Dec 20, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters (22) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jeremy Butler (17) during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. The Chiefs won 34-14. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dee Ford has played better this season and is starting to make plays each week. While not registering a sack on the day he was usually around the QB putting on the pressure and he had a fantastic read of a third and 1 play that he strung out and was able to make the stop short of the first down.
Ford still has a way to go before the Chiefs and their fans should feel alright about him taking over for Tamba Hali but his potential and his playing time will pay dividends down the road. Another year in an NFL weight room should also help him produce a secondary pass rush move and bull rush as well as making him more stout against the run.
One other area the Chiefs need to fix by the end of the season is the punt and kicking return game. Frankie Hammond has played horribly since having to take over for DAT and Knile Davis lacks the vision to be effective as a returner. The Chiefs need DAT to return by the end of the year and that should help the return game tremendously as well as the field position game for Kansas City.
Kansas City controls its own destiny heading into the next two weeks of the season. Two wins and they are in the playoffs. One win and one loss and they will need help but the Chiefs will be favored at home against their next two opponents. KC should get a favorable first game matchup against the winner of the AFC South as the fifth seed in the AFC.
If Reid can quit calling plays that the defense is looking for Kansas City should be in good shape going forward but they need to have a killer instinct on offense that they have lacked so far this season. Their defense is good enough to help them win in the playoffs but letting a team hang around will be costly in January if it doesn’t hurt the Chiefs over the next two weeks of the season. Reid’s play calling is the biggest detriment to the Chiefs offense at this point in the season and if he can stay out of his own way the Chiefs could be playing well into mid-January and beyond.
What do you think, Addicts? Will the Chiefs play calling allow them to be successful come January?