The Kansas City Chiefs are 1-0 but there are plenty of folks who are wondering why they got down so big against the San Diego Chargers. A 21-point comeback is impressive but how do you get down 24-3 to the Chargers? How are you down 17 in the fourth quarter to a team that is supposed to finish at the bottom of the AFC West? There are pessimists. Based on the past three years, I tend to think the Chiefs are closer to the team in the second half than the first. We will see this week against a good Houston Texans team if I'm right.
The roundup of Week 2 NFL power rankings...
I’m not sure it would’ve happened had Keenan Allen not torn his ACL near the end of the first half. The Chargers fell apart after that, like they did last season when they lost Allen (which is why they went from 21 to 28 this week). Kansas City’s defense played a terrible first half, bad enough to leave you wondering how the Chiefs will fare in road games against the Texans and Steelers over the next four months.
So it just wouldn't be Chargers at Chiefs if it wasn't a wild deal. We detailed such happenings in my game picks column last week, and what went down in Arrowhead on Sunday didn't disappoint. Give Kansas City much credit for coming back from 21 points down, although they lose a spot in the rankings to the Bengals (who won on the road against a superior opponent). Spencer Ware filled in nicely for Jamaal Charles once again, particularly in the passing game (seven catches for 129 yards). He is the fantasy waiver-wire darling of the week, fo sho.
Alex Smith did more than just manage the game in the Chiefs' Week 1 comeback win against the Chargers, passing for 363 yards, his second-most passing yards in a game. Smith's reward is a Week 2 date at Houston with J.J. Watt.
That was a heck of a comeback against the Chargers. But why did they get so far behind at home?
They struggled to generate much pressure without injured OLB Justin Houston, whom they clearly miss much more than they do RB Jamaal Charles.
The comeback was great and Alex Smith played very well. But it’s still fair to ask: How do you fall behind 24-3 to the Chargers at home if you’re a top-10 team?