Kansas City Chiefs Crystal Ball Game
By Laddie Morse
Alright, everyone who wants to see into the future of this season should be looking to the third preseason game. Right? Of course, you’re right. That’s when the starters get an extended opportunity to show their stuff. So, here you have it.
Defense
QB Marcus Mariota: 7-11 for 99 yards (9.0 ypa) 0 TDs, 0 INTs,
WR Kendall Wright: 3 Rec for 60 yards (20 ypc),
RB Sankey: 6 Rush for 17 yards (2.83 ypc).
Offense
QB Alex Smith: 16-18 for 171 yards (9.5 ypa) 2 TDs, 0 INTs,
WR Jeremy Maclin: 7 Rec for 65 Yards (9.3 ypc), 1 TD,
RB Jamaal Charles: 3 Rush for 28 yards (8.7 ypc).
First Half Score: K.C. Chiefs 17, Tennessee Titans 10
[Allow me to interject that I’m writing this at 3:00AM because I refuse to pay an extra $100 to NFL.com to watch the Chiefs preseason games online because that’s the only way I can get to see them at the moment that they air. So, I recorded the game which DirecTV has aired at 2:00AM here in the Dallas area.]
What most Chiefs fans should be encouraged about in this game was the stat line for WR Fred Williams: 5 Rec, 42 yards (12.4 ypc), and 2 TDs.
The stat line fans should be concerned about belongs to Tennessee’s Dexter McCluster: 5 Rush for 34 yards (7.4 ypc).
Random Game Notes:
The first four plays, 3 passes and one run, were well planned and well executed. Those plays are a good example of regular season game planning during the preseason. Jamaal Charles 9 yard run was a thing of beauty. That was followed by a pretty pass over the middle to Albert Wilson and then an unsuccessful pass that may have been tipped, to Travis Kelce who was mostly alone down the right sideline. Next, WR Jeremy Maclin catches a well defended pass down the the left sideline and turns up field for a touchdown. Cairo Santos misses his point after attempt and causes me concern moving forward.
On the Chiefs first defensive set they allowed three running plays to gain a first down. Then forced a punt on the next series of plays.
I’d like to see John Dorsey, who was being interviewed during the first quarter, stop calling his players “kids.” In this case he was referring to the 27 year old man named Jeremy Maclin.
The offense stalled out at the four yard line on their second drive but at least Cairo Santos didn;t miss the field goal.
Next: Who else showed up in the crystal ball game?