Ten Things About Today's Game

[gblowfish]

Ten Things About Today's Game

10. Took me awhile to sit down and compose my thought tonight. Mrs. Blowfish is not feeling well. She went to the game today -against my advice- and tonight she is paying for it. Nothing too serious, but I appreciate all the good thoughts sent her way. She didn't want to miss this game. This was the biggest upset of the NFL season, and a great example of why I never bet real money on NFL football. Needless to say, the 35,000 plus Cheese Heads in attendance were sent home with a taste of Arrowhead Magic Limberger. I actually like Packers fans. I admire them, they're not dill holes like Donk fans and not criminals like Faider fans. They're generally good folks and I didn't see any problems in the stands today. It was just a good hard fought game, and a big huge upset for the "home team."

9. I've been watching the replay of the game, and I can tell you first hand, this game was poorly officiated for both teams. For the Pack: The second OPI penalty on Nelson was total BS. And Pope may have fumbled a ball out of the back of the end zone. Packers should have red flagged that play and checked it closer. Chiefs were flagged more than the Packers. Packers should have been called for holding and hands to the face on both Hali and Houston or five or six different occasions. The holding on Hali was extreme and obvious all day long. Hali still managed to get three sacks, and he was a disruptive force all day. Orton was hit late several times, especially on the third and goal play that led to KC's first field goal. Matthews hit him real late on the pass to McClain, and the ref looked the other way. If we hit Rodgers like that, it's a sure roughing penalty, no doubt about it.

8. The Chiefs did some pretty stupid stuff today. Roughing the punter, twelve men on the field to give a second FG attempt -Crosby missed them both-, and leaving Finley open all day. Finley was thrown ten balls and only caught three. It could have been much worse. Finley had Slappy Pistachio beat in the end zone and just missed him by a finger nail. I know Jennings was out, but Driver is an All-Pro guy. KC's corners played tough man to man all day long, and made it work. Big props to our Brandons. They played one Hell of a game today.

7. Tamba Hali is the best rusher we've had since DT. He is relentless and he gives you everything he's got every week. I have come to really admire him as one of the greats. He'll be a ring of honor guy. DJ was outstanding stopping the run. Both of these guys should be All-Pro for 2011. Houston has a lot of work to do on pass coverage. But he should come a long way next year. If we can upgrade Belcher, we could have one of the best sets of four linebackers in the AFC next season. Belcher got pushed around today, and Grant ran right past him several times.

6. I'll admit I really didn't like it when Pioli signed Orton. He's an ex-Donk. I hate Donks. But he is a legit NFL veteran QB, and he played a gutsy, inspired game today. I tip my hat to him. I think since he was a former Bear QB, he's used to seeing Green Bay, and it's no big deal for him. On the sideline he showed some fire. He went to all the B's -Bowe, Breaston and Baldwin- and talked with them all during the game about routes, and what was going on from series to series. He was much more involved than Cassel. During the season, Cassel would always come to the bench, look at the end zone still pictures with Zorn, and rarely speak to any of his receivers. The other thing was Orton was on target. He hit guys between the numbers, or hit them in stride. He hit Pope wide open twice for 72 total yards; hit Becht for a big drive sustaining pass on the TD drive late, and guys like Bowe and Breaston fought for yards after the catch. Ten different Chiefs caught passes today. This game was important to Orton's future, as I'm sure he wants to improve his free agent stock with an eye towards 2012. Whether he stays or goes, he earned his money today with a truly memorable performance.

5. Whoever was calling the plays today, whether that was Grandpa Muir or Zorn, KC did a much better job making positive yards on first down. We were at second and six or second and five a bunch. KC got 23 first downs. With Palko, we've been constantly in second and nine or ten or worse, Better success on first down was key to the Chiefs drives. And since the Chiefs rarely went three and out, the defense was able to rest, and shut the Packers out for the first half for the first time this season. KC was only forced to punt twice. Today was Rodgers worst season day for passing yards (235 total yards) and the season's lowest QB rating at 80.1. He didn't get a lot of help early, Packers receivers dropped five passes in the first half alone.

4. Special teams were a bit of a mixed bag today. On the plus. Succop was money. He was four out of four, including a tough 47-yard line drive after a dangerously high snap from Gafford. Arenas misjudged a punt that ended up being a 71-yard roller for Green Bay, and KC still seems to hold on punt returns over and over again. This is all not to mention Horne's roughing the punter penalty. How in the Hell did he miss blocking that ball, anyway?

3. From my seat on the sideline, I can tell you who is into it and who isn't. Today I saw tremendous fire from Brandon Albert. I think he realizes that pretty soon he's going to be the old man on the line. Next year Lilja and Weigman will probably be gone; Richardson will be gone or a backup. Hudson will be center, and we'll probably have a rookie or free agent tackle and guard in the mix. Albert needs to be a leader. I think he gets that now. Breaston played with a lot of heart for yards after catch. Bowe was blocking downfield. I think these guys wanted to show Romeo and the rest of the NFL that they were pros, and that Arrowhead is our house -even with 35,000 Cheese heads in the stands.

2. Romeo got a Gatorade bath from Hali and Houston. I saw a lot of joy on the sidelines. I think the guys really wanted to win this one for Romeo. I also noticed the coaches on the sidelines were much more engaged and hands on during this game. I think Emmitt Thomas and some of the other defensive coaches were stepping it up with the defensive guys because Romeo now has a lot more on his plate. Should Romeo be our head coach next year? Jury is still out, but this is a great opening act, that there is no denying. I worry about Romeo's age and health.

1. It might be a good thing for the Packers that they finally lost one, The undefeated pressure is now off of them. The Packers have a lot of problems. They can't stop the run. They lost two starting offensive linemen today, and once those guys went out, Rodgers was running for his life. Green Bay will probably be the number one seed in the NFC, but they need the next two weeks to heal up. It wouldn't surprise me if they lose another one before the playoffs start. BTW: KC is very good against the NFC at Arrowhead, and this year, we went 3-1 against the NFC North, only losing in Week Two to Detroit on the road. Maybe the AFC West isn't so awful after all? Also, remember back to pre-season, and how bad the Packers made the Chiefs look in September? So sweet to beat them when it counts, and to ruin their perfect season. Christmas Eve against the Raiders now has some real meaning. I hope the Chiefs faithful will pack the house. We owe the Raiders after losing to them here in Arrowhead the last couple years. Sweeping them would be as sweet as the win today, maybe even sweeter.