Kansas City Chiefs Laddie Morse

The “We Will Survive” Chiefs Hold On Against 49ers

LadnerMorse September 24, 2018 No Comments

 

 

 

 

The “We Will Survive” Chiefs

Hold On Against the 49ers

 

by Laddie Morse

 

It’s getting to be a pattern… and a tiring story as well… but a pathology for sure: the Kansas City Chiefs new fangled offense goes up by two or three scores early then suffer several three-and-outs in a row allowing their opponents to climb right back into the game.

A theme is developing: the defensive woes have grown to equal the offensive wows.

 

While there have been plenty of touchdown passes to thrill the fan base, the defense has become so porous that other teams figure if they can force 2 or 3 three-and-outs on the Chiefs offense, then they have a high probability of driving through Chiefs territory for a score. With the Chiefs up by a score of 35 to 10 at half time, the 49ers outscored the Chiefs 17-to-3 in the second half while DC Bob Sutton played his typical “Bend Over but Don’t Break” defense and HC Andy Reid utilized his usual “Chiefs Sitting Bull” offensive scheme.

Having won the coin toss at the beginning of the game and possessing the ball first after the half, the Chiefs went:

 

  • 6 and out and the 49ers scored a TD  7 plays later
  • Then the Chiefs offense went 3-and-out and the 49ers scored a TD 11 plays later
  • Next the Chiefs drove the length of the field only to come away with a FG in 9 plays, so S.F. answered with a FG of their own but it took them 17 plays to get it
  • Two 1st downs and 10 plays later the Chiefs had their third victory

 

 

The problem is… or the hitch in my giddy-up, as a fan is… while the offense looks like it could be the next big thing… the defense looks like it’s a train wreck in progress.

Patrick Mahomes threw three more TDs to break Peyton Manning’s record (12) with 13 TDs thrown in the first three games of a season. However, he threw all of those in the first half and the lack of offensive production in the second half of this game is startling. While the Chiefs offense scored 21 points in the second half of their first two games this season, on Sunday, versus the 49ers, they scored one FG. 

If last years Super Bowl victory of the Philadelphia Eagles over the New England Patriots has taught us anything, it’s that you can’t sit back once you have a lead… you must keep attempting to score and put up big numbers to out distance your opponent. When asked before this season, the Chiefs Head Coach, Andy Reid, said something to this effect, so I paraphrase, “You must keep your foot on the gas peddle.”

So, why isn’t he doing that?

Who knows for sure but… we can say what the effects of his not doing that are. When you don’t trust your players to execute aggressive plays… you teach them to not be aggressive. You essentially are telling them… we’re not “Goin For It”… but what we are going to do is… see if we can just get by. Just survive.

It’s a bad message to be sending your players when you’re supposed to be striving for excellence… to become the best in the league… and procure a championship mentality. Just getting by or just trying to survive… doesn’t hold up to anyone’s high expectations or lofty goals for this team.

Since this was a win… we’ll take it.

Since there were no major injuries — as I am is constantly knocking on wood — we’ll take it.

Since there was another record for Patrick Mahomes… we’ll take it.

 

It doesn’t mean there are’t flies in the ointment. In fact, the Chiefs bad defense is more like… a fox guarding a henhouse. It’s just a bad idea whose time has come for fixing and if they don’t fix it now… the dye may be cast for this season because sooner ot later, other teams will be able to outdistance the Chiefs defense… when they realize they don’t have to out produce the Chiefs offense.

Yes, TE Travis Kelce had 8 great catches for 114 yards. Yes, OLB Justin Houston has his first multiple-sack game since October 30 of last year against the Broncos. Yes, WR Sammy Watkins finally got his TD, and so did Demetrius “No-Hands” Harris. However, watching this team is like waking up on Christmas morning and after opening a couple of the best gifts ever… you see that someone has also sent you a lump of coal.

 

 

In the Chiefs first three games of this season, they’ve been outpaced in total offensive yards by their opponents: 1,422 to 1,195. The Chiefs may be winning on the score board… but on the playing field they’re getting burned.

The Chiefs defense is giving up an average of 474 yards and 31 points… per game! So, while we can be happy that the offense seems to be going to town… the defense is going to the dump.

Look at it this way, if you had two children and one of them was brilliant and quick to pick up on ideas and concepts that the teacher was teaching… and you had another child that was under-performing and struggled at every turn then… each night as you sat down with them together at the kitchen table to help them do their homework… well… that not a party you want to attend. And… that’s what the Kansas City Chiefs have become… a party and a funeral every Sunday. It’s hard to feel great about that.

Here’s part of Patrick Mahomes post-game comments and some highlights from the game:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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