AFC West Report: Chiefs Tumble while the Chargers Rise
By Ellen Mathis
Kansas City Chiefs
Well, I know you all think I am doom and gloom, but I was at the game on Sunday. It is kind of doom and gloom right now. The Chiefs have problems in all phases of the game. The offense starting at the top with Mahomes looks awful – out of sink, forcing it. It makes no sense why a team with this much talent cannot put it together.
Don’t even get me started on the defense. When you have a leader of your defense standing in the field with his arms raised wondering how someone could be that wide open, you know there are problems.
Why is Sorenson being put in these situations? Is he failing to follow his assignments? Shouldn’t the coach be putting people in places to succeed? Is this on Spags? I honestly do not know. But, there is one thing I know: this is not a team that should make the playoffs. Not playing like this. They will be embarrassed and a one-and-done team if they even make it.
Now, there is still time to figure it out, but it certainly is not coming in the form of adding personnel. There isn’t enough money and the players aren’t realistically out there. They need to look internally to solve this. Does that mean giving the young guys a chance? Maybe. They are more athletic and if they make a mistake, at least they have a chance of recovering. At this point, I’ll take anything.
The Chiefs also had a rough injury night. Early in the game (and unbeknownst to the majority of Chiefs Kingdom), Joe Thuney fractured his hand. He played through it. Offensive linemen are just different. Chris Lammons had a skin laceration that should be fine. Travis Kelce had a stinger that also should be fine. Tyreek Hill is dealing with a knee injury that is certainly something to monitor since he has popped up on the injury report with knee issues this season already. However, most serious was Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He went down awkwardly and I thought in the moment he was done for the season. Thankfully, he just has an MCL sprain that should heal within 3 weeks. Nonetheless (and likely to protect him from himself) he was placed on IR and Elijah McGuire was signed to the practice squad as a replacement. Additionally, the Chiefs did the following:
Next week, the Chiefs have a “get right” game. They travel to Washington to take on the Football Team. Washington isn’t playing great, so I do anticipate the Chiefs handle this game. I, though, would like to see the offense of the Eagles game and then a defense that doesn’t just let opposing teams score at will. Is that too much to ask? I’ll certainly be watching and cheering on my favorite team, hoping they get right and begin to fix the many issues plaguing them.