Sep 28, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid calls a play during the game against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
"Alex Smith is frustrated. This pass protection is just not good enough."
Those are the words of Jon Gruden in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ game on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers. It is a very apt summary of the K.C. offense, and a sentence to which every Chiefs fans would respond, “Tell me something I don’t know.”
Despite the struggles, this is still a very talented team. They have some of the best players in league at running back (Jamaal Charles), wide receiver (Jeremy Maclin), linebacker (Justin Hosuton and Tamba Hali), and safety (Eric Berry). There are moments when they show that. But through the first half in Green Bay, we hardly ever saw any of that potential be exploited.
Instead, the Chiefs were routinely beating themselves. Kansas City penalties gave the Packers three straight first downs on Green Bay’s third drive of the game. Marcus Cooper negated an Aaron Rodgers fumble recovered by Tamba Hali. Do not get me started on Tyvon Branch. And the Chiefs wide receivers may as well have been statutes. Not one of them caught a pass in the first two quarters. Charles and Travis Kelce were the only Chiefs to record receptions until Maclin caught his first pass with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
Next: Monday was U-G-L-Y