When Chiefs fans woke up Sunday morning I’m sure there were a lot of them who had the same thoughts I had, that feeling of “I wonder what’s going to happen?” During the pre-game ceremonies my feelings got stronger as I sat in my very warm chair in the upper deck of Arrowhead. Then, there was the opening drive of the season for the Chiefs, and a lot of my uncertain feelings suddenly went away. Starting at our own 25-yard line, a beating of amazing stature was about to begin. Priest Holmes began the pain for the Jets with a five yard burst around the left end. Then following a punishing block by Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson, Holmes bounced off a sad attempt of a tackle by a Jet defender and shot downfield for a 35-yard gain. Needless to say myself and the other nearly eighty thousand fans in Arrowhead were going nuts, how could we not be? After Priest’s run I then saw him motion to the sideline and jog off the field, on came number 27, “back-up” running back Larry “LJ” Johnson. Now the already stunned Jets defense had to get ready for a fresh running back, one who was not only faster, but much more punishing when he runs. Trent Green then takes the snap and delivers the ball into the gut of number 27, thirty-five yards later it was 7-0, and the rout was on for the rest of the day.
When halftime arrived it was 17-0 Chiefs, and myself and many other people in Arrowhead had the hoarse throat going early, but it was so worth it. As good as the Chiefs offense looked, the main highlight of the day came from the other side of the football. Not since the days of the 1990′s has there been such activity and speed on the defensive side of the football for the Kansas City Chiefs.
During the off-season the Chiefs made several additions to the team in an effort to upgrade one of the worst defenses in the NFL. A major need for the Chiefs was at the cornerback position, so they went shopping in Miami and got Patrick Surtain away from the Dolphins. In his Chiefs debut he produced a fumble recovery and an interception. The only down side of his first game as a Chief was leaving the game after his interception because of suffering mild head trauma on the tackle.
Another key addition for the Chiefs also came from Miami, safety Sammy Knight. Around the NFL Sammy Knight had the label of a “slow” safety, but he also had the label of a “playmaker”. Sammy Knight produced a bunch of tackles; a sack and a forced fumble in his Chiefs debut.
Rookie linebacker Derrick Johnson was the force that many people have been hoping that he would be. I don’t know about anyone else that was watching the game, but when Derrick Johnson went after the Jets quarterback Chad Pennington and caught up to him from behind and gave him a chop with his right arm, I had a fantastic flashback of number 58 Derrick Thomas doing the same thing for the Chiefs during the 90′s. It was just a great afternoon watching the defense begin their start of the season.
Finally I want to give a salute to the crowd at Arrowhead. I was so happy with the enthusiasm and volume for such a great portion of the game, it was such a great feeling in the stadium. I know it does not sound good, but I love have a sore throat along with the lack of a voice after a Chiefs win, it is always so worth it. When the Chiefs get up on their opponent like they did and keep the crowd in the game at Arrowhead, I don’t know if there are many places anywhere that are as loud as Arrowhead gets, it was a great feeling. We had the house shaking all afternoon, well-done Chiefs fans.
Now it’s time for the week that gets everyone just a little more fired up than any other week during the year, RAIDER WEEK! Game number two of the season takes us to the charming little neighborhood in the NFL know as the black hole, and as many people in the United States know, the city of Oakland, California has the reputation of being a “hole” itself. Yes, the Oakland Raiders are the next step for the Chiefs to get over, on the road in Oakland. Simply put, just like every other game this season, it’s a must win game. As soon as the Chiefs step on the field they need to take it to the Raiders, knock them to the ground, step on their necks and don’t let up until the Raiders give in. Gotta go to work, and take care of what’s ours, the AFC West.
GO CHIEFS!
