A Simple Explanation Of Sunday’s Loss
2. Drops
Unforced errors always hurt a team’s chances to win in the NFL. Drops are frequently drive-killers and perhaps the most well-known Chiefs player for dropping the football returned to form on Sunday evening. Dwayne Bowe dropped at least two passes that would’ve resulted in first downs for Kansas City. One of them was a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw that hit Bowe squarely in both hands. The other was a pass Smith zipped to Bowe just a few yards from the sticks. Bowe didn’t act alone though. Demetrius Harris also dropped a would-be, first down converting pass that Smith threw, on the run, to escape a sack.
3. A God-awful, untimely special teams penalty
The Chiefs have a field goal unit. Mind you, there are very specific players assigned to that unit. Despite that fact, they still managed to have 12 men on the field in a crucial late-game situation. The Niners had been prepared for a 53-yard field goal try. Following the penalty, and a few extra plays, Phil Dawson would eventually attempt one from the Chiefs’ 12-yard line.
NFL kickers make roughly 90 percent of field goals in that range. From beyond 50 yards, that number shrinks to just 60 percent. Dawson had already connected on attempts of 52 and 55 yards, but from the opposite sideline, you’d always prefer to take your chances with a longer kick. Had he missed, the Chiefs take over with great field position, down just three points, with only two minutes left in the game.
4. A second half departure from what worked on offense in the first half
Jamaal Charles ran the football 11 times for 49 yards in the first half of the contest. That’s good for a 4.4 yard per carry average, folks. He did this against a top-5 run defense. Charles had only four carries the rest of the game, the first of which was a 26-yard scamper in the Chiefs’ first offensive series of the second half.
Kansas City never trailed by double digits. The reason Andy Reid abandoned the run isn’t entirely clear to me. It’s almost as though he wants to win without relying on a contribution from his backfield (Knile Davis had just three carries all day after two straight 100-yard games). Anybody see where Kelce went after scoring on the opening drive? How about the trips tight end formation that’s been successful all season? Any clue where the red hot Junior Hemingway went after four catches for 50 yards in the first two quarters? Yeah, I don’t know either.
Continue on to Page 3 for the rest of the list.