Chiefs mimic dumpster fire in horrific loss

Nov 20, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws a pass in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Rohman-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws a pass in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Rohman-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Chiefs fell to 7-3 and might very well have cost themselves the West and a bye week with their performance on Sunday afternoon.

At some point, the magic was going to run out. On Sunday, at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it did. Tampa Bay won 19-17 against a Chiefs team that looked dazed and confused, including head coach Andy Reid.

Before we go further, let’s get the following out of the way. Kansas City is 7-3 and a good football team. The Chiefs aren’t some mirage, and they aren’t lucky. You earn what you get in this league. That said, Kansas City could very well be 7-5 in two weeks if it doesn’t get its act together.

Some will point to the defense and blame that unit. There’s merit to that case. The defense forced one punt and looked laughable on third down. Jameis Winston had all day and the rushing attack was out in full force. The Buccaneers threw for 331 yards and converted on 11-of-15 third down attempts.

The loss hurts the most in the long-term scope. Kansas City is now tied (technically ahead of Denver) at 7-3 and a half-game behind the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs have to play at Denver and Atlanta in their next two games. The second seed is hanging in the balance, and Kansas City just gave away a huge chance to get a leg up.

At some juncture, the Chiefs have to step up offensively. My top takeaway is that Alex Smith’s pick in the end zone was one of the worst things I’ve seen. You can’t make that throw, ever. It was a mess from the second he cocked his arm. The ball was tipped, but that ball was a pick all the way.

Reid is also on the hook in a major way. His call of Travis Kelce running a jet sweep was indefensible. The notion to call a time out when the opposition was ready to go to halftime and netting them three points? The difference in the game (at least on the scoreboard).

This loss is on everybody. It was ugly all the way around. Onto Denver.