Ten Things About Today's Game

[MahiMike]

Another thing that cost us; we should have scored on that fake field goal. But for some reason, we had Allen Bailey lined up at left tackle. A DT! He totally wiffed on the block and kelce was tackled. Should have been an easy score.

Of course, bowe sealed our fate a couple plays later...

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

Of course, bowe sealed our fate a couple plays later...

You're talking about when the defensive back knocked the ball away? You can't get hung up on that, sometimes defensive players make plays.

I was (pleasantly) surprised Smith threw that ball to be honest. Really good coverage on that play.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

You're talking about when the defensive back knocked the ball away? You can't get hung up on that, sometimes defensive players make plays.

I was (pleasantly) surprised Smith threw that ball to be honest. Really good coverage on that play.

I guess we're just asking too much.

[MahiMike]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

You're talking about when the defensive back knocked the ball away? You can't get hung up on that, sometimes defensive players make plays.

I was (pleasantly) surprised Smith threw that ball to be honest. Really good coverage on that play.

I could name a dozen WRs that make that catch. Including a couple rookies. If he positions his body properly, the DB can't get his hand on it.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

I could name a dozen WRs that make that catch. Including a couple rookies. If he positions his body properly, the DB can't get his hand on it.

I think that's a load of bullshit, but you're entitled to your opinion.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I think that's a load of bullshit, but you're entitled to your opinion.

What's more bothersome to me is that they only targeted Bowe in the end zone once in all those trips into the red zone. If they only try him once, that means Alex or Andy or both don't trust him to get open, and make the catch. And that's a problem with what he's being paid to do.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I think that's a load of bullshit, but you're entitled to your opinion.

Exactly

[keg in kc]

I'm going to say something nice about Andy Reid, which is hard today, of all days, but he had the right gameplan for today's game. That was obvious every time we tried to run the ball. Every time we got stuffed. And you can't argue that they didn't move the chains all day long through the air. The problem was the red zone offense. (And trying to run the ball on 4th down instead of either kicking the goddamn field goal since we wouldn't have had time to score a TD anyway, or going with what had worked the entire first half, namely the pass.)

We weren't going to run the ball today. And there was zero wrong with Alex Smith throwing 44 passes against that defense. The offensive line was getting their shit pushed in by Pittsburgh's front seven, and that wouldn't have changed with more carries. They did the right thing going pass heavy. The stats show it: they outgained Pittsburgh by 50 yards and had a 3 minute advantage in time of possession. That's exactly what you want.

What you don't want is kicking field goals every time you're inside the ****ing 20 yard line. And unfortunately Andy Reid has always had problems in the red zone, say all you want about being the "#2 red zone team" this year, and we saw that again today.

I think the biggest issue is that the kind of east west brinksmanship that allowed us to move the ball between the 20s is very difficult to execute in that part of the field. But they did also try to go vertical several times in the red zone, they just failed to execute. Maybe they could have tried another run play or three, but I don't think that would have made an iota of difference. They just couldn't open up running lanes. The line play was much worse in that aspect than even the stats would indicate.

So I would say 20 to 20, Reid did a good job. Kept the chains moving, kept Pittsburgh off the field. It was the right strategy and it would have been a winning strategy except that LeBeau owned him where it counted, in the red zone.

We had every opportunity to win.

[MahiMike]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I'm going to say something nice about Andy Reid, which is hard today, of all days, but he had the right gameplan for today's game. That was obvious every time we tried to run the ball. Every time we got stuffed. And you can't argue that they didn't move the chains all day long through the air. The problem was the red zone offense. (And trying to run the ball on 4th down instead of either kicking the goddamn field goal since we wouldn't have had time to score a TD anyway, or going with what had worked the entire first half, namely the pass.)

We weren't going to run the ball today. And there was zero wrong with Alex Smith throwing 44 passes against that defense. The offensive line was getting their shit pushed in by Pittsburgh's front seven, and that wouldn't have changed with more carries. They did the right thing going pass heavy. The stats show it: they outgained Pittsburgh by 50 yards and had a 3 minute advantage in time of possession. That's exactly what you want.

What you don't want is kicking field goals every time you're inside the ****ing 20 yard line. And unfortunately Andy Reid has always had problems in the red zone, say all you want about being the "#2 red zone team" this year, and we saw that again today.

I think the biggest issue is that the kind of east west brinksmanship that allowed us to move the ball between the 20s is very difficult to execute in that part of the field. But they did also try to go vertical several times in the red zone, they just failed to execute. Maybe they could have tried another run play or three, but I don't think that would have made an iota of difference. They just couldn't open up running lanes. The line play was much worse in that aspect than even the stats would indicate.

So I would say 20 to 20, Reid did a good job. Kept the chains moving, kept Pittsburgh off the field. It was the right strategy and it would have been a winning strategy except that LeBeau owned him where it counted, in the red zone.

We had every opportunity to win.

This

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

We had every opportunity to win.

yup,, four red zone attempts...12 points.

[bevischief]

They could/should have this game but they drop it yet again this year... I blame them all yet again.

[gblowfish]

I knew there would be a great deal of argument over Charles. I don't make my comments lightly.

He's a great back. Maybe the best Chiefs back ever. That includes Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Mike Garrett, Ed Podolak, Joe Delaney, Cakn Patna, the Nigerian Nightmare and others.

There's no doubt the guy is tough. He's proven that this year. He probably shouldn't have played at all today with his bad knee and ankle. He may still be concussed as well.

But there is something about great backs, where they show up in big games.

Franco Harris, Riggins, Czonka, Fauk, Emmit Smith, Tomlinson, Roger Craig, Beast Mode, these kind of guys came up HUGE in must win games, in playoff games, in Super Bowls. They shine on the biggest stage, at the most important times, in the most important games.

Let's review JC's rushing production in the crucial games this year: The loss to Tennessee, the loss to Oakland, and losses to Denver, Arizona and today:

Ten 26, KC 10
Charles 7 carries, 19 yards, 0 TDs

Oak 24, KC 20
Charles 19 carries 80 yards, 1 TD (pass reception)

Denver 29, KC 16
Charles 10 carries, 35 yards, 0 TDs.

Arizona 17, KC 14
Charles 10 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD
(63 yards on one carry)

Pittsburgh 20, KC 12
Charles 9 carries, 29 yards, 0 TDs

Hey, Derrick Thomas is a hall of famer. He was also guilty of disappearing in important games. He never had a memorable playoff game, and oftentimes when Marty and the Chiefs lost, it was in part due to DT disappearing. It was a rap that followed DT his whole career. He was a great individual player, he was not a difference maker in big money, important do or die games. That's just the truth.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I knew there would be a great deal of argument over Charles. I don't make my comments lightly.

He's a great back. Maybe the best Chiefs back ever. That includes Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Mike Garrett, Ed Podolak, Joe Delaney, Cakn Patna, the Nigerian Nightmare and others.

There's no doubt the guy is tough. He's proven that this year. He probably shouldn't have played at all today with his bad knee and ankle. He may still be concussed as well.

But there is something about great backs, where they show up in big games.

Franco Harris, Riggins, Czonka, Fauk, Emmit Smith, Tomlinson, Roger Craig, Beast Mode, these kind of guys came up HUGE in must win games, in playoff games, in Super Bowls. They shine on the biggest stage, at the most important times, in the most important games.

Let's review JC's rushing production in the crucial games this year: The loss to Tennessee, the loss to Oakland, and losses to Denver, Arizona and today:

Ten 26, KC 10
Charles 7 carries, 19 yards, 0 TDs

Oak 24, KC 20
Charles 19 carries 80 yards, 1 TD (pass reception)

Denver 29, KC 16
Charles 10 carries, 35 yards, 0 TDs.

Arizona 17, KC 14
Charles 10 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD
(63 yards on one carry)

Pittsburgh 20, KC 12
Charles 9 carries, 29 yards, 0 TDs

Hey, Derrick Thomas is a hall of famer. He was also guilty of disappearing in important games. He never had a memorable playoff game, and oftentimes when Marty and the Chiefs lost, it was in part due to DT disappearing. It was a rap that followed DT his whole career. He was a great individual player, he was not a difference maker in big money, important do or die games. That's just the truth.

Don't forget Larry, 3rd on the list...

						Rushing
Rk		From	To	G	AV	Att	Yds	TD	Lng	Y/A	Y/G	Fmb
1	Jamaal Charles	2008	2014	93	54	1227	6773	38	91	5.5	72.8	23
2	Priest Holmes	2001	2007	65	74	1321	6070	76	56	4.6	93.4	11
3	Larry Johnson	2003	2009	75	55	1375	6015	55	65	4.4	80.2	15
4	Christian Okoye	1987	1992	79	36	1246	4897	40	59	3.9	62.0	27
5	Ed Podolak	1970	1977	100	63	1157	4451	34	65	3.8	44.5	39
6	Abner Haynes	1960	1964	70	66	794	3814	39	80	4.8	54.5	30
7	Marcus Allen	1993	1997	77	36	932	3698	44	39	4.0	48.0	15
8	Mike Garrett	1966	1970	58	51	736	3246	24	77	4.4	56.0	22
9	Curtis McClinton	1962	1968	93	54	762	3124	18	69	4.1	33.6	27
10	Herman Heard	1984	1989	87	27	651	2694	13	69	4.1	31.0	22

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Don't forget Larry, 3rd on the list...

I believe gb stated:

Cakn patna