Author’s Note: Some weeks my Monday morning post-game thoughts have a clear central idea. Other weeks (like this week) I just have too many different thoughts that I want to get out. So in the spirit of Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback, here are my collected thoughts from the game on Sunday.
The Kansas City Chiefs finally got back in the win column on Sunday with a 23-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. My overall impression is that it was nice to see the team finally pull out a victory even if it wasn’t perfect and the opponent was starting their third string quarterback. Will this win help get the Chiefs back on track? Should Chiefs fans hold out even an ounce of hope for the playoffs? Does this win actually hurt KC in the big picture? Do most fans even care at this point? I’ll delve into that and more as we move forward.
* Entering this game I was struck by the overwhelming lack of excitement in the Chiefs Kingdom. A lot of fans I talked to had an “I guess I’ll still watch” attitude and a few even told me they simply couldn’t justify taking time away from the rest of their family to watch anymore. If I’m being honest, I’ve even been struggling to get pumped up for games like I always have. I’ll always tune in and watch, but the Chiefs definitely broke my spirit a little during their five game losing streak. I was happy that they won on Sunday, but it didn’t put the same spring in my step that wins normally do. Am I alone here or are some of you feeling the same way?
* I’m curious if any Chiefs fans are upset that the Chiefs won? Are some of you that set on getting as high of draft pick as possible that you want them to lose every game? I can see the logic in that, but frankly I just see too much talent still on the roster and too many winnable games left on the schedule. I’ve come to grips with the fact that this will probably be a 6-7 win team this year. I don’t have hopes for the playoffs, there are just too many flaws. I also don’t think KC will be in the running for the top draft pick, top ten maybe, but not first overall. That probably has something to do with my lack of excitement at this point.
Oct 25, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs fans show their support during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 23-13. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
* The best part of this game is that the Chiefs stopped finding a way to lose. They weren’t perfect on offense (more on that in a moment) and their great defensive performance should be taken with a grain of salt (more on that as well) but the bottom line is this was a three point game in the fourth quarter and instead of finding a way to lose the Chiefs closed the game out on both offense and defense and earned a victory. One of the most depressing parts of the five game losing streak was the losing mentality that seemed to envelop the entire team. The Chiefs still have issues, but if they have finally stopped shooting themselves in the foot at every turn it will be a step in the right direction.
* While the two second half touchdowns were nice, the offense in the first half was still incredibly frustrating, especially in the red zone. What I can’t for the life of me figure out is why a 1-5 team is being UBER-conservative in the red zone. WHAT ARE YOU BEING CAUTIOUS ABOUT?!?! That game should have easily been 27-13 or 31-13 but the Chiefs dinked and dunked and did what are becoming typical Andy Reid/Alex Smith things in the red zone in the first half and walked away with three field goals. I literally announced to my family “It appears the Chiefs offensive strategy this season is to not score touchdowns!” I hope the second half was a sign of a turnaround in that department, but its still a MAJOR concern I have with Reid and Smith.
* The Chiefs defense did look great, but the Landry Jones factor simply can’t be overlooked. While KC’s defense did it’s fair share to make plays, Jones also made his share of misfires. Derrick Johnson’s interception was a pass that Ben Roethlisberger simply doesn’t throw and the Steelers had open receivers on multiple occasions that Jones simply didn’t hit. In a game that was within three points in the fourth quarter at one point a healthy Roethlisberger could have easily been the difference between Pittsburgh winning and losing. That having been said, a good defense takes advantage of a third string quarterback and that’s exactly what KC did against Jones.
Oct 25, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs free safety Eric Berry (29) intercepts a pass during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 23-13. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
* Eric Berry’s interception was fantastic and I’m simply in awe of what he has been able to do in his comeback from battling cancer. Not enough people are talking about him nationally. With all that has been wrong with the Chiefs this season, Eric Berry has been a bright shining light.
* If I was Andy Reid, I would start the offensive line they used on Sunday for the rest of the season. Now, that’s not because I think the line was good against the Steelers, they still had plenty of issues. However, I think this is the line that gives KC the best chance to see what they’ve got moving forward. Donald Stephenson had his chance to prove he was a starting left tackle and he blew it. Eric Fisher is the higher pick and between his play in training camp and at right tackle after returning from injury he earned the right to prove he can be a solid starter at left tackle. While LDT was still rough at right guard its not like Zach Fulton was playing any better. Fulton’s lack of athleticism limits his upside so let LDT play out the season and see if he comes around. They’ll likely need a new starter there next year anyway so at least see if the Canadian can show some improvement. I don’t see a ton of upside in Jeff Allen at right tackle, but if he can just be consistently mediocre that will still be an improvement over the highly inconsistent Stephenson. At this point I don’t see Stephenson back next season but perhaps Allen can play well enough to be brought back to compete for a job and add depth. Alex Smith needs a line he can count on in order to succeed and this line showed glimpses of that against the Steelers.
* The Chiefs need to give Charcandrick West 20-30 touches every week. This team can’t win consistently if Alex Smith is throwing the ball 40+ times. West may not be Jamaal Charles (frankly, nobody is) but he’s talented enough to move the ball when given the opportunity. West has shown that he runs hard and can create some yardage. Knile Davis should only get an occasional carry while West catches his breath. While Davis has the speed to hit a wide open hole and pick up yards, any time he has to break a tackle or change directions things go bad quickly. The Chiefs simply don’t have a good enough line for a runner like Davis to be successful. West on the other hand can create his own yards and that is something this offense desperately needs.
* Am I the only one that came away encouraged by the play of Albert Wilson and Chris Conley this week? Both players looked like they were good enough to earn snaps on most NFL rosters and it’s been a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time since you could say that about Kansas City’s number two and three receivers. Some people may think I’m crazy, but even if Jeremy Maclin could likely play next week, I’d leave him at home to rest up when the team goes to London. Not only would that give Maclin two more weeks to get right (with London and then the bye), but if him being out causes Smith to build more trust with Wilson and Conley it will only help the offense in the long run. If those two players continue to develop next season an offense with Maclin, Wilson, and Conley at wideout, Travis Kelce at tight end, and Jamaal Charles and Charcandrick West at running back could be a very good skill position group.
Oct 25, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith (21) breaks up a pass thrown to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant (10) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won 23-13. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
* I’m starting to be really torn about what to do with Sean Smith this offseason. I’ve been in the “don’t re-sign” camp since they drafted Marcus Peters. I have concerns about Smith’s work ethic if he gets a big payday (the guy has some Dwayne Bowe in him) and frankly a cornerback his size at his age scares me anyway. That having been said, every week that goes bye it becomes clear that this defense is SO much better with him on the field. If the Chiefs could get him to sign a two or three year extension now before the season ends and he hits the open market it might be a smart investment.
* I was starting to think that Tamba Hali’s days as an impact player were in the past but he made a couple of huge plays on Sunday. I don’t think its a coincidence that the Chiefs were spelling Hali with Dee Ford throughout the game. At Hali’s age this is a win-win situation. It keeps Hali fresh so he still has the legs left to make plays late in the game and it gives Dee Ford more experience so when he (hopefully) takes over as the starter some day he’ll be better prepared.
* Completely non Chiefs related note number one: LET’S GO ROY-ALS! (clap, clap, clap clap clap) LET’S GO ROY-ALS! (clap, clap, clap clap clap) Nothing will ever compare to the day that I can finally see the Chiefs win a Super Bowl, but seeing the Royals win a World Series this year would still be very, very cool. (Okay, so maybe I found a way to make it a little Chiefs related)
* Completely non Chiefs related note number two: Am I the only one completely geeking out over the new Star Wars movie? I’m not quite at the point where I’m going to run out and buy an authentic Boba Fett costume and camp out over night in it for the premiere, but I have watched each of the trailers that have come out about twenty times already. I’m just old enough that I remember seeing Return of the Jedi in the theatre when I was about six years old. To this day I don’t know if a movie has ever mesmerized me the way Jedi did that day. Every time I watch the new trailer where Han Solo says “Chewie, we’re home” the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as that little six year old kid inside me goes absolutely bananas. If nothing else, its given me something else to look forward to this winter since the Chiefs won’t be in playoff contention. (Look, I made this one Chiefs related too!)
I think that does it for me this week. What did you think of the win this week? I’m curious to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!