefs holding call –LDT.

As noted, there were two anemic possessions and the Chiefs had opportunities to put up six and not 3 which they did not capitalize on. It appeared to me that the Chargers, just before the half, had adjusted to their ground game and using Melvin Gordon as the 2nd half proved out. Rivers though, was never able to take advantage of that other than the Gates scoring drive.

I made comment that the only way to head into the playoffs was to go on a roll and win out. This was game 1 of that type of playoff run and this was a “playoff game of import.”

This was a gratifying win for all concerned (unless I get some vociferous negative commentary which might or might not be valid). Me? I am pleased that the faltering team has turned it around.

One more note: late in the game Marcus Peters was having a conversation with Eric Berry. I believe that it was a review of the facts and the lessons that appeared to have been received by the former. Let’s hope so.

*NSLU: No Stone Left Unturned

David Bell – Avery, ID

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