Chiefs vs. Raiders: Antonio Brown’s lingering impact and 9 other questions
The Kansas City Chiefs continue their season in Week 2 in Oakland against the Oakland Raiders. What should fans be watching for in game two?
The Kansas City Chiefs turned in a heck of a performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, putting up 40 points against a defense that ranked in the NFL’s top five in 2018 and only gave up an average of 15.7 points per game at home. The defense did give up 26 points to an offense led by rookie sixth-round draft pick Gardner Minshew and an average offense, after Foles left with a broken collarbone, but I don’t think there’s a ton to worry about there.
The defense did not prepare for Gardner Minshew, who looked to be more mobile than Nick Foles and displayed even better arm strength. I wouldn’t be shocked if there is a quarterback controversy in Jacksonville at some point this or next year. Minshew comes from a college offense that liked to chuck the pigskin, and it showed on Sunday. Plus, two of those touchdowns were essentially in garbage time, with the Chiefs leading 37-13 in the fourth quarter, and we all know how that goes. Whenever you’re blowing a team out, you tend to let up near the end.
All in all, this was a really good showing by the Chiefs. They went into a hostile environment that was hot enough that an on-field thermometer appeared to register above 120 degrees Fahrenheit late in the game. Add to this the equally hostile defense, with several Jaguars’ defenders showing their ugly true colors, and this was a great test that the team passed with flying colors.
Now, the team faces a franchise in the Oakland Raiders that has had one of the wackiest offseasons in recent memory. Needless to say, there will be numerous story lines to watch heading into this game.
What impact does the Antonio Brown saga have on this team?
That didn’t last long. The Oakland Raiders gave up a third round pick and a boatload of money to sign one of the league’s most consistently great wide receivers. For Raiders fans, it seemed as though things might actually be starting to look up for a franchise that hasn’t been relevant in almost two decades.
In truly the weirdest and most unprofessional way, something that should likely reflect poorly on his agent Drew Rosenhaus, Brown requested his release via Instagram of all places and was eventually granted that request. Probably the most shocking thing was his child-like celebration, which he also posted to social media, upon learning of his release.
It was ugly. It was unprofessional. It hurt a franchise that was trying to do business the right way. In truth, it was a very bad look for the NFL, given how it all turned out. Hopefully this isn’t the beginning of a trend, but only time will tell.
The question for the Raiders organization going forward is how this will affect them mentally. Their entire training camp was overshadowed by the goofy frostbite and helmet situation, and now the beginning of their season is overshadowed by Brown seemingly winning through all of this by signing with the New England Patriots. Whether they want to admit it or not, this has to irritate them.
Can the coaches and the team put this distraction aside and move forward with the business of preparing each week for their upcoming opponent? It’s no wonder coaches and players go out of their way to avoid distractions. Winning games in the NFL is often a matter of inches, and any and every little thing can make a difference. For a team that is likely going to struggle to compete, is this the straw that breaks the camel’s back?