Ten Things About Today's NINTH STRAIGHT Win...and Playoff Clinch!

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I don't think cherry picking a loss here or there is evidence of "middling ball".

The Chiefs, while winning, have been pretty poor on offense for a month now.

Carolina had ONE hiccup.

Pittsburgh had been playing well for a month before yesterday.

NE has lost 2 games on the road, in OT to playoff teams.

Seattle had won 5 straight, including two against playoff teams before yesterday.

I'll give you Denver and GB. They're a mess.

Those teams had played great ball for the last month before slipping up once. We've been fortunate to be winning despite playing poorly against inferior competition for the last month.

Maybe middling ball isn't the right term. A lot of inconsistent ball to say the least. A lot of teams look unbeatable for a drive or two and look like invalids for a few more. If I were a fan of any team in the playoffs I wouldn't be feeling good about anything, except maybe Arizona. I'd probably think they could pull it together if I were a fan of Seattle or NE, but on the field, nobody except Arizona.

Typically teams that finish strong make the most noise in the playoffs. NE almost always does. The WC teams usually had to get hot to make the dance, that's why there is so much success. I don't see anyone that is scary now, based off the last few weeks except Arizona.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

There is just a bunch of middling ball being played right now. You can take the comments you made and apply them to any playoff team.

Who is good? Carolina that just lost to a junk Atlanta team? Pitt? Will miss the playoffs unless NYJ loses to Buffalo. NE? That lost to those Jets and got gashed several times. Donk? They're on a pretty significant skid at the moment. Seattle? They got dumped. GB got fisted by Zona.

Last Sunday Arizona looked really good. Houston looked pretty tough after stomping Tennessee but they're QB'd by Brandon mother****ing Weeden. What the...? I don't even..... ****

All true, but I am interested in the Chiefs, and I'm just hoping that they don't come up flat come the playoffs. I'm not saying they will, or even that I'm sure that the past few weeks are indicative of the team being smoke and mirrors.
They are a completely different team when Houston and Hali are on the field.

Yesterday's 2nd half on offense was just as much about fluke circumstances of how long Cleveland had the ball. What has been clear is the offense has been 2 faced for a while now.
They seem to be showing up and putting points on the board, but then simply looking to chew clock, play for field position, and keep it really conservative to avoid turnovers. Thus, you have watched them eek out to hang on and win when I believe that they have left points on the field by effectively going into a prevent offense once they have a at least a 2 score lead.

The danger in doing that is the offense seems to get out of rhythm and then have trouble moving the ball and picking up 1st downs when needed. As good as the defense is - it doesn't sit well with me to continue to put them in with their backs against the wall game after game to hold the line at the end of the game. Better teams, playoff teams, will do better even against this defense if constantly put in that position.

Of course, Andy and the offense may very well be saving plays for elimination games, because in the playoffs against Indy they certainly came out aggressive on offense and the circumstances of that loss had little to do with the offense not scoring enough for a win.

Sure, it's just one game, but it's what we have to go off of in how they came out and played on offense in a playoff game. This team certainly has a better overall offense than that playoff team.

Now, the special teams play needs to definitely get back on track and quickly!

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

All true, but I am interested in the Chiefs, and I'm just hoping that they don't come up flat come the playoffs. I'm not saying they will, or even that I'm sure that the past few weeks are indicative of the team being smoke and mirrors.
They are a completely different team when Houston and Hali are on the field.

Yesterday's 2nd half on offense was just as much about fluke circumstances of how long Cleveland had the ball. What has been clear is the offense has been 2 faced for a while now.
They seem to be showing up and putting points on the board, but then simply looking to chew clock, play for field position, and keep it really conservative to avoid turnovers. Thus, you have watched them eek out to hang on and win when I believe that they have left points on the field by effectively going into a prevent offense once they have a at least a 2 score lead.

The danger in doing that is the offense seems to get out of rhythm and then have trouble moving the ball and picking up 1st downs when needed. As good as the defense is - it doesn't sit well with me to continue to put them in with their backs against the wall game after game to hold the line at the end of the game. Better teams, playoff teams, will do better even against this defense if constantly put in that position.

Of course, Andy and the offense may very well be saving plays for elimination games, because in the playoffs against Indy they certainly came out aggressive on offense and the circumstances of that loss had little to do with the offense not scoring enough for a win.

Sure, it's just one game, but it's what we have to go off of in how they came out and played on offense in a playoff game. This team certainly has a better overall offense than that playoff team.

Now, the special teams play needs to definitely get back on track and quickly!

Agreed on all counts. Coming out flat is my biggest concern. That terrifies the hell out of me.

[gblowfish]

Meanwhile in Cleveland, Ray Farmer may be paying a visit to Ray Farmer... don't forget to bring your playbook!

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...rt_river_index

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns expect to keep coach Mike Pettine and fire general manager Ray Farmer, a source within the organization told Jason Cole of bleacherreport.com.

The Browns slipped to 3-12 after their 17-13 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, giving Pettine his 17th loss in the last 20 games.

But Cole reports that Farmer -- whose player acquisitions have been suspect and who was suspended for the first four games of this season for impermissible texting -- will take the fall for the abysmal record.

"Sources within the Browns' organization say they expect that coach Mike Pettine will survive this season despite the failure of the team,'' he said in a video on the site. "Those sources indicate that the bigger problem within the Browns' organization is not Pettine but is actually General Manager Ray Farmer and the selections that Farmer has made throughout his tenure, and even before that when he was under [former CEO] Joe Banner.''

Cole says that the sources have told him the Browns owner Jimmy Haslam believes that it's Farmer's poor drafting and free-agent pickups that are hurting the team. His 2014 first-round picks, cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel, haven't lived up to their draft status; and 2015 No. 19 overall pick Cam Erving has struggled as a rookie on the offensive line.

Farmer has also come under heavy fire for signing receiver Dwayne Bowe to a two-year deal worth $12.5 million in the offseason, including $9 million guaranteed. Bowe has been a healthy scratch seven times this season and has five catches for 53 yards.

"The problem here is more of a personnel issue, and that is what is going to have to be fixed by Haslam,'' Cole said.

A league source told cleveland.com that Haslam has not made up his mind yet and that he's taking his time and considering all four of his options: keeping Pettine and Farmer, firing both, or keeping one or the other.

Cole said Haslam's top three candidates to replace Farmer would be Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin; Vikings assistant general manager George Paton; and Chiefs Director of Football Operations Chris Ballard.
"Those three gentlemen are considered the top three candidates by the NFL for possible general manager positions around the league,'' stated Cole.

"This is the course that Haslam may take as he tries to fix a continual problem with the Browns since he has taken over the ownership of that team."
*
Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reports that he's heard a strong buzz that Packers Director of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf, the son of longtime Packers personnel executive Ron Wolf, would be a Browns GM candidate if Farmer is fired.

He reported "many believe Wolf's father, Ron, will end up consulting for Haslam on the Browns' forthcoming overhaul.''

Wolf has not yet been hired by the Browns and there are no immediate plans to do so, a source said.

LaCanfora also reported that Haslam likes Jacksonville assistant head coach/offensive line coach Doug Marrone, who interviewed for the Browns job but accepted the Buffalo head coach job instead before the 2013 season. The Browns hired Rob Chudzinski instead, and Marrone hired Pettine as his defensive coordinator in Buffalo that year.

He also reported that Haslam would've "moved heaven and earth'' to hire former Broncos and current Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase two years ago. Gase pulled himself out of the running even before interviewing to focus on the Broncos' Super Bowl run. They lost to the Seahawks that year.

Regardless of what Haslam decides, he's likely to announce it as soon as the day after the Browns' finale next week at home against the Steelers.

[BlackHelicopters]

If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right.

[O.city]

Carolina that almost blew a 35 7 lead?

Pittsburgh had been rolling playoff teams recently?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by O.city

Carolina that almost blew a 35 7 lead?

Pittsburgh had been rolling playoff teams recently?

So Carolina is a fraud because they relaxed up 35-7 and lost yesterday after winning 14 straight?

C'mon, man.

And I don't recall saying Pittsburgh was rolling anyone. My exact words were that they were playing well for a month before yesterday. Which they had. 5-1 in their last 6 with the loss being on the road against a very good Seattle team.

Two wins against playoff teams in that stretch, which I'm sure will be discounted because of McCarron and Osweiler.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

So Carolina is a fraud because they relaxed up 35-7 and lost yesterday after winning 14 straight?

C'mon, man.

And I don't recall saying Pittsburgh was rolling anyone. My exact words were that they were playing well for a month before yesterday. Which they had. 5-1 in their last 6 with the loss being on the road against a very good Seattle team.

Two wins against playoff teams in that stretch, which I'm sure will be discounted because of McCarron and Osweiler.

The steelers were/are the exact same team the chiefs are save they have the offense carrying the weight.

Thru the whole stretch, no one was saying "well, they're winning but their defense hasn't stopped anyone, they've just been outscoring people".

So why does it make them any different than the chiefs?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by O.city

The steelers were/are the exact same team the chiefs are save they have the offense carrying the weight.

Thru the whole stretch, no one was saying "well, they're winning but their defense hasn't stopped anyone, they've just been outscoring people".

So why does it make them any different than the chiefs?

I'll double check, but I think they are 11th in points allowed - so you're "hasn't stopped anyone" comment doesn't fly.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I'll double check, but I think they are 11th in points allowed - so you're "hasn't stopped anyone" comment doesn't fly.

See what the chiefs are in points scored.

And the steelers defense has been bad. I'm not sure that's been questioned anywhere

[scho63]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Ten Things About Today's NINTH STRAIGHT Win

10. So here we are, back in the playoffs for the second time under Andy Reid. We still have a legit shot at the division, and we're in the big dance for sure.
I need to eat a big plate of crow because I saw us with 4-5 wins MAX after our 1-5 start. It's fun to be so wrong!

9. In the post game presser, Alex called this a "game of two halves." Chiefs totally dominate, looks like its going to be a long day for the Brownies. Turns out, not so much.
Not sure if the Chiefs felt they had things all wrapped up at halftime but they got caught with their pants down big time. The defense had to be completely exhausted by the end of the game and if Manziel ever learns how to fix his delivery, he could be a pretty damn good QB. Our offensive play calling in the second half was so bad and vanilla. We let the 31st ranked rushing defense stop us and we couldn't get any first downs. Lucky the clock ran out!

8. Johnny Rehab had KC gasping for air in the final two minutes, and if he would have had one more timeout left, may have pulled a Cutler. Luckily, he's still an inexperienced QB.
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE!

7. Manziel is the first QB in a long time to rush for over 100 yards on KC. Alex relied mostly on Maclin and Kelce today. Wilson caught a couple balls but not for much. He was limping around on the sidelines in the second half. Defense did a nice job holding Barnidge in check, especially after Manziel missed him wide open in the first quarter thirty yards down field.
Manziel slipped away quite a few times and we missed some shots as always. That was making my blood pressure skyrocket late in the game. Wilson hurt his shin, nothing serious. Zombo or Sorenson got away with a flagrant pass interference on Barnidge down in the red zone that the refs missed. Spun him around.

6. The defense had to be dog tired by the end of the game. For the first time in weeks, KC had no sacks. But both Ford and Zombo had disappointing performances.
True. Both had big time whiffs and took bad angles but Zombo made the worst blunder of the day, he missed the tackle on the up front man during the fake punt and allowed the guy to gain the first down. By the time the guy hit Sorenson, he had momentum and knocked him back 2-3 yards for the first down. Zombo had him 6 yards short but blew it.

5. Defense gave up six and a half yards per rush. That's not acceptable against a three win team. Mauga led the team with seven tackles, but looked bad most of the day. He whiffed on several tackles, and totally failed to hold the edge on Cleveland's rushing TD to start the second half. Parker was out of position. Berry dropped a pick in the first quarter that hit him right in the hands. Divito, Poe, Bailey and Howard did little but chase Johnny Rehab down the field all day. DJ was OK, but did nothing outstanding. Only Marcus Peters had a stellar defensive game with a momentum changing pick in the first half that may have been the difference in today's game. He should WILL be AFC defensive rookie of the year hands down.
Missing both Hali and Houston was a killer. We need them BOTH back in the playoffs and not sure if we can win next week against Carr without them. Berry needs to take lessons from Marcus Peters on how to catch an INT. I think he has dropped 4 this year. Our defense could really use a rest but I don't think there is anyway realistically we get a buy in the first round.

4. KC had a miserable special teams performance.
This has been a big problem all year. Two or more penalties every week, bad decisions by Knile Davis to try to run EVERY kickoff out of the end zone, Colquitt not looking right for the last 4-5 weeks, ( I think he got hit during the first Chargers game), Frankie Hammond not doing much or worse on punts, and just an overall poor performance. Cairo hit a good FG yesterday in tough conditions and his kickoffs were not too bad considering the wind and cold weather. Knile Davis has tuned into this year's Dwayne Bowe-he's gotten slow and ineffective. Hard to see him here next year.

3. Chiefs were 40% on third down, but totally disappeared in the second half.
Play calling was horrible again as Cleveland decided at halftime to just play for the run or short passes, daring us to throw over the top and we played right into their game plan. It nearly cost us if it wasn't for a lack of time at the end of the game. Our defense had nothing left......

2. Bowe didn't catch a ball. I'll bet he doesn't play much longer after this year.
The announcers, I think it was Gannon, said Bowe ran a HORRIBLE out route giving Manziel no window to complete the pass and said this has been a problem with Bowe all year and why he isn't playing more. Also said he has no speed anymore. He looked like he was running in quicksand. I think this is his last year in the NFL.

1. So here we are, in the playoff dance again. I'm thinking we may end up going back where it all started, to Houston, and facing JJ Watt and company once again.
For everyone here who says "I'd rather go on the road to Houston for the first game then play at Arrowhead against "X team" is out of their mind. Giving up your home field advantage in the playoffs may be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Houston has been playing much better and while they may not be a top team, they still have enough to beat us at their place. Hard to beat a team twice in the same year on the road.
I will probably come to Arrowhead for a playoff game if we have one there.

Happy New Year to all the CPers, and Congratulations to our Chiefs on making the playoffs after a 1-5 start. Remarkable job, and a great year so far.

Happy New Year to you as well GBlowfish as you have had a pretty good year for your sports with the Royals World Champs and now our Chiefs in the playoffs after that abysmal start.

I guess you never know what will happen until the very end. I feel different this year then when we played the Colts and think we have a much more balanced team and better on both sides of the ball.

To watch the Steelers lay an egg yesterday shocked me. They played horrible with no passion or energy. Baltimore beat them TWICE this year. Quite amazing but that is the difference when you play rivals in the NFL.

Now everyone is afraid of the Jets-I've not seen any of their games only highlights and know they have some serious talent.

I'm not afraid of playing ANY team in the AFC with Houston and Hali back.

Thanks for all the great writeups this year!

[trd84]

The past few weeks our offense has started to play like they did at the start of the season. They look good at times then go conservative and play not to lose instead of putting the game away.

The 1st drive of the 2nd half was alright Alex over threw Maclin for a TD. But the last 2 drives They took the game out of Alex's hands and it almost cost us the game. We didn't need much just a few 1st downs and the game wouldn't have come down to the wire. If Manziel was a decent passer we would have lost.

I can't stand that screen play it's basically conceding the down and putting the game in the hands of the defense who were worn down in the 2nd half. Everything has to be perfect for that play and probably still has to break a tackle. Let Alex drop back if he can't find an open receiver he still has a chance to get a 1st with his legs.

[alpha_omega]

Thanks George. Hi-Boy sure sounds good.

Get to feeling better...we need you at full strength for the playoff write up.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by alpha_omega

Thanks George. Hi-Boy sure sounds good.

Get to feeling better...we need you at full strength for the playoff write up.

Totally this... After a holiday season of good eats, the Vitamix is doing its job but making me long for a burger like that...

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Totally this... After a holiday season of good eats, the Vitamix is doing its job but making me long for a burger like that...

Usually I go for the Italian Steak. But the food at Hi-Boy is all top notch for burgers and shakes.