Reviewing The Kansas City Chiefs Keys To Victory

by Joel Thorman on Sep 29, 2008 7:02 AM CDT Comment 27 comments

One thing I like to do after a sweet, sweet victory such as our Kansas City Chiefs' last night is go back and review what we thought needed to happen in order to win versus what really happened.

Go back to this post and review what everyone thought needed to happen. I'd say we were spot on with a few of them.

We Must Protect This House!

Protect Arrowhead we did indeed. I suggested the crowd wouldn't play much of a factor in the game considering the lack of impact it had on the first game against the Oakland Raiders. However, at least from the TV broadcast, it appears that the crowd got into it and created some noise despite the level of attendance.

The Mike Shanahan coached Broncos moved to 3-11 all time at Arrowhead as we furthered our dominance over them at home. For whatever reason, we've got the Broncos number when they come into Arrowhead. We avoided the 3 year sweep with this victory and reaffirmed my belief that Arrowhead is the toughest place to play despite the team on the field.

Larry, Larry, Larry!

Dead on. LJ started early with a 60+ yard run on the second play from scrimmage and continued to beat down the Broncos defenders all the way into the 4th quarter. This moved him just 7 yards from the season rushing leader through 4 weeks.

LJ's performance was a great reminder that when it really comes down to it we're only going as far as he can take us. Our quarterback situation combined with our less than innovative offense makes LJ moving the chains a necessity and he did that today.

He took the pressure off Damon Huard and the rest of the offense. Just as importantly, he allowed us to hold the ball for over 33 minutes and I think we saw the advantage that created for our defense.

Early and Often

This was true to an extent. We didn't get behind early but the Broncos gave us EVERY opportunity to pull away and we wouldn't take it. We led 6-0 after the 1st quarter, 13-10 after the 2nd, 16-13 after the 3rd, and finished the game with a 33-19 advantage.

What I'm really excited about is the 4th quarter points. When the pressure was put on and the Broncos pulled to within one score in the 4th quarter our offense responded big time on the shoulders of LJ.

Here are a few predictions from your fellow APers:

"What is success this week? Offense breaks 20 points and we lose by less than 10pts?"

"I can’t stress this enough – Damon Huard staying in the whole game and not being pulled is a big key."

"I cannot wait until Sunday so people might actually remember that Damon Huard is a pathetic quarterback. Thigpen is awful. Huard is pathetic."

Put me on board with that first comment. I would have been happy to cover the spread but we did oh so much more than that.

So we know what we thought would happen. Now that we look at what really happened, whose performance surprised you the most?

0 recs | Comment 27 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

hoping for the best!

I thought the D-line and the O-line played outstanding. LJ ran the ball like he had something to prove. Huard made no major mistakes. The turnovers were nice, but the secondary seemed to play very soft coverage throughout the game (gave up to many big yardage short passes). all in all, I’ll take it.

I was hoping to see TG break Sharpe’s record at home against Denver, but I’ll be in Carolina next week, so all is well.

What has to be remembered is how porous the Denver def. really is. I’m not sure that we will be able to get away with field goals against Carolina or Tenn.

Good win for the Chiefs and Kansas City Fans!!

by sad, sad, sad!!! on Sep 29, 2008 7:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll give them the short passes all day

as long as we don’t get burned on a bomb downfield.

by Vince D on Sep 29, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am happy with the win, but

Everyone keep in mind, do not get to giddy, this could be our only win of the season. Carolina is a different, bigger upfront, with some decent backs. Tenn. is a very aggressive defensive team, nothing like what we just saw from Denver. I am not trying to rain on anyones PARADE, just being realistic. I still remember the SD game in SD, a dominating performance, then our offense fell off the face of the earth.

by Eric Allen on Sep 29, 2008 7:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I can now rinse some of that previously mentioned vomit out of my mouth.

by sad, sad, sad!!! on Sep 29, 2008 7:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Just heard on the radio

That BA’s elbow was hyper-extended, not dis-located, and he will be evaluated later this week. Good news I think, but I am no DR.!

by Eric Allen on Sep 29, 2008 8:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Carolina game

I think the most important thing this weekend is for us to come out passing the ball. All Carolina is going to focus on this week is stopping LJ because LJ showed his old self yesterday. Once we open up the passing attack to start the game then we can get into running the ball. I think we have a shot if we play the way we did yesterday intensity wise and actually switch up the offensive gameplan.

Also, Albert was dominating before he got hurt, did anyone notice that? If he really is only out for a week that is extremely good news.

Huard was the man, and I will reiterate again that even if Huard loses or has a bad game, he is by far the best QB on our team. When Croyle comes back he needs to be backup.

A Herm “moment” – no one is talking about the challenge of LJ’s fumble. The ball was CLEARLY out (he put both arms down on the ground before he was down without the ball to brace himself). Because of that decision, Herm had 1 TO for most of the second half. In a close game that is unacceptable.

by CBaller13 on Sep 29, 2008 8:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

“A Herm "moment" – no one is talking about the challenge of LJ’s fumble. The ball was CLEARLY out (he put both arms down on the ground before he was down without the ball to brace himself). Because of that decision, Herm had 1 TO for most of the second half. In a close game that is unacceptable.”

Always gotta be something to complain about, eh?

by JacinB on Sep 29, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course

He’s a head coach who gets paid lots of dollars to do his job well. This is another instance of a terrible coaching decision.

by CBaller13 on Sep 29, 2008 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It wasn't that bad

Herm was challenging whether or not LJ recovered the fumble.

It was a crucial point in the game so it was worth a shot.

And, that’s not Herm’s call, by the way. The folks up in the booth look at the replay and they radio down to him whether or not he should challenge.

by Joel Thorman on Sep 29, 2008 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a good point

about what was actually being reviewed.

by Mully on Sep 29, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So so sunbrunt.

Glorous win, next time I wear sunscreen.

by HIV 2 Elway on Sep 29, 2008 9:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No

That is your new tradition. You get the skin cancer; Chiefs get the win. Take one for the team.
:D

by Mully on Sep 29, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damon's misdirection motions

I thought the play calling was respectable. What I really liked is the fact that the offense made it appear there was more than one thing happening on many plays. With Thigpen, it was all he could do to make the handoff or look at his primary (a.k.a. only) receiver with little faking or misdirection involved.

Huard’s extra motions (although one spin made me nervous) were a welcome sight for me. There’s a limit — I’m not a big fan of the double fake reverso stuff that takes a long time while the QB is facing backward — but to know that there are multiple things that could happen out of a single offensive formation was great! A smashmouth mentality is godd to a point — football is a physical game — but why not take advantage or keeping the defense off balance? I believe it helps.

by sunny D on Sep 29, 2008 9:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I 100% agree

This was the first game all year where there were plays where I couldn’t predict what was going to happen. I think Huard’s accuracy and touch and LJ’s running prowess caused confusion for both the run defense and pass defense of the Broncos. I also liked Huard’s deep balls to DBowe that weren’t in bounds but also were put in a place where only D Bowe could catch them. In practice this week, they should work on throwing the fade with DBowe lining up further away from the sideline and those throws will be catches. Huard really throws a great ball. I almost think hes a top 20 NFL QB. I can name a lot of other starters I would start Huard over: Cassel, Flacco, Collins, Russell, Ferrotte/Jackson, Orton, Green, O’Sullivan.

by CBaller13 on Sep 29, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I realize there's stuff happening all over the field

But when they ran a replay of Huard’s throw out of bounds to Bowe, it seemed like Bowe started so close to the sideline and didn’t work the defender enough toward the inside, that Huard didn’t have much of a window to throw into. And as many great qualities as Bowe has, I don’t think blazing speed is his relative strength. I mean I don’t really expect Bowe to blow by people and create separation vertically. Can Bowe either start closer to the center of the field or fake some kind of in route to create some more space? (Can’t believe I’m in my Monday morning armchair criticizing a player of Bowe’s caliber. Just an observation and question.)

by sunny D on Sep 29, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

That’s what Im getting at. I think Huard is making the pass based on where the receiver is, not where the sideline is. I think he threw a perfect pass that only Bowe could catch – the problem is Bowe was too close to the sideline.

by CBaller13 on Sep 29, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OLB play

I was very impressed with our outside linebackers in this game. Demorrio Williams really stepped it up, if his had was 100% I think we would have had another INT. DJ finally looked like the LB he should be, making plays all over the field. If these two can step up that way all season I think we will finally have the outside LB positions locked down for years to come.

Now we just need a good MLB. Pat Thomas might get there eventually, I didn’t see the mistakes from him this game but I don’t know if with Denver’s wide open offense how much he was actually on the field in this game.

by tevans96 on Sep 29, 2008 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs