ChiefsPlanet - Football Spider Sense tinglers going into the bye.

This is a very good time for the Chiefs to be going into the bye week. We've managed to pull out wins in some dogfight games that we really should have dominated. The second half of the schedule is going to be brutal, with clashes with divisional rivals in rapid succession.

1. Offensive playcalling.

Andy Reid loves the passing game, but we simply don't have a receiver set that lends itself to productivity in this way. We put the ball up over 30 times today, and I don't think Alex even hit 150 yards. That's absolutely terrible.

10 rushes total late in the third quarter, when you have a back the caliber of Jamaal Charles is absolutely inexcusable, I don't care who your coach is. This is simply a case of not taking advantage of an offensive asset because you don't like to call handoffs.

Plays like those bullshit swing passes, bubble screens, etc... on first down have got to go away. If youre not going to call a pass play for more than 3 yards on first down, just hand the ball to Jamaal and let him get you 4-5. If nothing else, you don't take the loss of 2-4 when your predictable playcall gets your back dropped for a loss in the backfield.

Whatever Reid's credentials in the past may be, 9 points offensively on 3 field goals is not going to cut it in the division, much less in the playoffs. If he cant get it together, perhaps Doug Pederson needs a shot at calling the plays, because quite honestly, the offense cant get much more anemic than it already is.

2. The freebies on defense.

In every single game besides the Jaguars game, the Kansas City Chiefs defense has gifted the opposing team a HUGE touchdown play. They don't give up TDs on consistent drives, but every single week since week 2, they have given up a huge play for a touchdown. This needs to stop.

Dez Bryant burnt us for a 50+ bomb which led to a 3yd TD the next play.

McCoy hit a 41yd run on us for a score for the Eagles.

Victor Cruz's 69 yard TD was the only score for the Giants.

50+ yard td reception for Chris Johnson on a busted play for the Titans

40 yd td reception to Danarius Moore for the Raiders.

30yt td reception to D'Andre Hopkins for the Texans

40yd flea flicker td to Josh Gordon for the Browns

59yd td reception to Marquis Goodwin today for the Bills.

This has been an every week trend, going against 2nd and 3rd string QBs. On deck we have QBs like Manning, Rivers, Luck, and RG3. Going to have to get the free TD's stopped somehow.

3. Tackling.

Holy shit. We gave up over 200 yards on the ground today to backs that aren't exactly powerhouses. Time to get back to basics on the technique, wrap up the ball carriers, and bring them down. That 11th ranked rush defense took a major blow today, when it really shouldn't have if the first Chief to the ball carrier makes the play with a basic tackle. The goal line stand showed we still know how to do it, so do it between the 20's as well.

4. Pressure.

No sacks today, and only one or two against the Browns. This defense makes its living off of turnovers and mauling quarterbacks. Time for Sutton to get back to the drawing board and find a way to bring these guys free on defense again to pressure these QBs.

5. Accuracy

I don't know if its the infrequency that Reid actually calls a downfield pass, or what. The throws downfield have got to be more accurate. An overthrow to Fasano than nearly got his neck broken, and multiple passes at the ankles of open receivers. Open up the playbook on the practice field and get some timing for downfield routes, and practice throwing the football. Far too inconsistent, and Alex has left several big plays on the field because of a miss.

6. Drops.

Pass catching drills until their hands fall off. Catch 100 in a row, first drop you start over. The huge drops by McCluster and Bowe today would have cost us the game had the defense not scored 14 points, and drops have been pretty rampant all season. This has got to get tightened up.

We've got 2 weeks until we hit the road to play Peyton Manning and the Broncos in prime time. We have a metric shitload of work to do with this team despite being 9-0. If the Kansas City Chiefs play like they played today offensively, the first mark in the L column is in 2 weeks. Its going to be a tough game on the road if we have an outstanding game plan and execute well in the first place.

If we go to Denver and drop a steaming pile on offense that we dropped in Buffalo, we're 9-1. We may lose the game regardless, as Denver is a tough place to play, but the Chiefs are going to need to put on a much better showing offensively if they are to be taken seriously.