CHIEFS SKUNK THE RAIDERS BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
I was somewhat surprised when Boomer Esiasan, Shannon Sharpe & Bill Cowher all picked the Chiefs to win yesterday on the CBS pre-game show. I thought their quarterback situation could be a problem, Richard Seymour was in danger of not playing & placekicker Sebastian Janikowski would definitely miss the game, could give the Chiefs just enough of an edge to win. I made my picks before it was announced Janikowski had tweaked his hamstring & Raider coach Hue Jackson began playing games with the media as to who his starting QB was going to be. But a 28-0 embarrassment was more than all of us could have wished for right? Right? The last Chiefs' road shutout came way back in 1991, so don't tell me even the most blindly optimistic Chiefs fan saw a shutout coming. So what does all this mean? I'll begin with the possible ramifications.
At 3-3, Kansas City is now in a position to be in first place by November 13th after games with San Diego next Monday night at Arrowhead, plus home games with Miami & Denver. So 6-3 is certainly realistic. The Chargers, currently 4-2, play KC, then Green Bay & Oakland, all potential losses. The Chargers just don't look right, even Phillip Rivers, the guy Charger fans could always rely on, doesn't look like the same quarterback. Their last possession yesterday began at the 2-minute warning & they only managed 1 first down & 5 total snaps. There was no hurry in their hurry-up offense. They milled around like they had all day. It was a very un-Rivers-like performance. They had the Jets down twice by 11-points & let New York back into the game. The Raiders, currently 4-3, have their bye this week then play Denver & San Diego after their season resumes. At best they can be 6-3. This division could see a 3-way tie on November 13th. The Chiefs then embark on the hardest part of their schedule with a Monday night game in New England, a Sunday nighter in Arrowhead vs. the Steelers, road games in Chicago & vs. the NY Jets before coming home to play Green Bay. It's a brutal stretch to be sure & they finish with the Raiders & at Denver. Like last year, I don't now see a team capable of winning more than 10 games in the AFC West, in fact, a 9-7 record could be good enough to become division champs. The Chiefs could get to 9-wins & possibly repeat as champs but how much of what we saw yesterday means anything down the road other than a division win.
Was the 28-0 victory more because of the Raiders' implosion or did it stem from the Chiefs' play? A little of both contributed to brightening our Sunday afternoon yesterday. Kyle Boller was dreadful, Darren McFadden suffered yet another foot injury early-on & sat on the sidelines for the remainder of the game. MLB Rolando McClain injured his ankle & coupled with Derrick Johnson's superb run stuffing at the goal line, the Raiders seemed deflated even before Carson Palmer entered the game. After McFadden left for the locker room, whenever Michael Bush was at running back, the Chiefs' secondary didn't fear him breaking a long run, so they began crowding the outside guys, jumping the routes & taking interceptions the other way. The Chiefs had just enough pass rush pressure to rattle Boller & later on, Palmer.
Can anyone remember a game where all four starters in our secondary or anybody else's secondary for that matter, record an interception? CB Brandon Flowers had 2, one for a touchdown, FS Kendrick Lewis grabbed one for a touchdown, CB Brandon Carr picked one & even strong safety Jon McGraw snagged a deflected pass for the 5th pick for the starters. Carr's interception came on an underthrown pass, as did reserve CB Travis Daniels'.
Inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, who is having a Pro Bowl season, consistently got penetration into the Raider backfield & lead the team in tackles with 13. After the Raiders got a 1st down inside the Chiefs 3, Johnson & Kelly Gregg took over, stonewalling the Raiders on four consecutive running plays. I thought from that point in the second quarter, the Raiders weren't really a threat.
Inserting Carson Palmer early in the 3rd quarter was a colossal mistake on the part of Raider head coach Hue Jackson. He had no timing with his receivers, guys who don't run precise patterns, can't consistently catch the ball & every QB has their safety valve, he doesn't have one yet. Once they got down 21-0, they abandoned the league's best running attack, playing right into Romeo Crennell's defensive scheme. We watched two QB's struggle, look directly at their intended receiver, tipping their hand way too often.
The Chiefs sniffed out screen passes & the ball was thrown into the ground. Derrick Johnson & ILB Javon Belcher controlled the middle of the field. That was in part due to the play of NY's Kelly Gregg & Aman Gordon, who consistently controlled their blockers, allowing DJ & Belcher to run to the ball.
If you didn't think the Chiefs did much offensively, you're right, they didn't. Just 300-yards of total offense & Matt Cassel threw a pair of interceptions. Thomas Jones continues to fade into the sunset with 9 carries for 19-yards & that total included a 14-yard run. Cassel wasn't too impressive, his QB rating was 38.3, truly dismal. But the Chiefs offense was carried by WR Dwayne Bowe, again, WR Steve Breaston RB Jackie battle, who totaled 76-yards on 16 carries. I have no doubt Bowe has broken into the league's top-10 receivers. He no longer drops the ball & with his greatly improved physical condition, he makes some spectacular catches look almost routine. Jonathan Baldwin played & caught one pass but he was completely out of position twice leaving Cassel throwing to an empty piece of grass. If Baldwin is able to increase his learning curve, he could be an important addition to an offense that is devoid of TE talent. If Battle can stay healthy, I think he can be a factor back, not a Jamaal Charles breakaway threat, but a solid ball-control running back. I did like the new wrinkle of having CB Javier Arenas run the wildcat offense, scoring on a 7-yard run, nice addition Todd Haley.
I think the Raider team we saw yesterday has a few too many defensive holes to realistically consider them in the Super Bowl conversation. Plus another Oakland constant for decades is penalties, they're extremely undisciplined. They were flagged 13-times yesterday for 120-yards. That's a lot to give away. In 7 games, the Raiders have 69 penalties. I thought Hue Jackson's negative reaction to Todd Haley throwing the ball deep late in the 4th quarter was laughable. Haley's offense scored all of 14 points, they were unimpressive for most of the afternoon & yet the pro adage of "if you don't want us to score....stop us" doesn't apply to Oakland opponents. Don't run up the score on the mean old Raiders even when they're taking cheap shots at Chiefs players late in the game. I thought Jackson made a few very bad decisions, whining to Haley & then threatening("we'll play them again later this season & we'll see what happens") KC at his post game press conference. Whining is very un-Raider-like coach Jackson.
I was thrilled with the outcome yesterday, Mondays after a win are way better than after a loss, even with an abscess tooth. But Kansas City must keep winning, certainly the next three games, if they're to be a part of the AFC West race.
At 3-3, Kansas City is now in a position to be in first place by November 13th after games with San Diego next Monday night at Arrowhead, plus home games with Miami & Denver. So 6-3 is certainly realistic. The Chargers, currently 4-2, play KC, then Green Bay & Oakland, all potential losses. The Chargers just don't look right, even Phillip Rivers, the guy Charger fans could always rely on, doesn't look like the same quarterback. Their last possession yesterday began at the 2-minute warning & they only managed 1 first down & 5 total snaps. There was no hurry in their hurry-up offense. They milled around like they had all day. It was a very un-Rivers-like performance. They had the Jets down twice by 11-points & let New York back into the game. The Raiders, currently 4-3, have their bye this week then play Denver & San Diego after their season resumes. At best they can be 6-3. This division could see a 3-way tie on November 13th. The Chiefs then embark on the hardest part of their schedule with a Monday night game in New England, a Sunday nighter in Arrowhead vs. the Steelers, road games in Chicago & vs. the NY Jets before coming home to play Green Bay. It's a brutal stretch to be sure & they finish with the Raiders & at Denver. Like last year, I don't now see a team capable of winning more than 10 games in the AFC West, in fact, a 9-7 record could be good enough to become division champs. The Chiefs could get to 9-wins & possibly repeat as champs but how much of what we saw yesterday means anything down the road other than a division win.
Was the 28-0 victory more because of the Raiders' implosion or did it stem from the Chiefs' play? A little of both contributed to brightening our Sunday afternoon yesterday. Kyle Boller was dreadful, Darren McFadden suffered yet another foot injury early-on & sat on the sidelines for the remainder of the game. MLB Rolando McClain injured his ankle & coupled with Derrick Johnson's superb run stuffing at the goal line, the Raiders seemed deflated even before Carson Palmer entered the game. After McFadden left for the locker room, whenever Michael Bush was at running back, the Chiefs' secondary didn't fear him breaking a long run, so they began crowding the outside guys, jumping the routes & taking interceptions the other way. The Chiefs had just enough pass rush pressure to rattle Boller & later on, Palmer.
Can anyone remember a game where all four starters in our secondary or anybody else's secondary for that matter, record an interception? CB Brandon Flowers had 2, one for a touchdown, FS Kendrick Lewis grabbed one for a touchdown, CB Brandon Carr picked one & even strong safety Jon McGraw snagged a deflected pass for the 5th pick for the starters. Carr's interception came on an underthrown pass, as did reserve CB Travis Daniels'.
Inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, who is having a Pro Bowl season, consistently got penetration into the Raider backfield & lead the team in tackles with 13. After the Raiders got a 1st down inside the Chiefs 3, Johnson & Kelly Gregg took over, stonewalling the Raiders on four consecutive running plays. I thought from that point in the second quarter, the Raiders weren't really a threat.
Inserting Carson Palmer early in the 3rd quarter was a colossal mistake on the part of Raider head coach Hue Jackson. He had no timing with his receivers, guys who don't run precise patterns, can't consistently catch the ball & every QB has their safety valve, he doesn't have one yet. Once they got down 21-0, they abandoned the league's best running attack, playing right into Romeo Crennell's defensive scheme. We watched two QB's struggle, look directly at their intended receiver, tipping their hand way too often.
The Chiefs sniffed out screen passes & the ball was thrown into the ground. Derrick Johnson & ILB Javon Belcher controlled the middle of the field. That was in part due to the play of NY's Kelly Gregg & Aman Gordon, who consistently controlled their blockers, allowing DJ & Belcher to run to the ball.
If you didn't think the Chiefs did much offensively, you're right, they didn't. Just 300-yards of total offense & Matt Cassel threw a pair of interceptions. Thomas Jones continues to fade into the sunset with 9 carries for 19-yards & that total included a 14-yard run. Cassel wasn't too impressive, his QB rating was 38.3, truly dismal. But the Chiefs offense was carried by WR Dwayne Bowe, again, WR Steve Breaston RB Jackie battle, who totaled 76-yards on 16 carries. I have no doubt Bowe has broken into the league's top-10 receivers. He no longer drops the ball & with his greatly improved physical condition, he makes some spectacular catches look almost routine. Jonathan Baldwin played & caught one pass but he was completely out of position twice leaving Cassel throwing to an empty piece of grass. If Baldwin is able to increase his learning curve, he could be an important addition to an offense that is devoid of TE talent. If Battle can stay healthy, I think he can be a factor back, not a Jamaal Charles breakaway threat, but a solid ball-control running back. I did like the new wrinkle of having CB Javier Arenas run the wildcat offense, scoring on a 7-yard run, nice addition Todd Haley.
I think the Raider team we saw yesterday has a few too many defensive holes to realistically consider them in the Super Bowl conversation. Plus another Oakland constant for decades is penalties, they're extremely undisciplined. They were flagged 13-times yesterday for 120-yards. That's a lot to give away. In 7 games, the Raiders have 69 penalties. I thought Hue Jackson's negative reaction to Todd Haley throwing the ball deep late in the 4th quarter was laughable. Haley's offense scored all of 14 points, they were unimpressive for most of the afternoon & yet the pro adage of "if you don't want us to score....stop us" doesn't apply to Oakland opponents. Don't run up the score on the mean old Raiders even when they're taking cheap shots at Chiefs players late in the game. I thought Jackson made a few very bad decisions, whining to Haley & then threatening("we'll play them again later this season & we'll see what happens") KC at his post game press conference. Whining is very un-Raider-like coach Jackson.
I was thrilled with the outcome yesterday, Mondays after a win are way better than after a loss, even with an abscess tooth. But Kansas City must keep winning, certainly the next three games, if they're to be a part of the AFC West race.
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