Kansas City Chiefs: 8 Winners and Losers from Week 5
By Brett Gering
Loser: Andy Reid
Most weeks, I’m beating the drum for the pro-Reid camp. This week? Eh.
The Chiefs’ pre-bye-week schedule was murderer’s row. While there’s no excuse for Week 1, Kansas City waxed Miami and New England, topping them by a combined 46 points. On the road, it lost to two Super Bowl contenders by a combined 12—both were one-possession road losses.
Reid’s play design is fueling an offense that would otherwise be running on fumes—one that has averaged 25.8 points per game over the last four weeks. (Including Husain Abdullah’s pick-six, the team is averaging 27.5.) In a pass-happy league, his most explosive players are running backs, and they’re running behind a makeshift offensive line.
If I’m a Chiefs supporter, the last thing I want is a Brian Daboll-like, two-scoops-of-vanilla playbook that avoids risks like the plague. But at some point, you have to draw a line in the sand.
When you’re staring at 2nd-and-1, and your tailback is averaging five-plus yards per carry, calling for two consecutive (unsuccessful) passes is asking for criticism. And is Anthony Sherman allergic to pigskin or…?
Look, any fan, writer or pundit giving offensive tips to Reid is like Flavor Flav giving marriage advice. Among NFL offenses, the Chiefs rank No. 4 in third-down efficiency, converting 50.7 percent of said scenarios. The guy obviously knows what he’s doing.
However, at times, making a concerted effort to be two steps ahead of the pack also means you’re twice as likely to face-plant. And when that’s the case, Reid’s jacket looks more like a bullseye.