The Good
Dee Ford – I think this section has to start with the Chiefs breakout start of 2016. I said it last week and I’ll say it again now, I was 100 percent wrong about Dee Ford. I was convinced that he would never be more than an average situational pass rusher.
I saw value in having him on the roster but was among the majority that had decided he would never validate his first round draft slot. Boy were we all wrong. Dee Ford has become a one man pass rush for the Chiefs and his nine sacks is tied for the most in the NFL (at least before the prime time games). The thought of being able to package Ford with a healthy Justin Houston is tantalizing.
Ramik Wilson – I don’t have a lot to say here other than “Good for you Ramik Wilson”. The guy had to be devastated when he didn’t make the 53-man roster out of camp, but when Justin March-Lillard was lost to injury Wilson not only got back on the active roster but found himself starting. If Wilson continues to play like he did on Sunday he may just earn the right to keep the job in years to come.
Steven Nelson – Nelson is far from KC’s best cornerback. In fact, I think at this point he is clearly behind Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, and even rookie D.J. White (when healthy). Nelson is often targeted by opposing QBs when on the field, but he stepped up and made some nice plays on Sunday.
Yes, he still gives up some catches here and there, but when your nickel corner can still step up and make plays like the one he did on fourth down at the end of the game you are in good shape. The Chiefs have arguably the youngest and least experienced group of corners in all the NFL but to their credit they are getting the job done.
Nelson hasn’t let his past mistakes get into his head and keeps showing lots of fight out on the field. He stepped up when needed on Sunday and may have saved the win in the process.
While I would love to end the piece here, there are some bad things and some ugly things that need to be addressed.
Let’s go to “The Bad” next.