Point Taken! Chiefs Squeaked By Ravens, Bengals With Two Wins

There are several key elements to the game on Thursday Night vs the Ravens, plus the Bengals game last Sunday… and I want to observe a few of them.

Three-peat Attempt: Well Underway

I have no idea whether the Chiefs will get to the AFC Championship game or not, nor Super Bowl LIX, but anything I might speculate here is about just that. Today? The Chiefs are 2-0 (including the W over the Bengals) on their new quest. That’s a good start for 2024. I worried all pre-season that the KC could fail and lose the opener at Arrowhead as they did in 2023 vs. the Lions. I am sure I am not the only Chiefs fan — read that as “nutcase” — who uttered a “Whew” as the clock ticked to 0:00 finally breathing again after holding my breath during the execution of the final two plays. Whew-w-w-w!

I am pretty confident that this Mahomes-led team will win the AFC West and obtain a good playoff position for the upcoming post-season play. I would rather not face the Ravens a second time… this time in the playoffs. They are a tough out and it would be difficult to sweep two games in the same season and post-season. Let’s avoid that if possible. That’s why an improved offense is crucial to 2024’s regular season. It would be best to earn the bye this year. Going the path as KC did in 2023 would be tough sledding.

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Prognostications

Most prognosticators see the Chiefs with an 11-6 record. I understand that. Myself? I predicted 13-4, and if all the breaks go their way, I can see a 14-3 type outcome. The Chief’s roster is very good, the offense will be a complete upgrade over 2023’s version.

I suppose I am an eternal optimist.

The Defense looked good, even with players in the mix, so it will take time to gel. In 2023, the Chiefs defense ranked as the #2 defense. That’s a tough mark to match, much less improve upon, but I saw good signs that DC Steve Spagnuolo’s (Spags) unit is well put it together and will improve game by game. Having Bryan Cook return to the field of play is a blessing, but I expect major contributions from Nazeeh Johnson, Jaden Hicks, and Chamarri Connor as the first half of the season moves along.

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Cornerback? Yes, we have Trent McDuffie who played a great game. I am also looking to Jaylen Watson to firmly seize the #2 CB role due to the loss of L’Jarius Sneed in Free Agency.

Jaylen Watson looked decent for the whole game. Not up to the level of Sneed, but he didn’t make a major mistake. It appears to me that Watson will be the starter in week two, getting a vote of confidence from CB Coach Dave Merritt and DC Steve Spagnuolo. I did not see major errors by any of the secondary during the game.

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Skinning the Tiger

I didn’t expect an improved performance by the secondary in Week Two. I think they gave up too much to WRs during Week One vs. the Raven’s various drives as the game coursed down the field and there were too many, ‘bend don’t break type’ plays. Danged if Spags didn’t do some magic and then Butker kicked the winning FG as the game expired.

Another big “Whe-w-w-w”!

I am going to scrutinize the defense as much as possible. Week Two saw the Chiefs face a very good team: the Cincinnati Bengals. A nail-biter? I guess that’s the truth. The skin of the teeth? Yes, that characterizes it. “Ugly”… as Laddie coined in the phrase? You bet. It was ugly because the OL couldn’t do spit.

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Wrong On Schedule

The NFL did the Chiefs no favors when constructing the schedule, including an early bye week. Weeks 3, 4, and 5 see the Chiefs face the Falcons and the Chargers — both of which are Road Games) followed by a game at Arrowhead vs. the Saints. Even those three games are not an easy row to hoe... I am going to state it here: I now believe that the Chiefs will indeed be –> 5-0 at the Bye. After the Bye, they face the 49ers, another tough match-up.

As I said: I am an eternal optimist I suppose.

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Problems in River City

There are problems in River City. The Defense held their opponent to 20 or fewer points — my magic number — but then the Chiefs won and beat the spread, 26-25 and a FG sealed the deal.

This is a key point. The better team won this game (in my NSHO). What was the spread against the Ravens… Chiefs -3? They won the Week One game by 7 (27-20), and that is good enough for Vegas. In Week Two, the Bengals game was not for the meek. It turned my stomach on end, to be truthful, but not because of fan’s reactions.

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Fan Reactions

The Actual Outcome for the Chiefs?

Not for the Ravens fan sites. Plus, the Bengals fans are whining to beat the band. For example, one particular Ravens site had their primary posting members complaining in denial that the foot was indeed inbounds despite the photo evidence that it was not.

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themirror.com – Photo Credit

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These are fans in denial of reality. As soon as I saw the closeup photo I knew the TD should be over-ruled as incomplete.

One Ravens fan ignored it for some unfathomable reason. What could that reason be, you ask? Clear bias for the Eastern seaboard teams in favor of a preferred outcome by the NFL powers that be? Perhaps even a bias that foresaw the Ravens (and the Bengals both) winning the contest? I can’t say what it was, but as the play unfolded, the official was clearly within less than 10 yards of the play’s end and ruled it a TD. Go figure that one.

The Bengals were nearly as stubborn with the Chiefs when the game was in question. The official back line judge ignored the facts. How could that be the case? Beating the spread by 4 in any NFL game is an accomplishment. I was following the commentary at ArrowheadOne and other venues.

The Chiefs won, but many fans were very disappointed that it came down to a reversed call on the overturned TD catch by Likely. Or, they were exasperated that the Chiefs did not stall the game and use the entire game clock (which even in my view, they should have done). They didn’t and punted the ball away at the 2-minute mark. That left Lamar Jackson plenty of time to lead the Ravens down the field to a score, which they failed to accomplish.

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The game was over as the clock expired on

their last-gasp effort. Ditto the Bengals game

— sort of by a toe on that one too!

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What do I Foretell of the Future?

Here is the truth of the matter: Defense! The Defense is solid and if Spags and Merritt have their way, the secondary will once again be great. I believe we can count on that now.

How I do see the DL? I remain a bit skeptical regarding the DL, but look, the Chiefs won two improbable games and the DL played well. My wants? I want to get Charles Omenihu back in a uni and ready to Rock-n-Roll! Spags was great in the Bengals game and Chris Jones set the tone for the DL. Chris Jones set the tone and literally won the game on his own.

LBs? I was upset with Bolton in week one, but his play in Week Two was, to the wings, so to speak. Week Three should see Bolton come into his own. After all, he missed a ton of time before he could even start. Drue Tranquill was as steady as ever and Chenal played a solid game.

I can’t knock the LBs is my essential view. The Safeties? I believe that the safeties are a solid unit as a unit. I particularly appreciate what Safety Bryan Cook brings to the table. Also, a shout-out to Chamarri Connor.

What’d I tell him about this player?

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The Offense

The die is cast… unfortunately… related to the offensive side of the ball. Now two players down and counting on a heartbeat. First, Marquis “Hollywood” Brown was ruled out and is on the IR and then RB Isiah Pacheco fractured his leg. Isiah left Arrowhead in a boot and on crutches and I think he will be out until week 10, at the best.

Travis Kelce and the other TEs did not fill the void – Kelce only had a single reception vs the Bengals.

I also was piqued due to Mahomes two interceptions. On one pick, Mahomes tried to force the ball to Kelce. On the other INT, Taylor-Britt made a spectacular one-handed grab for the pick (see below):

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ESPN – Photo Credit

No matter who did the deed, two picks, and a Carson Steele fumble were big problems and caused a major concerns as the Chiefs stalled 3 drives with turnovers. There was nothing to cheer about, to say the least. It’s tough to recover from three turnovers and sustain scoring drives with these turnovers.

Maybe if the Chiefs line up in 12 or 13 Personnel would be a better choice.

It remains to be seen whether the Chiefs fashion a Free Agent RB or not. I think he must do this is my general take. I am not sure so about Kareem Hunt though. Andy Reid said Hunt has matured so there’s that. I would have ruled that to be implausible… until Pacheco’s fractured leg.

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Ed Zurga – Photo Credit

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Jerick McKinnon?

No matter what, Carson Steele needs to get snaps and otherwise the Chiefs only have two veteran RBs active, after adding Samaje Perine. I am not sure who the RB might be otherwise, but it appears to me that a F/A or a PS player will be signed this week. We are light for a WR as well. I have previously opined that the Chiefs need to get a guy forthwith (talking about WR), but the pickings are slim indeed.

A lot of work needs to be done. We should see a WR and a RB added to the mix very quickly, especially with only 2 experienced RBs available. Something has got to give, as the saying goes.

No matter what the truth is: the games were ugly ball for both the Chiefs and the Bengals… and the Ravens as well. There was no range of finesse about the rosters. There is still Clyde… but he must serve 2 more weeks before he can return to activity duty from the NFI (non-football IR) list.

Still, the odds are that KC will resolve players will resolve it to a solution. My basic worry is the Chiefs LOT was benched for the remaining 11 snaps as Suamataia’s play suffered and Morris wasn’t much better either. The breakdown at the LOT was a sore point for me.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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