Kansas City Chiefs: 5 Takeaways from Week 2 Loss to Broncos

1. Anthony Sherman Is Underutilized

Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman (42) during the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

When the Chiefs lose, a handful of locals lambaste Reid and/or Smith. Like clockwork. Sometimes it’s justified. Others? Not so much (see: 119.7 passer rating in a 45-44 playoff loss).

Yesterday, the duo took the Go Fish hand they were dealt and, from a football perspective, nearly birthed a minor miracle.

Obviously, Smith isn’t toting a Tyler Bray-like rocket launcher for a right arm. But even if Kansas City wanted to send Avery or A.J. Jenkins deep, asking him to take a seven-step drop behind the current line is like asking Marcus Vick to manage your Twitter account.

That being the case, Reid effectively spread the field, and the offense thrived on short-to-intermediate routes. With a minute and change on the clock—despite a biblical swarm of injury bugs—Kansas City was down by one possession and marching inside of the defending AFC champions’ red zone.

And then there was destiny.

The Chiefs’ offensive line isn’t built for smash-mouth football. Reid has a soft spot for athletic linemen, which is why the team excels in screens and outside zone runs. They’re not going to steamroll front sevens and destroy wills—unless Sherman is in the backfield.

Sherman was PFF’s No. 1 overall fullback of 2013. He’s a 242-pound ball of brutality who treats linebackers like obese gnats. Yet, somehow, he owns the hands of a pottery worker. (I know no pottery workers, but I’m assuming they’re soft.)

So, when your makeshift offense is trailing by seven and engineering a comeback that would make Nostradamus file unemployment, it might—just might—make sense to utilize the athletic bull that you call a fullback.

He can block. He can catch. And I wouldn’t bet against him cradling a handoff and bullying his way for three yards. With the game on the line, Sherman shouldn’t be the world’s burliest cheerleader.

Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus (subscription required).