BY JOSE FAUS
SPORTS
A little calm has settled over the kingdom. The grey clouds shrouding the skies above GEHA field are dissipating. Serenity is restored. Smiles adorn faces as people walk into the new day full of joy. They move through the streets on light feet. Truth be told they could be floating on air they are so assured order has been restored. A little hyperbole never hurt anything unless its political.
I’m happy because the Kansa City Chiefs flew across the mighty Mississippi and beat the New York Giants on their homefield and that is cause for celebration. It is the first time in forever that they have beaten the Giants at their home field. The Giants have stifled this team so many times owning an 11-5 record. Yes, this is good.
Are Kansas City’s problems now in the rear-view mirror, not as an “object closer than they appear,” but something receding to the distance? I wish and I won’t lie. There are still things to worry about. One thing we can count on - the defense has been awesome. Sorry, I can’t come up with a better term like dominating, stifling, aggressive, punishing, but if any of those words work for you just scratch mine out and add yours.
How interesting to watch football and see the fortunes ebb and flow. We are supposed to be living in the era of dominant and unstoppable offenses. I’m so glad no one told the defense they were doomed. I see in the defense something that needs to translate to the offense – discipline.
When the defense hits on all cylinders you know it’s because they are doing their jobs. When you don’t do your assignment, you get burned as the defense found out in Brazil when Justin Herbert scatted past an out of position Chris Jones to secure a game-ending first down. There was turmoil and finger pointing, worry the team was falling apart internally. Naw, it was just something they took care on their own.
The Chiefs running game will not scare anyone except when it shocks you. There was that one game Kansas City under head coach Andy Reid told the world, “We can run the football.” Remember it? A rainy October day in 2020, when the team ran for 245 yards against the Buffalo Bills. Oh, the heights of Mt. Olympus. Through three games this year Kansa City has 324 yds. Could do better in that department.
The passing game is still compromised but in my best Alfred E. Newman smirk I’ll say, “What, me worry?” I look at the stats like I look at a commercial for hemorrhoids. Don’t have them, don’t need them. Truth is the passing game was promising. Tyquan Thorton where have you been? A deep threat always helps an anemic attack. I can’t wait till all the pieces are in play.
I will continue to wonder about the offensive line, but I believe the more they play together, in combination with the coaching that is there, they will begin to jell. You can call it blind optimism, or homer blind spots. This is a good coaching staff. They are not magicians though, if they were Jawaan Taylor would have zero penalties. I don’t know what will fix that, but it really is a shame that he is the target. I see so many other players doing the same thing and getting away with it. Thanks for nothing Chris Collingsworth.
Now, about Patrick Mahomes. He has weathered many things in his career, and his competitiveness is beautiful to watch. But there are moments in which he tries to do too much. He won’t hold the ball as long as Lamar Jackson will, but there are three plays from this past game that are kind of perplexing.
There was the throw to a wide-open Travis Kelce that floated off to the side uncatchable. If you watch the replay Kelce was open. Mahomes hesitated, looking for other options. He came back and still hesitated, and by the time he threw accuracy was on vacation. That was a little weird. Then there were the two behind-the-line-of-scrimmage passes that made me scratch my head so hard I started to lose hair and that cannot happen.
Who knows what was going through his head. It’s okay my man. You got this.
I do know that Kansas City is not in the AFC West cellar. How about them Raiders showing up in last? Chargers in first place with three division wins. The football world is different than it has been. So many good teams waiting, longing for the crown. I’m still riding with my team. How about them Cowboys?
