If you're down 38-10, statistically you're 99.1% going to lose (espn reported Colts victory was 0.9% chance). What we witnessed was the perfect storm: 5 chiefs players got injured (jamaal charles, kniles davis, donnie avery, justin houston, brandon flowers). So you're left with your 2nd best receiver in Bowe (charles is 1st, avery is 3rd) and then you lose kniles davis, who was playing well, in the 2nd half. With either charles or davis as your rb, you will win cause they're dependable to kill the clock and escape with score of 44-38 (my guess). the key is to not fall behind 38-10. We can't expect any team to come back from 38-10.

if we even had decent play by our safeties/corners, then we're not allowing t.y. hilton look like he's jerry fkn rice. Add the moment that Luck recovers the ball that bounces off his lineman's helmet and back to Luck after the forced fumble. Again, perfect storm.

Alex did his part and was carrying the team on his shoulders. He did run for several first downs with his feet when he had to take it all on his own. 57 yards with avg 7.1 yards. The fumble, though, I give him 80% of the blame (20% to his oline). He knew how dire the situation was and was taking it all on his shoulders.

2 key plays:

1. Cyrus Gray and Alex Smith don't connect for the pass and assumed touchdown. Alex's first read was to Mccluster for a short 6 yard gain but interrupts his throwing motion when he sees Cyrus Gray is open. Cyrus had given up on the play and then notices the ball in the air and tries to recover but he's 1 step too late. 90% blame to Gray cause this is the playoffs and you should not let up on your routes. If charles was the rb, i have 100 % confidence he makes the play. Cyrus Gray stats for 2013: 24 yards rush with 2.7 yd/avg. Cyrus is a nobody.


2. Final pass to Bowe.

Prior, Alex fked up with his intentional grounding. Though for some reason the line collapsed and Alex was surprised by the swarm of 2/3 colts.

Then Alex executes a very difficult throw. Bowe makes the catch but HALF of his right foot is out of bounds. Bowe gets played like a top receiver and at that moment, he just didn't live up to his salary. If that was Vernon Davis, Vernon makes the play.

So Alex Smith, in my opinion, had the mindset and performance to win. He just didn't have the support required to pull off the win.

As usual, good post.

The reason I'm cautiously optimistic about Alex going forward is because I have the utmost faith in the combination of Alex Smiths ability to be very coach able and Andy Reids ability to be one of the best teachers in the league of quarterbacks.

To me, it all goes back to the big meeting Alex and Andy had during the bye week. The one where Andy told him he will need to show the ability to attack with the deep ball and to push the ball a lot more and Alex responded favorably.

There isn't a doubt in my mind that Andy knows EXACTLY what areas Alex needs to improve on going forward for us to improve and that Alex will put in the work to step his game up...just like he did after the bye.

Also, I know a lot of people here point to the schedule we face as a reason they might take a step back (record wise) because we face the NFCW...but fail to acknowledge that Alex has a long history in that division. I think this team will be in each of those games (sans Seattle)

I think the score against Seattle might be closer than people think, due to the way both teams play football.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSAuEhUAMAs


^ this is the interview that was being mentioned in this thread. If there's one QB not in it for the ego and personal bank account.. it's Alex. He just wants the Chiefs to commit to him for a few years. I wouldn't be surprised at all by a very cap-friendly contract, but it likely wouldn't be one that KC can easily ditch him year by year.

In all sincerity, does such a contract exist?

A large up-front bonus can be cap-friendly, but it might make it easier for the Chiefs to swallow his contract after 2-3 years. Using a yearly roster bonus can be cap friendly, but again it makes his contract potentially easier to void after a couple of years.

The best way to make a contract sticky is to do like the did with Bowe and guarantee the base salary. But that's definitely not cap friendly.

Alex has always struck me as a team player, and I think he wants success more than the biggest paycheck possible. Going out on a limb here, but I don't think he would insist on a contract that would hamstring his team.

I can see one in the 4 year range. 4 years is what we could realistically expect from him.

Well, if we manage to put a good enough line in front of him this year to keep him from getting his brain scrambled again...