Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos: Mixed Emotions

As the final seconds of the Kansas City Chiefs loss to the Denver Broncos ticked away on Sunday I sat on my couch staring blankly at the television. It was the first time in a long time (maybe ever) that I remember thinking to myself “I’m not sure how to feel right now”. On one hand, I was incredibly disappointed. The Chiefs were RIGHT THERE. They had first and goal with a shot at overtime staring them in the face and they couldn’t close. The play calling, especially in the red zone was maddening. Then there was the missed field goal in the third quarter and Andy Reid’s failure to go for it on 4th and inches inside of Denver territory. There were more than enough justifications to be fuming after the loss, but I wasn’t.

The other side of the coin was that the Chiefs fought to the final whistle and gave the defending AFC champs all they could handle in Denver. The Chiefs were supposed to get blown out. The Broncos were supposed to embarrass a Kansas City squad that basically embarrassed themselves in their opener against the Tennessee Titans. The Broncos supposedly got better this offseason while the Chiefs were supposed to have taken a step backwards, but that’s not how things played out on the field. After losing three starters in the opener in Derrick Johnson, Mike DeVito, and Jeff Allen they lost arguably their two most talented players early in this game in Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry. Those loses combined with Denver’s superior talent to begin with should have been a death blow for KC, but it wasn’t. Alex Smith looked better. The offensive line looked better. The defense looked better. There were more than enough reasons for me to feel good about things despite the loss, but I didn’t.

Maybe that’s not true.

Maybe I was both mad and encouraged at the same time.

As I sit here typing this I’m still not entirely sure how to process that game. I am ticked off that they had a legitimate chance to win the game and they let it slip away. I am also grateful that the Chiefs looked SO much better than they did against the Titans. They played a better team, on the road, and almost pulled it out. It was nice to be pacing back and forth in front of the TV instead of just wanting to turn off the TV and go mow the lawn.

I think if I had to try and summarize my feelings about the Chiefs it would come down to the following two points.

1. I still believe in the long term success of this team. I think a team coached by Andy Reid, quarterbacked by Alex Smith, and with key players like Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry, Justin Houston, Dontari Poe, Travis Kelce, etc. can be a contender in the NFL.

2. I’m not sure that this year’s team can be a realistic playoff contender. The injuries, the schedule, and the holes in the roster at offensive line, wide receiver, and the secondary seem like too much to overcome.

So I’m not in the “doom and gloom” crowd that is bemoaning Alex Smith’s contract and already losing hope in Andy Reid and John Dorsey (who some already seem to have forgotten restored SO much of the credibility that this franchise was lacking before they took over). I believe in this administration. I believe in the long term plan. I believe that next year with all the draft picks and some extra cap space that I believe they will be able to create they may be able to fill the holes they currently have and make an honest run at a Super Bowl.

After today’s game there is reason to believe that Alex Smith may be coming around after a poor preseason and opening game. The young offensive line appeared to be improving. Eric Fisher in particular played a pretty encouraging game. The defense stepped up huge, especially for not having both DJ and Berry. Marcus Cooper looked like he may just be a solid NFL starting CB, which KC desperately needs. The Chiefs got Travis Kelce the ball more and he responded with over 80 yards receiving. Knile Davis looked great filling in for Jamaal Charles. After looking like a team that might only win two games again last week, the Chiefs looked more like the team that won eleven games last year against the Broncos.

So I’m a Kool Aid drinking optimist, right?

Well, not so fast.

If Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry miss time with their injuries it couldn’t come at a worse time. The Chiefs next four games are:

at Miami
vs New England
at San Francisco
at San Diego

Could the team that showed up in Denver on Sunday find a way to win one or two of those games? Yes. Could the Chiefs also easily lose all four? Yes. While the KC schedule gets easier after that four game stretch, it’s still not all that far fetched to see the Chiefs starting 0-6. While the offensive line showed promise there are still serious legitimate concerns with the roster for this season. The Chiefs don’t have enough good coverage players in their secondary. While Marcus Cooper looks promising, Sean Smith is a huge disappointment given what KC is paying him and Ron Parker looks like a 4th CB/special teams player, not a guy you should depend on as your starter.

Also, the wide receiver position is woefully short on guys that create plays. Guys like Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery belong on a NFL roster, but they don’t create plays for themselves. You can get by with guys like that if you have an “All World” QB that creates plays for his WRs. That’s not Alex Smith. I believe a team could be a consistent playoff team with Donnie Avery and Dwayne Bowe at WR. I also believe a team could be a consistent playoff team with Alex Smith at QB. I’m just not sure you can be a consistent playoff team with Alex Smith as the QB AND Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery as the starting WRs. They don’t compliment each other very well. Since quarterbacks you can win with are harder to come by, I’m all for building around Smith, but that means finding some better playmakers at WR.

I was going to go off about the kicker situation next, but I’m literally too mad about it to even go there. It’s absurd. It’s ridiculous. They made the wrong call and it’s not even debatable AND the cap space doesn’t even look like it matters.

Moving on…..

I believe in Andy Reid, but he’s made some horrible calls in these first two games.

I believe in John Dorsey, but cutting Ryan Succop and not doing more to address a few of the holes on this roster look to be clear mistakes.

That’s what’s so frustrating for me right now.

I DO still believe in this team.

I just fear that I may have to wait another year before I see that belief pay off and I don’t want to have to wait.

I liked winning games last season. I liked making the playoffs. I liked being a team that people were talking about. I don’t want to go back to thinking about draft position and prospects while there are still games left to play, let alone over half of a season of them.

That’s why I’m praying that the Chiefs find a way to win two of their next four games. Two wins through this brutal opening gauntlet may be enough to keep KC in the wildcard hunt late in the season. The team that took the Broncos down to the very last series has a chance to make that happen. Then again, the injuries and holes in the roster could be too much to overcome.

Mixed Emotions!

Here’s what I do know. There is an argument to be made for both sides. There are reasonable, logical justifications for people to be either pessimistic or encouraged. What we don’t need is Chiefs fan on Chiefs fan crime, where we start bashing each other if we don’t see things the same way. If someone has doubts about the team this season they aren’t some over negative fair weather fan just like someone isn’t an incompetent homer if they still have some hope for this team. I’m not sure there’s a clear cut “winning” argument that can be made on either side at this point, or at least I haven’t heard one yet.

So what do you think Addicts? Are you encouraged by the Chiefs valiant effort in Denver? Do you now believe the Chiefs will go on a run and compete for the playoffs this season? Do you think the injuries and holes in the roster are too much to overcome? Have you already given up on the season? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!