Categories: David BellKansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs: Playing Their Ace

The Chiefs: Playing Their Ace

by David Bell | January 9, 2019

It’s Monday. The Collegiate Championship playoff game is tonight. There are several players on both teams for the pro football folks to pay attention to in this Collegiate playoff finale between the Clemson Tigers and Crimson Tide. It’s Monday Night Football of a different sort. In Kansas City, it was “Report Back to Work Day” at the Chiefs Kingdom. In K.C. it’s the Chiefs, playing their ace, Patrick Mahomes.

Injury Update From the Presser

There was no new injury report. There probably won’t be one until Wednesday. Last week, The Chief’s facilities were open for rehab, ice and heat and workouts as players thought necessary. They should have no big worries on their minds this week except the game to be played at Arrowhead versus the Indianapolis Colts.

Reid began with a review of where things stood with Berry, Watkins, Ware and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (LDT). LDT is the special case according to Reid and they are going to see how he progresses this week. He had nothing negative to report but it appears that LDT won’t be available this week. When discussing LDT he said when the medical staff cleared him, he could return to the active roster when approved by the training staff, observing that he was making progress. Reid observed that it would not be until after the game do the Chiefs have to declare anything.

Reid: “The playoffs mean you bring your best”

Andy Reid iterated positives about Andrew Luck and his numbers for 2018, in other words, observing he was “back” in essence. The following may sum it up succinctly when Reid said:

“He’s got a lot of good players around him. That offensive line, people can argue with you that it’s the best in the National Football League. You look at the receivers, they’ve got good receivers and they’ve got good tight ends – you go all the way around – their running backs. You have to bring your best. That’s what the playoffs are all about.”

It is perhaps the appropriate observation made as it relates to fans, coaches and players when Reid said that the beauty of post season play was that you prepared and took your best shot, saying, “You prepare, you prepare, you prepare, and then you put your best out there and go play and that’s what this thing is all about. We look forward to that challenge.”

Recognition and Awards

The 2018 season ended and awards were given to Patrick Mahomes who won the The Derrick Thomas Award which is given to the Chiefs MVP. Mahomes record breaking season certainly indicates a deserving recipient as PMII had more than 5,000 yards passing, 50 TDs, 10 300 yard passing games and more. Mahomes had a wondrous season and brought the Chiefs fans to their feet at Arrowhead numerous times in 2018.

Andrew Wylie received the Mack Lee Hill Award which is given to rookie or first year players whose success was laudable. Wylie was tossed into the starting lineup with LDT and others of the Chiefs offensive line were injured.

The Chiefs: Playing their Ace

During the Bye Week, if you have not seen it, Peter King got together with Patrick Mahomes at the practice facility. He asked Mahomes about the no look pass and PMII gave a perfect demonstration. There is a short article by Pete Sweeney at ArrowheadPride.com which has a video. Take a peek here:

Since Defense is on Everybody’s Mind…

Laddie published an article on Monday that has important information to be digested: In Defense of the Chiefs Defense

I want to add a couple of notes: the Chiefs were one of the top teams in the NFL in pressuring and sacking opposing quarterbacks. Dee Ford led the NFL with Pressures. Add those numbers to those compiled by Laddie and you can see that the Chiefs have positives on the defensive effort. As Laddie’s article observed he was not stating that the Chiefs defense was suddenly going to be “cream” rising to the top. At the same time though, there are many positives to be taken into account.

Is this the best the Chiefs defense as intended when training camp opened. Surely not, but I have said time and again that the Chiefs have a good football team with a good roster of players. Sure, I am aware that there have been missing key pieces all season long. Most teams have them or have had them the same as the Chiefs. The Chiefs weathered the storm and won 12 games. It was an hallmark season where the Chiefs won the top cede in the playoffs for the first time ever having won their 3rd AFC Title in a row.

We put our best 11 out there on each side of the ball and go to it. That’s special as Andy Reid observes. It’s up to the players to bust their tails to get a win. Play the ace on top of the Colts best and driving home the bargain. No real fan can object to playing top teams where all is at risk and you either win or go home. That surely is enough for the fans who are vocal, verbal, loud and raucous in the extreme in the stands and at home in the game room rooting for the team.

My prediction? Chiefs 37, Colts 21. I think the Chiefs will be on top of their game and disturb Andrew Luck enough where he is not Mr. Lucky this time.

This Saturday the Chiefs face a foe which has been a nemesis to their postseason efforts in the past. It is time for all players, coaches and hometown fans to drive and get this victory. All eyes and ears are going to see and hear it. The voices of the fans echo through the halls and streets of Kansas City.

David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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David Bell

8 years farming the family farm, 31+ years Software Engineer, Mainframe Software, 12 year 3rd career - Counselor and Director for a Veteran Administration Contract Agency Assisting Veterans in Southwest Missouri. Amateur dabbler as an Author and fan of the Chiefs since the beginning. Go Chiefs!