beebe

Three things stand out to me on Andy, Mahomes and Kelce. Andy: Ultimate respect for how hard it is to win. He frequently - and I mean frequently - starts his press conferences singling out the opposing head coach, and when the other coach comes up short in excruciating fashion, Andy will point out how easily it could have gone the other way. Most recently, he talked up the Bills/McDermott in ways that goes beyond coach speak. Mahomes: Ultimate respect for the people he competes against, especially the QBs. It was so cool to see him sprint across the field literal seconds after the second best win of his professional life, to give credit to Allen. Even as the media races to find the next great QB who is "better than Mahomes," everyone from Lamar to Herbert to now Allen, Mahomes doesn't mind giving these guys their credit in a public way. Kelce: Ultimate respect for the opportunity of playing in the NFL. Kelce is at his best when speaking about how much he appreciates getting a chance to compete at the highest levels, and with great people. So many players take it for granted.

Arrowhead and Kaufmann Stadium (Royals) were structurally built perfectly side by side so that there could be a rolling roof that slid from one stadium to the next on a track. Meaning, yes, Arrowhead could have been a domed stadium if they wanted for brutal weather games, and an outdoor stadium when conditions were nicer. And this idea was conceived all the way back in 1967. Unfortunately, the stadium construction came in over budget, and then even more over budget, so they had to cut somewhere. And the rolling roof is what was left out. You can see the two stadiums on aerial views here: https://www.google.com/search?q=truman+sports+complex&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirwpPQgs71AhXQkIkEHasGB90Q_AUoA3oECAIQBQ&biw=1457&bih=781&dpr=1.8#imgrc=Bsw4zC_ouz6r1M

I actually like the general concept of the OT rule, but the problem is, it needs to be a harder decision than it currently is. It's currently a no brainer for every team to take ball first given the starting field position is the 25 yard line. If you gain 8 yards and go 3-and-out and punt, you can still flip field position and pin the opponent inside their own 15 yard line. That's the exact same thing as kicking off first—except it's better! I would modify the rule. If you want ball first, you start at your own 10 yard line. Possibly even your own 5 yard line. You have to find the appropriate starting point where even a team like the Chiefs might contemplate playing defense first, depending on opponent, weather conditions, etc. If starting backed up deep in your own territory, now a 3-and-out has you punting out of your own end zone, and the opponent could be set up for an easy FG. I truly think the rate of teams choosing offense vs defense will be near 50/50 if you get the starting field position nailed down.

The Chiefs missed their FG attempt at the end of the 2nd quarter, so they didn't successfully double dip. Also, it has been proven per an ESPN analysis a few years ago that teams don't gain an actual advantage in terms of win-loss percentage by kicking off first. When you kick off first, as the Chiefs did, and give up an opening-drive TD, as the Chiefs did, it can really snowball and backfire on you. Imagine if Mahomes didn't find McKinnon for the miraculous 3rd-and-6 completion on their opening series. The Chiefs would have been punting to the Bills, trailing 7-0, after the Bills had already used up the first seven minutes of the clock. Buffalo could have taken a commanding 14-0 lead and rendered the Chiefs' pre game plan useless. It works both ways.

Mahomes played the first five games of the 2019 season without Tyreek, who was injured on the first series of the opener. His stats: 25-of-33 for 378 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT 30-of-44 for 443 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT 27-of-37 for 374 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT 24-of-42 for 315 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT 22-of-39 for 321 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT That's an average of 25-of-39 (64.1%) for 366 yards, 2.2 TDs, 0 INTs and 30 pts per game. Earlier this year, the Chiefs played the Steelers without Kelce and with Tyreek limited (season low snaps, just two catches). Mahomes went 23-of-30 for 258 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT, and left the game early, having completed passes to nine different receivers. No one will dispute he doesn't benefit from being around good players. But I'd almost guarantee you can line him up with second rate talent and he's still going to operate a top 5 offense in the league. KC tried desperately to find a #2 WR in the offseason and even during the season (signed Josh Gordon). He has lots of speed around him at WR, but outside of Tyreek it's pretty patchwork at the WR position with Pringle, Hardman, Robinson, Gordon, etc.

Haha, fair point! You got me. 😃

Structurally, the stadium is still in fantastic shape. The renovation in ~2010 really classed the place up. No, it is not super modern and swanky looking like SoFi and the new Vegas stadium. It does not have amazing amenities. But it still looks amazing and when you walk in it feels like the ultimate football venue. Every seat in the stadium has been replaced with new seats as well over the last four years. My biggest peeve with the new stadiums being built is the field and game seems almost an afterthought. There's all these bells and whistles on the concourse, and there's tons of extra (wasted) square feet inside. And you just feel so, so disconnected. I've been to the aforementioned SoFi and Vegas stadiums, as well as some of the more modern stadiums built in the last decade plus. All of them have atmospheres that make me feel like I'm at a baseball game.

Video also confirms Orlovsky's analysis of the play from yesterday.

I'm a big fan of McDermott. But this video is damning. The timeout prior to the Kelce catch really seems to have aided the Chiefs in a big way.

The video confirms some of the postgame quotes we saw. The Bills timeouts did indeed help the Chiefs. By the way, Kelce didn't speak very quietly even with Addison sitting right there? And Mahomes barking out his name, as if to say, "Cover him!" It's kinda wild.

The best way to answer these types of hypotheticals is to look at it from the perspective of the opposing team or their fans. As a Chiefs fan, if you offered me the ball at my own 25-yard line guaranteed, or a 90% chance of recovering an onside kick near mid field, I'm taking the ball at my own 25 every time. It would be torture watching the ball bounce around on the ground knowing that a Bills recovery puts them in position to move the ball 20 yards into game-winning field goal range. A surprise onside kick would probably be recovered close to 20% of the time. The chances of Buffalo holding KC to a non TD drive in OT probably was something close to 33% from the 25-yard line; and perhaps close to 20% from midfield. It doesn't sound crazy to me at all.

I'm guessing if there are future playoff rematches between these teams over the next 2-3 years, they'll be played in Buffalo rather than KC. I think the AFC West is on the verge of becoming the premier division if a few of the possibilities shake out. The Broncos are desperate to land a marquee QB, and if the Raiders make a splash and hire a coach like Jim Harbaugh, they could be looking to do the same. Denver and Vegas aren't stupid. They see Mahomes and Herbert in this division and know it's an arms race at QB. One of the two is highly likely to add Watson, Rodgers or Wilson. If that happens — if KC/Mahomes must play four of their 17 games vs Herbert or Rodgers/Mahomes/Wilson — the Chiefs are screwed for the foreseeable future. Look at their 2022 schedule. It's brutal. at Cardinals at Colts (potential big-time QB landing spot) at 49ers at Bucs at Bengals vs Bills vs Rams vs Titans All of these games with the exception of Titans as of right now would be no higher than KC -4. And then the Chiefs will still have the aforementioned division games. The only true layups on the schedule will be Texans and Jags, and perhaps the Broncos if they don't land an impact QB.

Wow, never knew Elway did this in Buffalo too! (Skips to clip of Elway wanting crowd noise lowered.) Elway did the same thing to KC in Arrowhead, same year:

Was the Wild Card game vs Pats the loudest in Bills history? Or were the 90s better? Great summary, thanks for sharing.

If Chiefs win it all, I'll say there's a low chance the Bills return for the Thursday opener. They'll want to set the stage for an early to mid season showdown, likely on NBC primetime but possibly MNF since they haven't gotten a Chiefs-Bills game in recent years. Chiefs vs Rams or Chiefs vs Chargers seem more likely.

Until Mahomes came along, you at least had good company with the Chiefs, who... -Lost in '95 as the 1-seed vs the 6-seed Colts at Arrowhead, 10-7, after Lin Elliott missed three field goals. -Lost in '03 to the Colts, 38-31, despite punting zero times, because the Chiefs also couldn't force any punts. -Lost in '13 to the Colts, 45-44, after blowing a 28-point 2nd half lead. -Lost in '16 to the Steelers, 18-16, despite the Chiefs scoring two TDs and the Steelers scoring zero TDs. -Lost in '17 to the Titans, 22-21, despite leading 21-3, and the decisive score was Mariota completing a TD pass to himself. -Lost in '18 to the Patriots in OT of AFC title game, after a game-clinching INT was nullified because Dee Ford lined up Offside. The Bills' time will come soon enough for a breakthrough. McDermott will have his fair share of doubters. "Can't win big games, sucks in the playoffs." Nah. It's a ton of randomness. The key is to keep making the playoffs year after year and give yourself a chance. Tony Dungy was a playoff loser—until he wasn't. Bill Cowher was a playoff loser—until he wasn't. Andy Reid was a playoff loser—until he wasn't.

Now that some time has passed, am I allowed to re-ask this question? 😁 I'm mainly curious because I think (at least for some) that this loss was a bit easier to stomach in person than on TV. I ran into a Bills fan in the hotel elevator afterward, she said: "I have a 14 hour drive home, and after a loss I would never say this was worth it. But this game was something else. It was worth it." There were several times down the stretch, and especially as the game went to overtime, where I looked around my section and could sense that everyone knew this game was special and that they were seeing an instant classic and maybe one of the best ever. I was honestly at peace with whatever happened in OT because the game gave me everything I could ask for, and both teams equally deserved to win. You can't say that very often. No turnovers, no crazy flukes, the refs largely stayed out of it (only four penalties all game), and QB play was at an all time level. I think it will go down as the greatest game in Arrowhead Stadium's 50-plus year history.

For those who attended last night, curious to hear about your experience at Arrowhead? Did Arrowhead meet/exceed expectations? How were you treated by fans? Where did the game rank on your list of those you've been to (outcome aside)? Overall just interested in hearing about everyone's time at the game.

Looks like Rashad Fenton will miss the game for the Chiefs with a back injury. Monster loss for KC. Fenton is a great press DB who made the critical INT last year to help the Chiefs put the game away when Bills were trailing by 16 but driving in the 4th Q.

Prices will climb the millisecond the Titans win (if they win). Lots of KC fans have one foot in/one foot out waiting to see if the rent money will be spent this week or saved for next week.

Go to a Chiefs game, and I guarantee you will see unmatched hospitality, warmth, kindness and the complete opposite of what you see on Twitter, where hundreds of fans for (insert winning team here) act like idiots.

All this "data" is useless and non predictive. Three of the playoff teams the Chiefs beat were the Cowboys (minus key WRs) and the Packers (minus Aaron Rodgers) and the Steelers (never would have made it if not for Lamar's injury, plus they suck). One of KC's losses vs a non playoff team came at the Ravens early in the year—back when they had a healthy Lamar and were considered a favorite to earn the #1 seed at the time—and another came at home vs the Chargers, who everyone (including Vegas) views as superior to the Steelers—a PTINO: Playoff Team In Name Only. If the Bills played Pittsburgh again, they would run them off the field. What happened 20 weeks ago in a complete fluke is just so irrelevant to what will happen Sunday. The Jaguars, the frickin Jaguars, shut down an offense now being viewed as unstoppable. It's the NFL. Crazy stuff happens.

It's not tough at all. I watch the Chiefs and cheer for them to have success. Players and coaches. "Ignore it best I can?" No. You acknowledge that something happened, and that I don't know the full story, and probably never will, and suspend judgment. I have friends and family members who have done horrible things. I don't think it means they're irredeemable. I still cheer for them. Still support them. Still hope they grow as people. Still believe that they can.

Yep, and Tyrel Dodson sings in the local choir.