The Turn Of The Tide

by Chiefs

It's finally fun to be a Chiefs fan again

OK, its time to heap some praise.  After a win like that, what else can you do?  We put a straight-up beating on those fools.  Back in July I promised I’d get a Chiefs tattoo if we made the playoffs.  I’m going to be happy to keep that promise.  And it looks like I’ll have to, because we are clearly the best team in the AFC West.  I am now convinced of that.  The tide has turned.

Thom Jones once again got more touches than Jamaal Charles, but I have no right to complain about that this time.  When the offense does well, they are immune from criticism.  My problem before was that they weren’t doing well.  In a game like Sunday’s, if they want to run Jones 20 times I have no problem with that.  We were in control and the passing game was clicking.  If there’s a time to feed Jones, its then.  Although to be fair to Charles, he once again did much more with less.   He’s a lot better than Jones.

I feel like I could write a book about that game.  There are so many positives here.  Cassel finally stepped up.  My boy Flowers looked like a pro bowler.   Hali looked like an MVP.  Moeaki made the best catch by a Chief I’ve ever seen.

More gushing after the jump

And how about Shawn Smith?  What we’re getting from him is basically a best-case scenario.  And while I can’t endorse weird crotch play (on the record), I can certainly endorse attitude.  Smith definitely has that.  I love having a guy like that on the line.  Swagger, baby.  Smith brings it.  It’s pretty clear our defense is better without Tyson Jackson, right?  A Smith/Gilberry rotation at LE is something I’d like to see on a permanent basis.

My personal favorite moment was the amazing reverse flea flicker that resulted in a classic Dwayne Bowe highlight-reel catch.  Bowe may not be the guy you want running a five yard out on third down, but when it comes to spectacular touchdown catches, he is second to none.  The playbook should feature him more the closer we get to the end zone.  God, I love D-Bowe.

Amazing plays and favorite players aside, there is one positive that for me trumps all the others.  Todd Haley and Charlie Weis got it done yesterday.  This is the Haley I like.  The guy with balls.  I was worried we’d lost him to a bizarre quest for ugly wins.  Yesterday he showed the aggressiveness that made me like him in the first place.

We don’t have the personnel for ugly grinders.  And even if we did, that style is hardly optimal.  What we have are explosive playmakers.  Our offense can hum.   They proved that.  They also proved that good offense and good defense can, and should, go hand in hand.  THAT is optimal.

Haley’s best call wasn’t the 4th down, or the onside, or even the flea-flicker.  It was that first touchdown pass to McCluster.  That was a critical moment.  His decision will have season-long ramifications.  Cassel had just thrown an ugly interception, and it looked like we were in for another afternoon of bad play from him.  When handed the ball in scoring position in that situation, most coaches would’ve gone into a shell and pounded the ball up the middle.  I was sure we were going to get a heavy dose of Jones from there on out.

Instead, we came out throwing.  Weis gave Cassel an easily completable pass and it turned into a touchdown.  For a quarterback in need of confidence, that had to have been quite a boost.  Haley showed his struggling quarterback he believes in him and was rewarded with a breakout performance.  Textbook.  That decision may well have saved Cassel’s season.  It certainly restored some confidence in Todd Haley and Charlie Weis.  I’ve talked before about trying to isolate a coach’s impact in my analysis.  This time, Haley gets an enthusiastic two thumbs up.

This is the most pumped up I’ve been about the Chiefs in a long time.  After the game I felt like I could run 20 miles.  Instead I went home, ate Chef Boyardee beefaroni, and watched four straight episodes of The Wire.  A man got to have a code.

Never miss a chance to get your fix! Follow Arrowhead Addict on Twitter and be sure to like our Facebook page.

Comments
Comments have been disabled for this post.
Sort: Newest | Oldest

Big Matt was that you in the front at arrowhead on monday night football? I saw a headdress but didn't really look like a big guy....a cousin maybe? Secret Admirer? I think we match up pretty well against indy. Peyton Manning is probably the best quarterback to ever play the game and he might torch our young secondary...That doesn't stop the fact that: Indy cannot stop the run. We have run over everyone we have faced so far. Oh and did I mention that Our coordinators have gotten the best of manning and co multiple times...Kiss Brady's ring Peyton!!! The most impressive by far was San Fran....but I can't say that I'm as optimisitic as the most of you are. Our opponents record is 1-8. We have played a team that starts really slow traditionally, and barely beat them in a rain soaked arrowhead with an extreme version of home field advantage. We barely beat the browns(although we should have pounded them to no end) and we really took it to a team that clearly hates playing away from Candlestick park(or whatever their stadium is called). That being said, our division looks really, really bad. Outside of the chargers, I would say we are the clear favorite(especially with a two game lead), but I also think we're a serious injury(Flowers, tamba, albert) away from being an 1-2 team. It also justifies that Tin man probably isn't as vital to our success as a defense as one might think..

You know Chef Boyardee was a real person? He was an Italian chef in New York in the first part of the 20th Century.

boy sometimes double d sure shivers me timbers

boy that double d sure frosts my milk sometimes

I am a diehard Chiefs fan, I endured the last five years game after game after game in fair weather and foul. At the Monday night game when it began to rain and the bastards that call themselves security guards would not allow me to go to the car and get my girl and I foul weather gear, well I blew. By the start of the fourth quarter, we were dry in bed watching the rest of the game on the hi def in our cozy hotel room in the plaza, no traffic to deal with, gnawing on the leftover Gates ribs, well it just could not have gotten any better.

i think all the coaches are doing an amazing job the first two games were wins but offensively we needed help, and i think the biggest question on our team was one Mathew Cassel. and i think he silenced the chants for Croyle for now, but lets see how he does and if he can consistently put up numbers like he did yesterday. To be honest i kept day dreaming a Chiefs jersey with the name mallett on the back. I was already looking forward to next April to hear the name of our future QB. For now those thoughts are aside and i am just basking in the glory. we have been under very dim light the past few years and this is something to get excited for. Im looking forward to seeing how our defense goes up against the high powered offenses of the texans and Colts. i want Eric Berry to lay our Andre Johnson, and i was Tamba Hali to make Peyton see stars. if we stand against those two teams who can’t we beat. we are all ready two games ahead in the devision and the playoffs are looking very promising. 10-6 is not an unreasonable prediction for the out come of this year. i think we have a favorable schedule and if we keep improving no one will be able to stop us. if you dont see the Kansas City chiefs as serious contenders you don’t know football. Big Matt that head Dress looks nice on you! Go CHIEFS

i think all the coaches are doing an amazing job the first two games were wins but offensively we needed help, and i think the biggest question on our team was one Mathew Cassel. and i think he silenced the chants for Croyle for now, but lets see how he does and if he can consistently put up numbers like he did yesterday. To be honest i kept day dreaming a Chiefs jersey with the name mallett on the back. I was already looking forward to next April to hear the name of our future QB. For now those thoughts are aside and i am just basking in the glory. we have been under very dim light the past few years and this is something to get excited for. Im looking forward to seeing how our defense goes up against the high powered offenses of the texans and Colts. i want Eric Berry to lay our Andre Johnson, and i was Tamba Hali to make Peyton see stars. if we stand against those two teams who can't we beat. we are all ready two games ahead in the devision and the playoffs are looking very promising. 10-6 is not an unreasonable prediction for the out come of this year. i think we have a favorable schedule and if we keep improving no one will be able to stop us. if you dont see the Kansas City chiefs as serious contenders you don't know football. Big Matt that head Dress looks nice on you! Go CHIEFS

If you're reffering to me I am a Chief's fan, have been for years, just not a fan of this site anymore.

Oh no.......my comment was to the other guy.....

You know you could always just boycott the Big Matt posts. That would seem to be more precise target shooting. Paddy and the gang are usually very positive. As was my post today, which for some reason also made you mad.

What made me mad was the Fuck you comment that has already been deleted along with my reply. This site has been the most negative by far over the past weeks. Maybe I am a Homer but it wears on fans like me that want to believe in the coaches and what they are doing right instead of nit picking their decisions just because we didn't win by 21 points. A win is a win, it just seems like this is the first you are really giving our coaches the credit they deserved. It isn't always pretty but they have done a great job turning a losing franchise around.

I shouldn't have cursed. I did it without even thinking about it, and later realized it was foolish and removed the f-bomb from my comment. To be fair though, before I ever dropped that f-bomb you called me a fairweather, naysayer, and put words in my mouth. So clearly you were angry before I cursed. My guess is you just don't like it when anyone criticizes the Chiefs about anything. But honestly man, when I'm critical I'm a hater and when I praise I'm a fairweather. That hardly seems fair. As to me not giving the coaches credit before this game, I have repeatedly credited Crennel. My problem was with the offensive coaching, because they weren't getting results. When coaches earn praise, I give it. When they earn scorn, I'll give that too. It's not always just about the win or the loss when evaluating a coach. It's about how they performed. That's how I see it anyway. Obviously we disagree.

I understand. I apologize for calling any of you fair weather because you are definately not. I didn't express my frustration very well at all. I know we are all die hard Chiefs fans, passionate enough to be on this site day after day during the past 3 rough seasons. Looking back I got pretty fired up over small things and let my emotions get the best of me. What I viewed as dwelling on the negative was you trying to make us better. Sorry for the harsh comments over the past few days. Go Chiefs

Woooooooooooooooooow... looks like a Bronco fan is a lil sore.........lol well so is his team!! Good times. Point is Chiefs are on top,your team isnt. Period

I've been watching football and specifically the Chiefs for 45 years and I can tell you Haley is a good coach. Yes he has is flaws but name a coach who doesn't. For this being only his 2nd year as a HC he's doing a tremendous job. The thing I most respect about both Haley and Pioli is that they have a plan and they are not wavering from it. They don't panic ever, they don't allow the players to get too confident, they keep everything in perspective. They stay with their plan. It's obviously a good plan because it's working better than we ever thought it would. It becomes clearer to me very week that we are going to have a team that competes for the Super Bowl every year. Call me a Chiefs homer but you can't argue with success. We are really looking good.

You're no homer, that game has inspired all kinds of confidence in everyone. We looked great. This is happening much faster than I thought it would. I guess the Herm years (and the Royals) just conditioned me to expect failure. 45 year Chiefs fan? You're right up there in Double D and Merlin territory. I love gettin' the Chiefs greybeards on here. Seem more rational as a whole. That's probably a result of having watched the same team wax and wane so many times.

Im kinda glad we have an extra week to be guaranteed 3-0.

Good post Matt, as I've said on this website before I am not a pro-Haley guy due to what I see as his misuse of good players/ poor analysis of his talen (benching Johnson, not dressing Charles in Week 3 of last year, calling Quinten Lawrence one of his core players). However, I do like his gambling nature and so far I have liked most of what I have seen this year. While winning does cure all, I have to wonder how much Weis being around eases the burden on Haley and allows him to excel in his role as head coach. Its nice to see someone giving props to Shaun Smith. While I'm not for playing dirty (I quit High School football because I was being coached to play dirty) I do like to see the Chiefs winning the battle in the trenches.

My evaluation of Haley is a constant work in progress. He's just such a volatile guy. I could say something now and then no longer believe it next week. As I've said before, he and Pioli have been tough nuts to crack. I guess thats intentional. He's definitely done some dumb things. I would love to know what the relationship with Weis is like. I would pay someone to spy on them.

I like Haley's approach of "we haven't done anything yet." I'd love to taste the playoffs this year, but we really shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. Our Defense has obviously played well against some great talent (SD and Gore), and they'll continue to be tested in the next two weeks (arguably the 2 best offensive teams in the AFC back to back on the road). I live in Denver and remember laughing hysterically at the foolish fans who already had Denver in the postseason when they were 6-0. I for one, will not make that mistake. Go Chiefs!

That game was just totally awesome. Our defense is playing so well, it's really unimaginable. You gotta give the credit to Romeo. Wow, from halftime of week 2 we've just totally shut down our opposing offenses. I'm in Shaun Smith's camp for sure, the guy may be a nasty, naughty boy but he is playing really well. Cassel played pretty well too. People are saying this and that about his play (that their grandma couldn't made the flea flicker play and that Moeaki made the touchdown play)but he got the job done and made some nice plays, no doubt. I think we'd all still like / demand to get Charles the ball more, but the system is working.

VERY WELL SAID DOUBLE DEEEEEEE!

I absolutely loved the agressively playcalling on both sides of the ball. We had SF on their heels almost from the beginning, And once we had our foots firmly on their throat, we never let up. I want to see that all.the.time. Truly a signature win. This game marks for me, and I'm sure others, the first compelling sign of progress for this team. We can say with considerable confidence that the Chiefs are now no less than a middle of the road team. While that may not sound a ringing endorsement to some, the fact that we are is a real sign of progress, exceeds my expectations, and bottom line makes the Chiefs a dangerous team to just about anybody we face from here on out. Future opponents will prepare harder for us but also with a more trepidation than before. That's a very good thing because it forces the Chiefs into improve or die mode which is a great position to be in. If we continue to strike early and viciously against teams, good or bad, the more apt they are to fold early just like we just saw against the 49ers. Going into the season, I marked the Indy game as a guaranteed "L" and I now evoke that guarantee. Win or lose, I can't wait to see what we bring. You go tell Peyton Manning that the Chiefs are coming and that HELL is coming with them!! (Felt like I needed to paraphrase a line from the movie Tombstone on this one). 8)

No doubt, I can't wait for that Indy game. We are definitely going up against a stacked offense, but I'm pumped to see how our D will react. God I wish we were playing this Sunday. boo the bye.

Part of me wishes we were playing this Sunday too but the other part looks at the fact that we are 3-0, 2 games ahead of the rest of the division, and now have two weeks to get healthy and prepare for Indy. All that adds up to a pretty sweet situation no matter how you look at it. This bye week and the week follows might just rank up there as a couple of the most anticipated weeks (regular season) I've experienced in my 4 plus decades as a Chiefs fan. Hell yeah!!

love the comments DD. The Bye week may be a buzz kill.

I absolutely loathe the bye week. That's an angry sunday for me. Spent in seclusion. Our D vs Indy. A true test. Very much looking forward to it.

Man im so proud of our Chiefs!!! what a game!!! Cassel stepped up and had some dope plays!!! Smith is a beast i love that dude, he brings a swagger we ve been needing!! Flowers is so awesome!!! Charles needs a flu shot, cuz hes just sick!!!! n DMC wow!! and Moaeki wt a freakin catch!!! we have the best rookie class in the league!! Im so excited ive been peing my pants since yesterdays domination!!! Chiefsallday!!!!!!3-0!! wooohooooo!!!

Our coaching is much better than Denver's. This team is mentally tougher than Denver's crybaby team. The odds of a meltdown are minimal because of those reasons.

I too am very very pumped. But...... Cassel is still inaccurate and overthrows receivers. I cannot let that go and I have been one of his biggest supporters. He did seem to get that confidence back after the Mccluster TD. Shaun Smith is a god! I was pissed to see haley yelling at him. Let that man be a beast. So what if he gets the other teams players to lose thier cool. He was cool as Ice.

I do get the feeling that Weiss is having a positive impact on Cassel Jeremy. What do you think? I want to be positive and think he'll improve over the course of the season. Especially with the o-line giving him time to breath.

haley wasnt yelling at him. he was telling him to calm down before he got a penalty. thats smart coaching. haley has already gone on the record saying he likes how smith plays but he also has to keep a check on smith's mouth and temper because there is a difference between smart football trash talk and just losing your cool. haley was a beast yesterday. flawless.

Cameron, I see your point, but in watching the replay Smith did nothing. he got punched and got up and did nothing. I don't even think he realized he got punched. watch it again on DVR. Haley just assumed he did. Anywho, who care SMith is a great pick up.

Lovin' me some Smith right now, thats for sure. I wouldn't mind seeing him play some more snaps at nose tackle though. I think my boy Sweet Ron could use an occassional break.

Great wrap-up Big Matt...I'm with you with coaches...I think I was ready to blow the coaching staff when they did the punt/offense switch up. Its almost to good to be true and can't believe how well everything is cummin together. Now we just need to stay healthy and not pull a Donkeys of last year and we'll be playoff bound!!! Chiefs!!!!

Vernon Davis guaranteed a win. Man this is sweet!

Yeah Bronco Billy! Your just sore cause you guys made the 10 biggest NFL meltdowns of all time show on NFL network. Our QB isnt a big pansy ass'd baby like your was.

Simma Down Na!!! Broncos started 6-0 last year then went 2-8 down the stretch!! You QB blows and your head coach is a hot head.... Indeed you guys have significantly upgraded your team speed, but it's week freakin 3!!!

well we are obviously doing well enough to get you to come over to OUR website and comment on OUR board to tell us to not get overly confident... sounds like someone's a little scared.

Two observations you make about the Chiefs are really worse in Denver than they are in KC: 1. You are calling our coach a hot head when yours ran off your two best offensive players. 2. Our QB may not be a future hall of famer by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd take him over Orton any day of the week.

It's still eaarly, but that win was convincing. I am now ready to take the Chiefs seriously as a playoff contender. Our QB and head coach are indeed question marks, but they both got it done yesterday. I would end this with a Tebow joke, but I'm tired. Allow me to end witht his: Tebow is a tool.

dunno if that pass to McCluster was Haley or Weis, I think prob Weis, but whichever, great stuff.

i think his point was more about the decision to pass instead of running the ball, rather than about the actual play call. if haley didn't feel comfortable with the decision to pass, he would have told weis to pick a run play.

I think the actual play call was probably Weis, but yeah, I meant the decision simply to pass. I think that in itself was brilliant.

i would call jackson's performance in 3 quarters on the Monday night game.... DOMINANT! it was not average at all! it was his best game as a chief. gilberry gets after the quarterback better than jackson but jackson is so stout against the run. if jackson had been in yesterday, the 49ers average yards per run would have been even lower than the 2.8 or whatever it was. we need jackson for 1st and 2nd downs. gilberry on pass rushing 3rd downs and smith can come in and relieve jackson. we suddenly have some depth along the front line! bottom line... we need jackson back!

I watched the Tin Man about 8 or 10 plays in game 1 and did not see him do anything impressive. Of coure, after about 3 plays, I realized that I did not know what a defensive end in a 3/4 defense was supposed to do. In an event, Tin Man seemed to do the same thing every play. He got blocked and stood up by the offensive lineman, then started sliding one way or the other, somtimes running into the play, usually late after someone else made the first hit. I would be suspicious of the solo tackle stat.

I would call TJack's play in that San Diego game average rather than very good but this is a time for celebration. It seemed like every player on our team had an above average to incredible performance. If you take away the two blown coverage touchdowns along with that garbage TD yesterday, the D has given up barely anything. I haven't had that much fun watching a game since Priest retired (the first time) I would guess. That picture is the funniest thing I've ever seen.

Yeah Tin Man played OK in that game but, predictably, people are exaggerating his performance. 3 solo tackles, no sacks, no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries, no tackles for a loss, no passes batted down. Don't get me wrong, I think we drafted him to have the kind oof game he had. If he can do it consistently, he'll be a decent piece. But it was one game. We certainly don't "need him back" considering our defense has clearly been better without him.

I'm expecting Jackson to keep getting better just like Dorsey has. He'll be good this year, (which is a big improvement), and much improved next year. Keep them all in rotation and keep them fresh.