It’s a tough call these days as to which aspect of watching a Chiefs game is more annoying: watching the Chiefs flush opportunity after opportunity down the toilet, or listening to that god-awful Toyota commercial ad nauseum. One is a disheartening imitation of something many of us used to find enjoyable; the other is a cover of a Fixx song. One makes consumers not want to buy the product being sold; the other led me to buy a Honda. One is made by players who understand the mechanics but lack the special quality to produce something great; the other was recorded by studio musicians.
Today the San Diego Chargers were saved by zeros.
San Diego is one of the best-built teams in the National Football League. All but two of their starters on offense (WR Chris Chambers and RG Mike Goff being the exceptions) have never played for another team. All eleven of their starters are in-house products. Only six of their bench players (five on offense, one on defense) have played elsewhere. Not even their kicker, punter, and long snapper have seen action elsewhere. Now there is no intrinsic value in staying out of the free agent market altogether. San Francisco has shown us that for several years now. But San Diego is a winner–in the past four years they are 46-18 during the regular season with three playoff berths. They play hard in all three phases of the game, and one would be hard pressed to name a single starter on that team who wouldn’t be a starter on nearly any other team.
So why was Kansas City competitive today? Because they’re good. It’s one of the best kept secrets in the NFL right now. At a paltry 1-8, the Chiefs are the second best team in their division (not by record, but by talent). Tony Gonzalez, Dwyane Bowe, and Mark Bradley are quickly developing into one of the league’s better triple threats. In the past three weeks QB Tyler Thigpen has a cumulative passer rating of 104.6. Much to everyone’s surprise, Chiefs defenders are beginning to do things like intercept the ball (6 in the last three games), defend passes (11), force fumbles (4), and even penetrate the backfield (4 sacks, 9 QB hits, and 10 tackles for loss). The days of giving up 300 yards on the ground are over–135, 81, and 92 in the past three weeks, and no rushing touchdowns in the past two. These are the benchmarks of good teams.
That begs another question: why do they keep losing? Because they’re bad. Bad at maintaining the same intensity in the second half. Bad at maintaining the same creativity in playcalling once they gain a passable lead. More than anything though, they’re just bad at staying healthy. Our medical staff is soon to be replaced by Red Cross volunteers and our strength and conditioning staff by FEMA. Why? Because those outfits know how to operate a stretcher.
So goes the story today. Six injuries in four quarters on an already depleted team. These aren’t freak injuries anymore either. There are no more dislocated elbows or separated shoulders or broken noses and jaws. No bone fractures. No ACL or MCL tears. No concussions. Only pulled hamstrings, ankle sprains, bruised thighs, and charliehorses. The result? Rocky Boiman and Maurice Leggett making their first starts of the season. 310-pound Alfonso Boone making his first ever start at right defensive end. Jon McGraw making eight tackles. Ricardo Colclough and David Macklin making the roster. They played with heart, but they also played like they had no idea where the hell they were supposed to be or what they were supposed to be doing.
Today Philip Rivers proved that, against the right defense, a bad day can still be a good day. Today Maurice Leggett proved that effort is not enough. Today the defensive line proved that they could hold up their end of the bargain, but that their end of the bargain is only half of the deal.
Today Kansas City proved that a quarterback can be saved by zeros.
haha imagining FEMA being better than anyone is funny.
Comment by FatDaNn — November 10, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
What a dumb play call at the end of the game. Bootleg in a shotgun? GTFO
Comment by Jones — November 10, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
How about the time out with a minute left after an incomplete pass
Comment by Nathan — November 10, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
I must say that I felt very sick to my stomach at the end of the game. I couldn’t believe it was happening. I couldn’t believe that Herm was about to do it but he did. Now, I understand that our defense was beat up and we weren’t having great success stopping them, but the question is why? Why did he go for two? Why not go to overtime? We had momentum and in the toss of a coin we could have kept that momentum going. Why when on the road you have a chance to tie it up. Why after our players fought their heart out didn’t he give them a chance to win? You may say oh, we had a chance with the two point conversion, but that play never had a chance. First of we were having trouble moving the ball at all in the red zone and getting it in the end zone on this drive with many downs to use. Why do you think all of a sudden we’re going to get it in the end zone on one play? Not only that, but the play we got it in was to Tony G. so why would you try and go right back to him? Everybody in the stadium and at home knew this was the guy you’re going to on the two point conversion. It was too obvious. Herm, however, lacks the intelligence to do anything else but the obvious. In this situation I might have went to Tony (who can doubt the future hall of famer), but I would have never went for the two point conversion under this specific circumstance in the first place. Herm, you let the players down with your terrible coaching choice and you owe them an apology. This apology will never come however because it would be admitting he was wrong which I’ve never heard him come close to doing.
Comment by Rocky — November 10, 2008 @ 10:27 pm
I think this was a totally stupid move to go for two. With that being said, Herm could have been a hero if it worked. Unfortunatly, Herm isnt that smart. Why would you go for 2 on the road when you have held the second highest scoring offense to 20 points at home? Getting to look like Herm is sabotaging this team! Gotta give it to Herm in finally “trying to win the game’.
Comment by dennis — November 11, 2008 @ 12:17 am
I find myself questioning my one mindset at the end of these agonizing games. I want the win….but I want Herm gone. My passion for the organization keeps me watching and cheering; my intelligence tells me to hope they play good enough to loose, barely.
Trust me, I feel guilty enough for my feelings so I don’t need any bashing from anyone.
The game was very enjoyable. The offense is playing very well. The defense also played well against the run, although Jackson gashed them in the pass game. It is a little humorous to see LT struggle. Watching Thigpen get time to throw and having receivers make plays reminded me of the days when our offense was the best in the league. Thigpen continues to by more impressive every game. Mark Bradley has been a huge addition and has opened up Bowe and Gonzalez even more. They are displaying confidence and heart that has been missing.
Thanks guys for your tremendous effort, and to Herm for more ridiculous coaching decisions.
Comment by Travis — November 11, 2008 @ 12:40 am
Going for two was only logical thing to do! Does it really matter if the team goes 1-15, 2-14 or 3-13? I mean really, does it matter that much? I don’t think so, so going for two in my mind was only logical thing to do. Living out here in the San Francisco Bay Area I get to see truly bad football on a weekly basis and while I though the Chiefs were the worst team in football a month ago, the Chiefs are no where near as bad as the Raiders and the Chiefs are learning to play as a team. I wish they would have made the two points just to shut up some of the critics who I think would be more miserable if the Chiefs were winning… I’m not a Herm fan, but going for two was the correct move.
Comment by Jeff — November 11, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
why not go for 2 if we lose we are that much closer to better draft picks. at least it made the game exciting, and good to see herm grow a pair for once.
Comment by brian — November 11, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Seriously going for 2 was the right call. We were 1-7, what is there to lose?
Comment by Jones — November 11, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
we very easily could have won any of the last three games with one play going our instead of the opponent. all I have to say is it will be interesting to see wahat decision is made about thigpen. I liked him after the jets game and since then has only impressed me more. When was the last time we were able to put three competitive games together? If I remember correctly it was not with this team it was with that holdover team of 2006 from the vermeil days. I know herm was coaching but it was not his players. This is his team and finally he has the kids playing with heart because you can’t play three playoff caliber teams and lose by a combined rights point only committing one turn while forcing nine without passion and determination. My ultimate opponinion is it will all work out we will start to win games and by historic margins because the next times this team gets a lead our only goal will be to make it grow. I expect big things from this offense it it were not for Tyler thigpen this season would have been a lost one without any positives. Now we have somewhere to go from and it all starts with number four.
Once our defence is back I am confident we can beat any team unfortunately the game we desperately need defense is Sunday against the leagues best. In my oppinion the only reason the saints have a decent team at all is because drew brees is so damn good. Thigpen can become just as good so long as he uses this opportunity fully he needs to win four or five of the last six games to even have a shot at starting next year.
I would love a to see a win this week not only to mufzzle the critics but because I’ll be at the game. Fuck it we will win 38-24. I am just happy to be in the last three games and am even happier we have qb that isn’t thirty plus going on fifty or weak hearted kid from Alabama who likes to choke when everyone needs him to make a play. I also think one of these young kids on D will step and make some plays that will make him a starter for weeks to come.
Thanks for giving props to a team that deserves it right now.
Comment by Jake — November 12, 2008 @ 7:28 am
Those of you who say that going for 2 was the only decision have obviously been drinking and continue to drink Herms Koolaid. One of the things I like to do in my spare time (if I have any) is to play chess. Chess is a master’s game of strategy (an area that Herm lacks). One thing that you learn in chess is that there is always a move to be made and most of the time things can be turned in your favor with smart moves even when it looks like you’re trapped with no way out. The statement “It was the ONLY thing to do†is not only absurd but it is moronic.It wasn’t he only thing we could have done and it wasn’t the only “logical” thing to do. That’s something you say when you’re desperate. Were we that desperate? NO. And don’t even start with the record because a win is a win whether you’re 1 and 10 or 10 and 1. I guess Herm wanted to end the game quickly so he could get an earlier flight out of San Diego.
Comment by Rocky — November 12, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
I think the two-point conversion was the right call, and I doubt anybody would mistake me for a Herm apologist. Our offense is dynamic and our defense is depleted. Had we gone into overtime and lost the coin toss, we would be at the mercy of a shoddy kick coverage unit and a defense populated by 3rd stringers, recent acquisitions, and guys playing out of position (by that point Boone was playing RDE, McGraw CB, and Boiman MLB; none had played those positions before). I was happy with the decision, albeit not nearly as happy with the play they called.
Comment by Nathan Kent — November 13, 2008 @ 12:09 am