Chiefs things I think: 2015 1st quarter edition
By Ryan Tracy
Sep 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the new mural painted outside the visiting team locker room before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The season is four games in and I’m back with the third 2015 edition of this series! If the title sounds familiar, it should. This is an homage to Peter King and it’s the nine most important things I see, as of right now.
The first quarter of the season has come and gone… and gone… and gone… Not how anyone expected it to go.
The rough start has left the team in a hole that they can start to climb out of in week 5. Yes, the Chiefs have faced three teams that are a combined 12-0 in last three weeks. Yes, the team played its “best” football at home versus the Broncos and that included 5 turnovers. 1-3 is what it is. Now, the team gets to return to Arrowhead for three of the next four games.
The Bears come into Arrowhead having only beaten the Raiders. The Chiefs are at home against a very beatable team. This is an opportunity they can and must capitalize one. There are way too many questions that need answered and things that need to be corrrected.
1. This Offense has Something to Build on
Reid’s offense was a question mark all off-season and he’s done nothing to solidify it. Despite the terrible offensive line play, suspect playcalling and inexplicable fumbles by Jamaal Charles and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs offense is scoring 25.0 pts per game. That’s good for 9th in NFL, even after a week 4 scoring offense that consisted of only field goals.
Surprisingly, the offense has improved in several areas that give a hint of optimism for the next four-game stretch. They’re up three points per game in scoring points from 2014. The total offense has risen from 319 yards per game in 2014 to 358 in 2015. Important for a pass-happy Reid offense, Smith and Co. have jumped to 250 yards passing per game 2015. That’s a 50-yard per game increase over 199 in 2014. That is the “Maclin-effect” even with a leaky line.
Next: Both sides of the ball are Underachieving