JD: You know what else we’re talking about? The Chiefs first victory in the last 13 games. It’s amazing how much easier it is to win when you score 30 points or more.

Chiefs 33, Denver 19

Have you ever noticed how announcers have the ability to jinx teams? “Nick Lowery has never missed an extra point”, and then, he of course misses the extra point.

Other ways they do it is by pulling up a negative stat out of nowhere for a good team. “Arrowhead is Mike Shanahan’s Waterloo, he is just 3-10 there.” As soon as I heard that, I knew Denver was in trouble.

The Chiefs are not a good team, they’d lost 12 in a row, with the last two defeats coming against some bad teams. Denver was scoring 100 points a game while Kansas City had more turnovers in three games than touchdowns. On paper, this should’ve been a beating by Denver. But that Waterloo comment immediately changed everything and it showed on the second play of the game with Larry Johnson reminding us that he used to be good.

Here are some random thoughts I had on the game as it progressed:

-Wow, the Chiefs had two first and goal opportunities, and came away with just six points. Chan Gailey was a good offensive coordinator at one time, but a screen on third and goal at the five-yard line? Really? They didn’t even take a shot at the endzone. It should’ve been 14-0, but Herm was once again playing not to lose, instead of, you know, playing To Win The Game. VLTC wrote a great article and goes into much more detail on Herm the Spineless, so check it out on the Warpath homepage.

-Denver gets a 30 yard punt return to the 50-yard line with 30 seconds left in the half. See, this is what happens when you just try to kill the clock, instead of going for the jugular, and getting a first down, or in Denver’s case, attempting a 56 yard field goal.

And at halftime, we are in familiar territory with a score of 13-10.

-I’m really getting sick and tired of passes to the running back on third down in scoring range. You need touchdowns. I wish Herm would stop trying to protect the precious field goal attempt and actually go for the win.

-Denver interception, LJ fumble. Denver is doing everything to blow this game, and the Chiefs are keeping them in it. Unbelievable.

-Scratch that. Two plays later Denver throws another pick. Man, they really don’t want to win this.

DAWSON: “Two great interceptions and they get nothing out of it.”

JD: I just don’t understand what Herm has against throwing the ball downfield.

-Gammon commented that Gunther called a defense for a play that Denver was not showing, but then Denver shifted to the play Gunther was expecting and the Chiefs stopped it. Gunther has been getting a lot of flak lately, and this shows that he still knows what he is doing.

-Holy crap!! The Chiefs have broken the elusive 21 point barrier!

EDWARDS: “Whoa, that’s a lot of points.”

JD: Yes it is Herm. For you.

-Not to be outdone by the great Herm Edwards, Denver coach Mike Shanahan has second and goal from the 3-yard line and throws it twice. If you can’t gain three yards on two tries you don’t deserve to win. And he didn’t.

-Derrick Johnson had a horrible game last week against Atlanta, but really bounced back and played great.

-This was a great win for the Chiefs, but as others have said, it does not validate any of Herm’s policies or abilities, as Herm was clearly playing “not to lose”. The players stepped up and were tired of becoming a national joke. The Chiefs have the talent to win, they just need competent leadership. Let’s not forget this win makes Herm’s record 1-12, in his last 13 games.

Hermisms

EDWARDS: “That’s a good football team we played today. I think what we finally realized was we had to play with passion – just play, not worry about doing everything right or the score.”

JD: Playing with passion is a great thing, but you kind of have to worry about pesky little things like the score, otherwise you could lose 12 in a row.

EDWARDS: “We went in with the mindset that they have a very good offense and were going to move the ball some, but hold them to field goals. If you just hold them to field goals you’re going to have a chance.”

JD: Herm just continues to show why he will never win a Super Bowl. Good coaches and teams don’t play “to have a chance”. Winners just take it. Losers hope to hang around and have a chance.

Q: If he’s ready, are you ready to make a permanent change with Carr?

EDWARDS: “We have three starting corners, I know that. I don’t know if Pat is able to play a whole game yet. We need them all. I know that. We haven’t made a decision.”

JD: You still can’t just answer the question. I know that. You still talk in circles. I know that. The question was hypothetical, they want your opinion, they know a decision hasn’t been made, that’s why they are asking the question. Holy crap you a moron. I know that.

Q: Do you know any other team that is starting two rookie corners?

JD: This has to be a Blob question.

EDWARDS: “No, just us.”

JD: Who F’N cares? They don’t give out Lombardi trophies for starting the most rookies.

Q: Along those same lines, you are still struggling to get pressure on the quarterback. Is there anything you can do to fix that during the course of the season or is it personnel?

EDWARDS: “The way you do that is to bring other people. That’s a way you can get it done. You’ve got a young end in Johnston and he played better this week. Tamba wasn’t at 100%, so that’s where it’s at. Turk is playing well and is learning too. But we’re going to have to bring pressure other ways if we’re going to get pressure on the quarterback.”

JD: It’s too bad you don’t have a young mid-round draft pick that led the league in sacks. I’m sure he could help pressure the QB. Oops!

Q: Tony Gonzalez talked about how disappointed he was in not getting the three yards he needed to set the all-time record in receiving yards. What are your thoughts on if he should have gotten the ball?

EDWARDS: “I’ve always been a guy who believes team comes first. I couldn’t do it; it wouldn’t be right to do it. It wouldn’t be fair to me or the football team. It wasn’t anything against Tony at all. It was just the circumstances you’re in.”

JD: The team comes first? Really? Did the team come first when you treated games two and three like pre-season games by playing an inexperienced quarterback just to see what he could do? Thank you, Herm the Liar.

Q: Were you satisfied that he was no longer upset after talking to him?

EDWARDS: “One thing I don’t try to do is convince people. I just tell people the truth, this is my side of the story, you have your side of the story. I’m not trying to change your opinion.”

JD: My bullshit meter just exploded with that answer. All Herm the Politician EVER does is try to convince us that he knows what he is doing. I love how Herm always has to remind us that he tells the truth. I said it before and I’ll say it again, honest people don’t need to continually remind you they are honest. Especially since it’s only been a few sentences since his last lie.

Q: Do you feel a weight has been lifted off your shoulders with this win? Do you sleep better?

EDWARDS: “I kept asking my wife in bed about 1 o’clock, ‘we won right, honey?’ And she said, ‘yeah, we won honey.’”

JD: Yep, Herm is just as surprised as we are that he is capable of winning a game.