BY JOSE FAUS
It had to happen. As if there were not enough obstacles standing in the way of the defending champions securing their place in football immortality, the injury bug had to come out and get that poison going. And those darts don’t care what they hit as they realistically play no favorites.
The curious thing about this year is that in the case of Marquise Hollywood Brown, fans and pundits are lamenting what could have been, and not what happened, as he did not go far in the season opener before the injury took him down. That is the opposite with Rashee Rice. His absence will be felt. This promised to be a breakout year. On top of that the team loses Isaiah Pacheco, the starting running back. The question is out there about the effectiveness of the left tackle.
The offense right now is limping along with a curiously misfiring Patrick Mahomes at the helm. The dreaded funk that held him in check for long stretches in the last two years is rearing its head again, but this time it appears confined within game situations. A couple of red zone interceptions changes the dynamic of the game quick. Just look at the Rice injury and that sequence of events. Yes, it’s a little malodorous on that side of the ball, but Mahomes has still found ways to overcome. If you want a positive, he is in third place with five interceptions behind Will Levis and Anthony Richardson with six apiece. You can’t say he is not an overachiever.
By all indications the Chiefs’ offense, while not on life support, is setting off stat alerts in the division. I see people taking out prayer beads every time they watch a game. The games are too close and eventually it will catch up with them and they will lose. I see Chicken Little running around the parking lot clearing his throat. The sky is starting to wobble. Look, it will soon be falling. Or not.
At the risk of being a delusional fan, I’m not worried much or as much as others are. The team has been here before. Last year to be exact. The addition of Kareem Hunt and the eventual return of Pacheco will relieve any concerns in the running back room. The return to grace of Travis Kelce provides positive vibes going forward. He will be highlighted and pummeled by a host of defenders until Xavier Worthy begins to plant his flag as a difference maker. He has two touchdowns already for the season, and the speed is tantalizing, but he is still a rookie and just starting to make his mark.
The defense has made a big splash making some significant stops and contributing in big ways to secure Kansas City’s undefeated record. The defense is not ranked in the top five, but that’s because the one stat that should matter, fourth down stops, they dominate and they get no rewards for, except the undying faith of their fan base. These guys have a little trouble stopping a runaway mac truck until it gets ready to hit the house. And they have been stellar in ramming that truck to a dead stop. The pundits say, eventually that truck is going to run them over. I’ll wait.
Trent MacDuffie is everything you want in a defensive back. He has incredible numbers against all receivers faced and I don’t see that changing. If there is consistency, it is wherever he lines up. The same can be said about Cris Jones. I like the defense, and it will get better as the season progresses. But that injury bug is playing wack-a-mole all over the NFL this year and fans must appease that reckless divinity. Thoughts and prayers might go far enough. Rap some knuckles on wood for more insurance.
The narrative heard more often and boosted by some commentators, is maybe they are not as good as the Cincinnati Bengals or the Baltimore Ravens, two teams they have already beaten. We all know Kansas City won those game because the referees are in cahoots. We also know the NFL is solidly behind the massive audience that Taylor Swift is bringing to the game. We know the script has already been written and the season should end right now before anyone else really gets hurt.
Sadly, the games must be played out to fill the coffers of the Nefarious Football League. I don’t know what pact Kansas City made with the devil, but here we are undefeated 4-0 atop the division and the team has yet to play the quintessential good game. I pity the fools that take them for granted. It’s going to be a great year. I stand behind the team 100%. I don’t want to get hurt.
