Jason Whitlock has posted his reaction to today's debacle at the Linc.
I completely agree with every paragraph, every sentence, every word, every letter in his post.
And after three weeks, I am ready to do the unthinkable. The impossible.
I am giving you my permission to check out on this team, this franchise, until our coach and GM grow a pair. Or get shown the door. I'm good with it either way.
Oh, I'll still show up for every game. Its how I roll. But for me, this head coach is finished. Todd Haley is NOT an NFL caliber head coach. Punting on 4th and 1 when you trail by 20 tells me everything I need to know about you as a man, as a coach, as a tactician. It tells me you have guts, no self confidence. You have no passion to win, and you're either in over your head, or you have so little faith in the roster you helped construct, that you refuse to put them in a position to win. Rather, you try to put them in a position to not fail.
I thought that change in the head coaching position was supposed to do away with that mentality? As I type this, I'm watching the Cardinals, trailing 21-3, showing more fight and innovative play calling than we've seen all year out of the Chiefs. They're (gasp) trying to score before the half! Trying to make a game of it headed to the locker room!
Anyone care to guess what Matt Cassel's longest pass attempt today was? Not completion, attempt. Here's a hint: it would not have gained a first down if it was called on first down. 8 yards. Matt Cassel's longest throw today, was 8 yards.
Is this Pop Warner league? Is Tom Osborne our play caller now? Actually that's an insult to Dr. Tom, he ALWAYS had a deep ball or two in the playbook.
I'd actually like to see what the Chiefs playbook looks like. I'm guessing its a bunch of crayon markings on a couple of napkins that have bourbon stains on them. This team is a f*cking joke. And it starts at the top.
Todd Haley is NOT a NFL caliber head coach. I'm sorry, he's not. I have no problem with passion and excitement on the sideline. Honestly, I find it funny that what we loved about Vermeil is now criticized in Haley. Its ridiculous. That's not my fault with Haley. I actually was kind of upset he reigned it in today.
My fault with him is simple: he doesn't care about winning. Any coach with an ounce of competitiveness does NOT punt on 4th and 1 when you're down by 20. You line up with two tackles eligible and pound the damned football down the defenses throat. Or you roll Cassel out with a scramble option if the TE is covered. But you at least TRY TO GET THE FIRST DOWN! Its what denver did today on goal to go. Its what Philly did to us on 4th and 1. On ANY 4th and 1, its what you should do! (Yes, I said ANY fourth and one. Eventually, coaches in this league are going to grasp that going for a play that converts, on average, 83% of the time, makes MORE sense than giving the ball up voluntarily).
Mano y mano, may the better team win. Its the essense of football. Sadly, our coach has so little guts, so little confidence in his team, that he won't even try.
That alone is a fireable offense in my book. To fail is human. We all fail. God knows I've got more than my share of failure in life. But to not even try is chicken sh*t. Todd Haley, by that definition, by MY definition, is a chicken sh*t head coach.
And yes, I'd tell that to him to his face if I ever got the chance. I've called Ed Hearn far worse to his face. Ditto "deadbeat former roommate", who is still the most pathetic excuse for a human being I've ever been "fortunate" enough to meet.
Today was amongst the most frustrating games I've ever watched. Because we never showed up trying to win. We showed up trying not to get embarrassed. When you play with that type of mentality, you will ALWAYS be embarrassed. And you will ALWAYS lose. Because you won't have the balls to take the risks you have to take to win.
Today, I was embarrassed to be a Chiefs fan. As opposed to the other team I root for, the J! E! T! S! Jets Jets Jets! That's what you want in a team. A head coach who gets it. A QB who isn't handicapped by his GM. An owner who demands excellence and sh*t cans you if you don't deliver. Jesus Christ, the New York effing Jets are a model franchise, and us, the Kansas City Chiefs, are the laughing stock of the league.
Go Jets Go. The Jets of 2009 are what we, the Chiefs, used to be. Brash, self-confident, willing to do ANYTHING to win the damned game. The 2009 Chiefs, are what the Jets I've known and loved have always been. Timid. Scared of success. Unwilling to take the risks you have to take to be a winner in this league.
Embarrassed. That's the only word I can come up with. I'm just f*cking embarrassed. My team is coached by a guy who thinks 4th and 1, trailing by 20, is a punting situation. And is run by a GM that defends the decision. I'm just ... embarrassed.
No Chiefs team in my lifetime has opened 0-4. Sunday, it will happen. Not might happen. Not should happen. It WILL happen. I have never been more confident of a Chiefs loss entering a week than I am right now. There is no doubt in my mind we will be humiliated on the sacred turf of Arrowhead on Sunday, to lose our 12th consecutive game counting preseason. There is no doubt in my mind. I don't care what the line is, I'm taking the Giants and I'm laying the points.
Not because we should lose. No, the Chiefs are not the best team in the league or the division. This team is good enough to win, at home, if we deliver a solid effort. But because we won't. Because Pioli, Haley, and the "brainfarts" at One Arrowhead Drive value having the number one pick in every round in 2010 more than they value playing with integrity and a focus on winning.
That just about sums it up. Securing a draft position matters more to our "brainfarts" than giving the paying public what they pay for. I'm fine with building for the future. But you do NOT tank games until the second half of the season. You NEVER throw in the towel until you're 0-5 (because no NFL team has ever recovered from worse than 0-4 to reach the playoffs, although Marty's Redskins in 2000 and Fisher's Titans in 2006 came damned close). Until you're into the second quarter of the season, you don't give up.
Sunday, the Chiefs gave up on 2009. We threw in the towel. We officially kicked off Tankapalooza 2009.
Sadly on Sunday, we also learned all we needed to know about Brian Waters' alleged leadership skills. About Mike Vrabel's alleged veteran presence. Because no self respecting veteran would have let Todd Haley leave that locker room under his own power after the game he called. Todd Haley quit. Any veteran worth a damn would have called him on it and "dealt with it internally". Which, had it been a team of true veterans, would have involved a stretcher, an ambulance, and an interim head coach come Sunday against the Giants due to an "undisclosed medical condition" for our current head coach.
The fact that we don't have a single player on this roster willing to state the obvious, and demand this team give a sh*t about winning now, says all I need to know about this season.
I just hope some Chiefs season ticket holder(s) file a class action lawsuit for fraud against the Kansas City Chiefs organization. We were promised a NFL team to show up and support in 2009. We were promised a collection of "professionals" to root on. There's nothing PROFESSIONAL about quitting in week 3.
There's nothing professional about this team. How sad. How truly sad. We're the biggest joke in the league. Say what you want about Carl, but Carl would have at least tried to win in 2009. Pioli and Haley clearly value draft position over any semblance of pride. How pathetic.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
chiefs! eagles! live blog ...
Week 3 is always my favorite overall week in the NFL season. Its moving week.
0-2 teams margin for error has been reduced to this week and this week only. Only one NFL team has rallied from worse than 0-3 to make the playoffs. And only a handful of teams have rallied from 0-3 to make it. Desperation sets in for the winless.
Conversely, if you're 2-0, you can really start to get some separation with a win this week. Teams that start 3-0 usually make the playoffs, at a nearly 83% rate.
No D Bowe, no DJ today for the Chiefs. Thankfully, no McNabb or Westbrook for Philly. And its apparently monsoon-like conditions at the Linc. The uglier the game, the more it favors the underdog.
10 minutes to kickoff. Better go get a cocktail and settle in for what I hope is the Chiefs first victory since last December.
Harlan and Wilcots on the call today. Solid duo.
As always, I'm logged into Yahoo! IM as teamtito15 if you want to commentate along.
Thank you sh*tty Time Warner cable, for running the Red Zone channel ads and NFL Network ads, when you're the ONLY legitimate cable or satellite provider in the nation that offers neither.
I like the CBS intro ... but NBC's is by far and away the best. Although they never should have booted Pink for Faith Hill. Pink's version of "Waitin All Week for Sunday Night" was much cooler and better.
Too bad we aren't playing at home today. You can't beat the weather. Pushing 80, not a cloud in the sky. Good stuff.
Chiefs haven't beaten Philly since the last Sunday in September, 1998.
Chiefs kick off. Hobbs returns it to the 27. 1st and 10 Philly.
Kevin Kolb "knows the system" according to Solomon Wilcots. Oy.
Gain of 8 to the tight end.
Enter Mike Vick. In motion. Fake end around. McCoy up the middle loses one. 3rd and 3.
HUGE play by Brandon Flowers! Chiefs hold!
Rocca in to punt. Wade returns it to the 23. Punt went 54 yards, solid effort.
Quick wide receiver screen to Bradley. Gain of 5.
LJ gets one up the middle. 3rd and 4 upcoming from the 29.
Looks like Philly jumped. John Parry our ref.
First and 10 Chiefs on the offsides penalty.
Another wideout screen to Wade. Gain of 2, but a penalty on the play. Offensive pass interference on Bradley. Now 1st and 20.
Uuh, that's a questionable call at best.
LJ gets nothing. Probably lost a yard. The OL looks horrendous so far.
Delay of game penalty. Now 2nd and 26.
I'd run a draw here, then air it out on 3rd down, since an INT 40 yards downfield is no worse than a punt.
LJ on the draw. Maybe two. 3rd and half a mile.
Jesus, our offensive line is horrendous. Cassel sacked for a loss of 10. We have to leave Cox in to block, or keep Ryan in to block. The five up front aren't working against this D.
40 yard punt. Eagles ball at the Chiefs 47.
Kolb in the gun on 1st down. Nice timed blitz by Leggett to bat the pass down.
Maclin for 5. Immediately tackled by Mays. 3rd and a long 5 / short 6.
Blitz bombs. Maclin gets the first, gain of 10. Fumbles! But out of bounds.
Enter Mike Vick. Under center. Huge roar from Philly fan.
Rushes offtackle for 6.
Direct snap to McCoy, first down. 1st and 10 at the Chiefs 20.
Nice pull block by the right guard on that play.
McCoy offtackle to the 5. 1st and goal. Nice recognition on that play by McCoy.
Timeout Philly.
Full house backfield. Sweet. Vick to throw and he is drilled by Dorsey. Incomplete. Correction, Tyson Jackson drilled him, Dorsey applied the pressure.
McCoy, touchdown. Piss poor tackling. Piss poor. He should have been stopped for no gain. 6-0 Eagles.
Make that 7-0. Hopefully Haley got on the offensive line and told them to start blocking like their jobs depend on it.
Savage gets the kick at the 3. Really good return, to the 33.
The Alex Karras gambling suspension. I think the man suffered enough by starring in "Webster".
Cassel scrambles for a gain of maybe one. The OL again is unable to contain the Eagles DL so far. I did like the playcall though, rolling Cassel out to buy time.
Cassel pressured again. Incomplete, intended for Wade. 3rd and 9.
Wilcots and I agree on playcalling.
I HATE that play. I absolutely HATE it. Cassel to Bradley on a quick slant, gain of 7. Its 3rd and 10. Why are you not throwing it to the yardsticks? Why? What the f*ck does a 7 yard gain do there?
Fair catch at the 27. 35 yards on the punt. Not one of Dusty C's best efforts.
Kolb to Jackson. First down or 2nd and inches.
First down.
Yardage right now: 65-1 Philly.
Oh sh*t. Kolb to Jackson, someone fell in coverage. Looks like Williams blew that assignment. Inside the 20.
McCoy for 11. 1st and goal at the 8. This is rapidly getting out of hand.
Kolb to Celek to the 2. Solid tackle by Williams.
McCoy is close. Just short.
Chiefs are perfect in Red Zone defense: 6 opponent possessions, 6 touchdowns allowed. Oy.
3rd and goal at the inch line.
Kolb is in. Not sure why that took 15 seconds to call, anyone with eyes could see he crossed the line. 13-0 on the way to 14-0 momentarily.
Good point -- the last time the Chiefs and Eagles played, we had them blown out of Arrowhead after one quarter, up 17-0, and pushed the lead to 23-7 midway through the second. And then promptly gave up 30 unanswered points to lose.
Savage returns the kick to the 21. Looks like the refs missed a blatant block in the back. Hooray.
LJ for one.
LJ loses five. HORRENDOUS play call. HORRENDOUS. You don't call a pitch on 2nd and 9 when your line has proven all day long that it can't block.
3rd and 13. Cassel in the gun.
Short gain to the safety valve. The offensive line is killing us right now. Even in the shotgun, Cassel has NO time to throw. Punt upcoming.
End of the quarter. Unquestionably the worst quarter the Chiefs have played this year.
Jackson had a nice return but its coming back. Multiple flags. Illegal block in the back. Not sure where this sets them up at. Another commercial.
Yikes, they're at their own 30. That's a 40 yard penalty in essence.
Gain of one on first down. Solid coverage by Mays on Celek that time.
McCoy delayed handoff for a yard. Big 3rd down here, we need to get the defense off the field.
Sell out blitz. It backfires. First down Eagles. Someone blew a coverage there.
Carr with nice coverage on first down. The Eagles have looked to Celek on every throw this drive.
DOH! Carr nearly had the pick. Hit the ground apparently.
God bless it. Carr HAS to make that pick. That's inexcusable.
3rd and 10.
4th and 1 at the Chiefs 44. I'd go for it.
Eagles are going for it. Statement down here for the Chiefs defense.
And they hold! Vrabel bats down the pass! That was ... yikes, that was a TURRIBLE play call by Mornhinweg. We haven't been able to stop McCoy yet, why wouldn't you run up the middle with LeSean there?
That was the first play Cassel had time. 11 yard gain to Cottam. 1st and 10 at the Eagles 45.
Charles with a gain of 15, but its coming back, holding on Albert. 1st and 20 now.
LJ for three offtackle. 2nd and 17.
Trickery Dickery Dock! Cassel a lateral to Bradley, who hits Charles across field for a gain of 27! Nice play!
Maybe. Fat Andy Reid is challenging the catch? Timeout Philly, I assume this is a challenge.
Rewinding that, I think its a catch. Looks like he cradled it as he hit the turf. But I'm also biased.
Nope, no challenge, just a TO. STUPID decision by Fat Andy Reid, if you're gonna burn a TO there, at least challenge a questionable catch.
Gain of 11 to the man rapidly becoming my favorite Chief, Sean Ryan. Chiefs in the red zone.
LJ for 2, maybe 3. 2nd and a long 7 / short 8 at the 12.
TOUCHDOWN! Mark Bradley! WHAT A CATCH! AND THROW!
WOW!
Wow. Just, wow. AWESOME catch. Eagles CB had perfect coverage on that play. You can't defend that any better. Just a perfect throw, perfect catch.
14-7 Iggles.
Good point from Drew -- that was the first series the Eagles didn't level Cassel. He had time to throw, and he nailed every one of them. The only time the Eagles got pressure was on the Bradley pass.
Huge series upcoming. The 4th and 1 stand swung momentum. The TD gives you confidence. Now if the defense can get a 3 and out or a turnover and keep this up, its a whole new ballgame.
Good God. Offsides on KC on the kickoff. 1st and 10 at about the Philly 37, 38 I believe.
De Fense! De Fense! De Fense!
Touchdown, DeSean Jackson. Carr gambled for the pick and didn't get it. No safety help to speak of.
OK offense, gotta go to work again.
Harlan just said its about to start pouring again.
Savage to about the 30.
Gotta love CBS being too cheap to spring for replays in HD. Then again, this is the network that prior to this season didn't broadcast all games in HD.
1st and 10 at our 27? Shady spot.
Gain of 2 to Ryan. 2nd and 8.
I can't believe I'm agreeing with everything Solomon Wilcots is saying.
False start on Waters. Make that 2nd and 13.
Delayed handoff to Charles. Gain of 6. 3rd and 7. Good play call.
Tackled by Macho Harris. That's one sweet ass name.
I can smell the neighbors, uuh, smoke, drifting in through the screen door.
Incomplete, but a flag on the play. Holding on KC. Punting again.
Haley looks pissed. Here's a thought Todd: call plays that maximize the few advantages we have! 7 step drops when you can't pass block are DUMB PLAY CALLS!
Flag on the punt. Maclin at his 15, out to the 24. Offsides on Philly perhaps? Flag went up before the punt was boomed.
It appears to be on Philly. Offsides on Philly. KC opts to repunt. So now its 4th and 1. Do you even think about faking this?
Not a good effort by Dusty C. Eagles have the ball right where they were before the penalty. 1st and 10 Philly at their own 24.
McCoy gets one at most. Good defense.
Enter Mike Vick.
Hali did NOT buy the Vick fake. Good job. Vick throws incomplete. 3rd and 9.
More piss poor coverage by Corey Mays. Why are we putting him on tight ends? Heap abused him. Miller was the only raider to look competent last week. And Celek is using him like a urinal. First down Eagles.
Gain of 4 to Reggie Brown. 2nd and 6 near midfield.
McCoy gets 2. 3rd and 4 at the 46, 47 yard line.
Kolb sacked! But a flag in the secondary. God f*cking dammit, you know its defensive holding or illegal contact.
Worse. Personal foul face mask on Washington. What the hell is he thinking?
Vrabel is hacked. Good. Take that emotion and LAY INTO THIS TEAM AT HALFTIME!
Maclin end around, loss of one. Good defense there. Belcher's having a solid day at linebacker. Maybe we should put him on Celek, he can't cover the guy worse than Corey Mays has.
More piss poor linebacker coverage on Celek. Gain of 9. 3rd and a long one at the Chiefs 31.
First down McCoy. He needed one, he got one.
2 minute warning.
Jimmy Edwards doing PS2 ads? (Yes, I watch "One Tree Hill". Wait. Did I just admit that in writing?)
McCoy gets 5. Need to hold them to 3, then have Vrabel, Waters, and the other veterans of this team rip a collective new asshole on these guys. Chiefs do get the ball at the half.
Blitz fails. They usually do. Gain of 9 to the fullback safety valve, and he gets out of bounds to stop the clock.
Nice camera work CBS. We totally missed the play. I think Philly got 4 on a screen pass, but the camera was focused on the turf. Literally.
There we go, wide angle again.
HORRID pass by Kolb. Lucky that wasn't picked. Maclin the intended receiver. 3rd and 6.
And Maclin is shook up. Solid smack by Mike Brown.
Incomplete on 3rd down. Good coverage by the LBs for once.
Scratch that -- another poor throw by Kolb, it was behind Jackson.
Akers from 29. Its good. With :31 left in the half, unless we get a rock solid return, I'd take a knee and end it down 17 with the ball to open the half.
Savage to the 26. Take a knee. Don't risk a turnover.
Draw to Charles for 9. And the Chiefs take a timeout. Huh? Unless this is a 30 yard bomb to Wade or Bradley, this is a STUPID decision.
Screen pass batted down. That wasn't a bad call, Charles had room to run if the pass had been there.
Cassel swallowed up. Eagles take timeout to force the punt. I swear to God, if this is blocked, the offensive coordinator should be fired. And I am fully aware we're currently on our 2nd offensive coordinator in a month.
This was RETARDED play calling. RETARDED.
Dusty C gets it off. Maclin at his 20. Knocked out at the 17. End of half. Still doesn't change the RETARDED play calling that led to that punt though.
I'll be back in 15. Hopefully team tito version 1.0 isn't getting demolished yet by the Occiffers.
Savage returns the kick to the 28, 29 yard line. 1st and 10 Chiefs.
Make that the 26 yard line. And LJ runs for no gain on first down.
LJ offtackle for one. 3rd and 9.
NICE play call! Never mind. Holding on the play. 3rd and 19.
That's a dubious holding call at best.
Yeah, that's creative. We run the same damned play we just ran. Waving the white flag of surrender on 3rd and 19. Punt time.
Are we trying to win? I hate to ask, but when you call a draw on 3rd and 19 and you're down 17, the question has to be asked.
Good punt, nearly 50 yards. Eagles ball at their own 30.
Kolb to DeSean Jackson. Gain of 17.
The option! Vick to McCoy, gain of 4.
Kolb, all day to throw. Maclin for 11. First and ten Eagles at our 37.
Maclin for 11. 1st and 10 at our 26.
McCoy for 3, maybe 4.
McCoy for 2. Should have lost 3, poor tackling. 3rd and 4 at our 20.
Kolb overshot Jackson. Field goal try upcoming.
I continue to express shock that Solomon Wilcots is a voice of reason.
Its good. 27-7. 9:15 left in the 3rd. Our margin for error is now just about zero.
Touchback. Helluva kick, nearly drove Savage out of the back of the end zone.
LJ for one.
LJ for eleven! First down. That was the first play today LJ has had blockers in front of him. I like that we haven't abandoned the run. Although I have always felt a screen pass, swing pass, or shovel pass are just as effective. And might relieve the pressure on Cassel a little.
LJ for five, maybe six offtackle left.
Dump off to Ryan. Gain of four. 3rd and 1 at the 40.
HORRIBLE play call. A QB scramble from the shotgun? What the fuck was that? And WHY ARE YOU PUNTING! You're down 20! WHY ARE YOU PUNTING?!?!
This is chicken shit football. Chicken shit.
And its a fake! I take that back! Jon McGraw converts!
Well designed fake.
LJ loses 2.
The Chiefs have yet to attempt a pass more than 16 yards downfield.
LJ fumbles. Eagles recover. Ballgame.
Let me go back to my previous sentence though. If a team is blitzing you all day long, and you NEVER take a deep shot, how are you going to keep them from blitzing? If they have no reason to fear you going deep, they can tee off on you. This is what has happened for the last 2 hours. You would think an accomplished playcaller like Todd Haley is supposed to be, would realize this.
The lack of a vertical passing game is just ridiculous. If you have this little confidence in your QB and your WRs to make a play 20 yards downfield, why are they on the roster? Haley himself said he could drag in any 22 guys off the street and win 2 games. Can you drag in a couple guys off the street capable of running a go route?
If the Eagles score on this drive, I'm pulling the plug on the blog. Especially since Mickelson is within one.
We have a challenge.
That's a fumble.
Its not a bad challenge, but that's a fumble.
Chiefs lose the challenge. Again, its not a bad challenge because you had nothing to lose, you're down 20 and that's pretty much the final nail in the coffin. But correctly upheld.
McCoy for 3.
McCoy for 4.
Haley looks madder than the kooky birthers getting riled up about Obama.
Incomplete. 3 and out. Punt upcoming I assume.
Fair catch at the 15. Last gasp upcoming.
If Haley truly bases QB play on results, we should see Brodie Croyle here. Cassel has done nothing to move this team.
Bradley late to the huddle. Its still Cassel.
LJ, nice gain of 14. Glad to see Haley went right back to him.
End around to Bradley, nice gain. 24 yards to the Eagles 48.
LJ tough gain of 3. Bad spot, I thought he got another yard to just past the 45.
WR screen to Wade, gain of 4. Flag on the play. If this is another holding call on 60, I might toss the keyboard at the TV.
Offensive pass interference. On Sean Ryan. Are you shitting me.
Uuh ... that is just about the weakest PI call ever. That was horseshit.
Even Solomon Wilcots thinks it was a "bad call".
Ryan gets 4. 3rd and 13ish at the 48.
This had damned well better be 4 down territory.
Jamaal Charles for 4. Useless play call unless you're going for it.
End of the quarter. 4th and 10 when we start the 4th.
Holy shit! Mickelson nearly holed out from the fairway! It was in then bounced out! He'll have six inches to tie for the lead.
And we're punting. Gutless football. Gutless. You're down 20. Its the 4th quarter. Again, do you want to win? Why in the fuck am I continually having to ask if the team I root for, the team I give literally thousands of dollars to every year, why am I questioning whether or not they give a shit about winning?
If the D doesn't force a turnover or three and out, this one's over thanks to Gutless Wonder on the playcalling. Yes, I am fully aware 4th and 10, you'll convert maybe 20% of the time at best. But at least you're taking a chance, you're trying to win. Punting in that spot is gutless football. Its waving the whtie flag of surrender. And I am damned sick and tired of my team being the one to continually play like woosies when down 20.
Incomplete on first down. Not sure why Philly is throwing on first down, the clock is their friend at this point and far more important than yardage.
Gain of five to the fullback, another pass. 3rd and 5.
Do or die time.
Die. First down Jackson. Carr covered him as well as you could, but to no benefit. Bleed another two minutes off the clock if the Eagles execute this right.
McCoy for three. THAT'S the smart play call.
J! E! T! S! Jets Jets Jets! retake the lead!
Check to Jackson for six. 3rd and 1. Another safe, sensible play call. Wildcat upcoming as Vick takes the field.
McCoy and he did NOT get it! Great stack by Demorrio Williams.
11:10 approximately left when the Chiefs get it back. Needing 3 touchdowns. And if we punt at ANY point remaining in this game, someone should be fired.
Wade, solid return to the 38, but a flag down, you know its on us. Illegal block in the back on Carr. We should be at approximiately our own 22, 23 if I did the math right.
Make that our 16. Yikes.
Wade for 3. No sense of urgency whatsoever. Guys? YOU'RE DOWN 20! Get going!
And Bradley ONCE AGAIN fails to lunge for the first down marker. 3rd and 1. Still no sense of urgency. This is pathetic. We're huddling down 20 with 10 minutes to go.
Incomplete, intended for Wade. 4th and 1 ... and we're punting.
That's it, I'm done. Todd Haley is in so far over his head right now that there's no reason to continue this. If you don't have the balls to go for it down 20 in the 4th quarter on a 4th and f*cking foot, you have no business running a team. None. Haley the offensive coordinator is destroying Haley the head coach at this point.
Season on the line next Sunday. The margin for error is now officially zero. We have to win Sunday to have any shot to salvage anything out of this season. Right now, I'll be honest, I have ZERO faith and confidence in this coaching staff to rally the team. They clearly have no faith in the players on the roster, as evidenced by punting on 4th and 1 down 20. They'd rather keep it close than gamble to win. Todd, do us a favor and read Tuesday Morning Quarterback this week, where Gregg Easterbrook will 110% correctly rip you a new asshole for having no guts this week. You're better than this Todd. Either you coach to win, or quit. Some of us in this town are sick and tired of gutless football.
Whatever I may have thought of Dick Vermeil, Vermeil doesn't punt on 4th and 1 down 20. Vermeil tries to win. Haley punts. Winners go for it. Losers punt.
I'm just really too angry right now to continue. Blog over.
0-2 teams margin for error has been reduced to this week and this week only. Only one NFL team has rallied from worse than 0-3 to make the playoffs. And only a handful of teams have rallied from 0-3 to make it. Desperation sets in for the winless.
Conversely, if you're 2-0, you can really start to get some separation with a win this week. Teams that start 3-0 usually make the playoffs, at a nearly 83% rate.
No D Bowe, no DJ today for the Chiefs. Thankfully, no McNabb or Westbrook for Philly. And its apparently monsoon-like conditions at the Linc. The uglier the game, the more it favors the underdog.
10 minutes to kickoff. Better go get a cocktail and settle in for what I hope is the Chiefs first victory since last December.
Harlan and Wilcots on the call today. Solid duo.
As always, I'm logged into Yahoo! IM as teamtito15 if you want to commentate along.
Thank you sh*tty Time Warner cable, for running the Red Zone channel ads and NFL Network ads, when you're the ONLY legitimate cable or satellite provider in the nation that offers neither.
I like the CBS intro ... but NBC's is by far and away the best. Although they never should have booted Pink for Faith Hill. Pink's version of "Waitin All Week for Sunday Night" was much cooler and better.
Too bad we aren't playing at home today. You can't beat the weather. Pushing 80, not a cloud in the sky. Good stuff.
Chiefs haven't beaten Philly since the last Sunday in September, 1998.
Chiefs kick off. Hobbs returns it to the 27. 1st and 10 Philly.
Kevin Kolb "knows the system" according to Solomon Wilcots. Oy.
Gain of 8 to the tight end.
Enter Mike Vick. In motion. Fake end around. McCoy up the middle loses one. 3rd and 3.
HUGE play by Brandon Flowers! Chiefs hold!
Rocca in to punt. Wade returns it to the 23. Punt went 54 yards, solid effort.
Quick wide receiver screen to Bradley. Gain of 5.
LJ gets one up the middle. 3rd and 4 upcoming from the 29.
Looks like Philly jumped. John Parry our ref.
First and 10 Chiefs on the offsides penalty.
Another wideout screen to Wade. Gain of 2, but a penalty on the play. Offensive pass interference on Bradley. Now 1st and 20.
Uuh, that's a questionable call at best.
LJ gets nothing. Probably lost a yard. The OL looks horrendous so far.
Delay of game penalty. Now 2nd and 26.
I'd run a draw here, then air it out on 3rd down, since an INT 40 yards downfield is no worse than a punt.
LJ on the draw. Maybe two. 3rd and half a mile.
Jesus, our offensive line is horrendous. Cassel sacked for a loss of 10. We have to leave Cox in to block, or keep Ryan in to block. The five up front aren't working against this D.
40 yard punt. Eagles ball at the Chiefs 47.
Kolb in the gun on 1st down. Nice timed blitz by Leggett to bat the pass down.
Maclin for 5. Immediately tackled by Mays. 3rd and a long 5 / short 6.
Blitz bombs. Maclin gets the first, gain of 10. Fumbles! But out of bounds.
Enter Mike Vick. Under center. Huge roar from Philly fan.
Rushes offtackle for 6.
Direct snap to McCoy, first down. 1st and 10 at the Chiefs 20.
Nice pull block by the right guard on that play.
McCoy offtackle to the 5. 1st and goal. Nice recognition on that play by McCoy.
Timeout Philly.
Full house backfield. Sweet. Vick to throw and he is drilled by Dorsey. Incomplete. Correction, Tyson Jackson drilled him, Dorsey applied the pressure.
McCoy, touchdown. Piss poor tackling. Piss poor. He should have been stopped for no gain. 6-0 Eagles.
Make that 7-0. Hopefully Haley got on the offensive line and told them to start blocking like their jobs depend on it.
Savage gets the kick at the 3. Really good return, to the 33.
The Alex Karras gambling suspension. I think the man suffered enough by starring in "Webster".
Cassel scrambles for a gain of maybe one. The OL again is unable to contain the Eagles DL so far. I did like the playcall though, rolling Cassel out to buy time.
Cassel pressured again. Incomplete, intended for Wade. 3rd and 9.
Wilcots and I agree on playcalling.
I HATE that play. I absolutely HATE it. Cassel to Bradley on a quick slant, gain of 7. Its 3rd and 10. Why are you not throwing it to the yardsticks? Why? What the f*ck does a 7 yard gain do there?
Fair catch at the 27. 35 yards on the punt. Not one of Dusty C's best efforts.
Kolb to Jackson. First down or 2nd and inches.
First down.
Yardage right now: 65-1 Philly.
Oh sh*t. Kolb to Jackson, someone fell in coverage. Looks like Williams blew that assignment. Inside the 20.
McCoy for 11. 1st and goal at the 8. This is rapidly getting out of hand.
Kolb to Celek to the 2. Solid tackle by Williams.
McCoy is close. Just short.
Chiefs are perfect in Red Zone defense: 6 opponent possessions, 6 touchdowns allowed. Oy.
3rd and goal at the inch line.
Kolb is in. Not sure why that took 15 seconds to call, anyone with eyes could see he crossed the line. 13-0 on the way to 14-0 momentarily.
Good point -- the last time the Chiefs and Eagles played, we had them blown out of Arrowhead after one quarter, up 17-0, and pushed the lead to 23-7 midway through the second. And then promptly gave up 30 unanswered points to lose.
Savage returns the kick to the 21. Looks like the refs missed a blatant block in the back. Hooray.
LJ for one.
LJ loses five. HORRENDOUS play call. HORRENDOUS. You don't call a pitch on 2nd and 9 when your line has proven all day long that it can't block.
3rd and 13. Cassel in the gun.
Short gain to the safety valve. The offensive line is killing us right now. Even in the shotgun, Cassel has NO time to throw. Punt upcoming.
End of the quarter. Unquestionably the worst quarter the Chiefs have played this year.
Jackson had a nice return but its coming back. Multiple flags. Illegal block in the back. Not sure where this sets them up at. Another commercial.
Yikes, they're at their own 30. That's a 40 yard penalty in essence.
Gain of one on first down. Solid coverage by Mays on Celek that time.
McCoy delayed handoff for a yard. Big 3rd down here, we need to get the defense off the field.
Sell out blitz. It backfires. First down Eagles. Someone blew a coverage there.
Carr with nice coverage on first down. The Eagles have looked to Celek on every throw this drive.
DOH! Carr nearly had the pick. Hit the ground apparently.
God bless it. Carr HAS to make that pick. That's inexcusable.
3rd and 10.
4th and 1 at the Chiefs 44. I'd go for it.
Eagles are going for it. Statement down here for the Chiefs defense.
And they hold! Vrabel bats down the pass! That was ... yikes, that was a TURRIBLE play call by Mornhinweg. We haven't been able to stop McCoy yet, why wouldn't you run up the middle with LeSean there?
That was the first play Cassel had time. 11 yard gain to Cottam. 1st and 10 at the Eagles 45.
Charles with a gain of 15, but its coming back, holding on Albert. 1st and 20 now.
LJ for three offtackle. 2nd and 17.
Trickery Dickery Dock! Cassel a lateral to Bradley, who hits Charles across field for a gain of 27! Nice play!
Maybe. Fat Andy Reid is challenging the catch? Timeout Philly, I assume this is a challenge.
Rewinding that, I think its a catch. Looks like he cradled it as he hit the turf. But I'm also biased.
Nope, no challenge, just a TO. STUPID decision by Fat Andy Reid, if you're gonna burn a TO there, at least challenge a questionable catch.
Gain of 11 to the man rapidly becoming my favorite Chief, Sean Ryan. Chiefs in the red zone.
LJ for 2, maybe 3. 2nd and a long 7 / short 8 at the 12.
TOUCHDOWN! Mark Bradley! WHAT A CATCH! AND THROW!
WOW!
Wow. Just, wow. AWESOME catch. Eagles CB had perfect coverage on that play. You can't defend that any better. Just a perfect throw, perfect catch.
14-7 Iggles.
Good point from Drew -- that was the first series the Eagles didn't level Cassel. He had time to throw, and he nailed every one of them. The only time the Eagles got pressure was on the Bradley pass.
Huge series upcoming. The 4th and 1 stand swung momentum. The TD gives you confidence. Now if the defense can get a 3 and out or a turnover and keep this up, its a whole new ballgame.
Good God. Offsides on KC on the kickoff. 1st and 10 at about the Philly 37, 38 I believe.
De Fense! De Fense! De Fense!
Touchdown, DeSean Jackson. Carr gambled for the pick and didn't get it. No safety help to speak of.
OK offense, gotta go to work again.
Harlan just said its about to start pouring again.
Savage to about the 30.
Gotta love CBS being too cheap to spring for replays in HD. Then again, this is the network that prior to this season didn't broadcast all games in HD.
1st and 10 at our 27? Shady spot.
Gain of 2 to Ryan. 2nd and 8.
I can't believe I'm agreeing with everything Solomon Wilcots is saying.
False start on Waters. Make that 2nd and 13.
Delayed handoff to Charles. Gain of 6. 3rd and 7. Good play call.
Tackled by Macho Harris. That's one sweet ass name.
I can smell the neighbors, uuh, smoke, drifting in through the screen door.
Incomplete, but a flag on the play. Holding on KC. Punting again.
Haley looks pissed. Here's a thought Todd: call plays that maximize the few advantages we have! 7 step drops when you can't pass block are DUMB PLAY CALLS!
Flag on the punt. Maclin at his 15, out to the 24. Offsides on Philly perhaps? Flag went up before the punt was boomed.
It appears to be on Philly. Offsides on Philly. KC opts to repunt. So now its 4th and 1. Do you even think about faking this?
Not a good effort by Dusty C. Eagles have the ball right where they were before the penalty. 1st and 10 Philly at their own 24.
McCoy gets one at most. Good defense.
Enter Mike Vick.
Hali did NOT buy the Vick fake. Good job. Vick throws incomplete. 3rd and 9.
More piss poor coverage by Corey Mays. Why are we putting him on tight ends? Heap abused him. Miller was the only raider to look competent last week. And Celek is using him like a urinal. First down Eagles.
Gain of 4 to Reggie Brown. 2nd and 6 near midfield.
McCoy gets 2. 3rd and 4 at the 46, 47 yard line.
Kolb sacked! But a flag in the secondary. God f*cking dammit, you know its defensive holding or illegal contact.
Worse. Personal foul face mask on Washington. What the hell is he thinking?
Vrabel is hacked. Good. Take that emotion and LAY INTO THIS TEAM AT HALFTIME!
Maclin end around, loss of one. Good defense there. Belcher's having a solid day at linebacker. Maybe we should put him on Celek, he can't cover the guy worse than Corey Mays has.
More piss poor linebacker coverage on Celek. Gain of 9. 3rd and a long one at the Chiefs 31.
First down McCoy. He needed one, he got one.
2 minute warning.
Jimmy Edwards doing PS2 ads? (Yes, I watch "One Tree Hill". Wait. Did I just admit that in writing?)
McCoy gets 5. Need to hold them to 3, then have Vrabel, Waters, and the other veterans of this team rip a collective new asshole on these guys. Chiefs do get the ball at the half.
Blitz fails. They usually do. Gain of 9 to the fullback safety valve, and he gets out of bounds to stop the clock.
Nice camera work CBS. We totally missed the play. I think Philly got 4 on a screen pass, but the camera was focused on the turf. Literally.
There we go, wide angle again.
HORRID pass by Kolb. Lucky that wasn't picked. Maclin the intended receiver. 3rd and 6.
And Maclin is shook up. Solid smack by Mike Brown.
Incomplete on 3rd down. Good coverage by the LBs for once.
Scratch that -- another poor throw by Kolb, it was behind Jackson.
Akers from 29. Its good. With :31 left in the half, unless we get a rock solid return, I'd take a knee and end it down 17 with the ball to open the half.
Savage to the 26. Take a knee. Don't risk a turnover.
Draw to Charles for 9. And the Chiefs take a timeout. Huh? Unless this is a 30 yard bomb to Wade or Bradley, this is a STUPID decision.
Screen pass batted down. That wasn't a bad call, Charles had room to run if the pass had been there.
Cassel swallowed up. Eagles take timeout to force the punt. I swear to God, if this is blocked, the offensive coordinator should be fired. And I am fully aware we're currently on our 2nd offensive coordinator in a month.
This was RETARDED play calling. RETARDED.
Dusty C gets it off. Maclin at his 20. Knocked out at the 17. End of half. Still doesn't change the RETARDED play calling that led to that punt though.
I'll be back in 15. Hopefully team tito version 1.0 isn't getting demolished yet by the Occiffers.
Savage returns the kick to the 28, 29 yard line. 1st and 10 Chiefs.
Make that the 26 yard line. And LJ runs for no gain on first down.
LJ offtackle for one. 3rd and 9.
NICE play call! Never mind. Holding on the play. 3rd and 19.
That's a dubious holding call at best.
Yeah, that's creative. We run the same damned play we just ran. Waving the white flag of surrender on 3rd and 19. Punt time.
Are we trying to win? I hate to ask, but when you call a draw on 3rd and 19 and you're down 17, the question has to be asked.
Good punt, nearly 50 yards. Eagles ball at their own 30.
Kolb to DeSean Jackson. Gain of 17.
The option! Vick to McCoy, gain of 4.
Kolb, all day to throw. Maclin for 11. First and ten Eagles at our 37.
Maclin for 11. 1st and 10 at our 26.
McCoy for 3, maybe 4.
McCoy for 2. Should have lost 3, poor tackling. 3rd and 4 at our 20.
Kolb overshot Jackson. Field goal try upcoming.
I continue to express shock that Solomon Wilcots is a voice of reason.
Its good. 27-7. 9:15 left in the 3rd. Our margin for error is now just about zero.
Touchback. Helluva kick, nearly drove Savage out of the back of the end zone.
LJ for one.
LJ for eleven! First down. That was the first play today LJ has had blockers in front of him. I like that we haven't abandoned the run. Although I have always felt a screen pass, swing pass, or shovel pass are just as effective. And might relieve the pressure on Cassel a little.
LJ for five, maybe six offtackle left.
Dump off to Ryan. Gain of four. 3rd and 1 at the 40.
HORRIBLE play call. A QB scramble from the shotgun? What the fuck was that? And WHY ARE YOU PUNTING! You're down 20! WHY ARE YOU PUNTING?!?!
This is chicken shit football. Chicken shit.
And its a fake! I take that back! Jon McGraw converts!
Well designed fake.
LJ loses 2.
The Chiefs have yet to attempt a pass more than 16 yards downfield.
LJ fumbles. Eagles recover. Ballgame.
Let me go back to my previous sentence though. If a team is blitzing you all day long, and you NEVER take a deep shot, how are you going to keep them from blitzing? If they have no reason to fear you going deep, they can tee off on you. This is what has happened for the last 2 hours. You would think an accomplished playcaller like Todd Haley is supposed to be, would realize this.
The lack of a vertical passing game is just ridiculous. If you have this little confidence in your QB and your WRs to make a play 20 yards downfield, why are they on the roster? Haley himself said he could drag in any 22 guys off the street and win 2 games. Can you drag in a couple guys off the street capable of running a go route?
If the Eagles score on this drive, I'm pulling the plug on the blog. Especially since Mickelson is within one.
We have a challenge.
That's a fumble.
Its not a bad challenge, but that's a fumble.
Chiefs lose the challenge. Again, its not a bad challenge because you had nothing to lose, you're down 20 and that's pretty much the final nail in the coffin. But correctly upheld.
McCoy for 3.
McCoy for 4.
Haley looks madder than the kooky birthers getting riled up about Obama.
Incomplete. 3 and out. Punt upcoming I assume.
Fair catch at the 15. Last gasp upcoming.
If Haley truly bases QB play on results, we should see Brodie Croyle here. Cassel has done nothing to move this team.
Bradley late to the huddle. Its still Cassel.
LJ, nice gain of 14. Glad to see Haley went right back to him.
End around to Bradley, nice gain. 24 yards to the Eagles 48.
LJ tough gain of 3. Bad spot, I thought he got another yard to just past the 45.
WR screen to Wade, gain of 4. Flag on the play. If this is another holding call on 60, I might toss the keyboard at the TV.
Offensive pass interference. On Sean Ryan. Are you shitting me.
Uuh ... that is just about the weakest PI call ever. That was horseshit.
Even Solomon Wilcots thinks it was a "bad call".
Ryan gets 4. 3rd and 13ish at the 48.
This had damned well better be 4 down territory.
Jamaal Charles for 4. Useless play call unless you're going for it.
End of the quarter. 4th and 10 when we start the 4th.
Holy shit! Mickelson nearly holed out from the fairway! It was in then bounced out! He'll have six inches to tie for the lead.
And we're punting. Gutless football. Gutless. You're down 20. Its the 4th quarter. Again, do you want to win? Why in the fuck am I continually having to ask if the team I root for, the team I give literally thousands of dollars to every year, why am I questioning whether or not they give a shit about winning?
If the D doesn't force a turnover or three and out, this one's over thanks to Gutless Wonder on the playcalling. Yes, I am fully aware 4th and 10, you'll convert maybe 20% of the time at best. But at least you're taking a chance, you're trying to win. Punting in that spot is gutless football. Its waving the whtie flag of surrender. And I am damned sick and tired of my team being the one to continually play like woosies when down 20.
Incomplete on first down. Not sure why Philly is throwing on first down, the clock is their friend at this point and far more important than yardage.
Gain of five to the fullback, another pass. 3rd and 5.
Do or die time.
Die. First down Jackson. Carr covered him as well as you could, but to no benefit. Bleed another two minutes off the clock if the Eagles execute this right.
McCoy for three. THAT'S the smart play call.
J! E! T! S! Jets Jets Jets! retake the lead!
Check to Jackson for six. 3rd and 1. Another safe, sensible play call. Wildcat upcoming as Vick takes the field.
McCoy and he did NOT get it! Great stack by Demorrio Williams.
11:10 approximately left when the Chiefs get it back. Needing 3 touchdowns. And if we punt at ANY point remaining in this game, someone should be fired.
Wade, solid return to the 38, but a flag down, you know its on us. Illegal block in the back on Carr. We should be at approximiately our own 22, 23 if I did the math right.
Make that our 16. Yikes.
Wade for 3. No sense of urgency whatsoever. Guys? YOU'RE DOWN 20! Get going!
And Bradley ONCE AGAIN fails to lunge for the first down marker. 3rd and 1. Still no sense of urgency. This is pathetic. We're huddling down 20 with 10 minutes to go.
Incomplete, intended for Wade. 4th and 1 ... and we're punting.
That's it, I'm done. Todd Haley is in so far over his head right now that there's no reason to continue this. If you don't have the balls to go for it down 20 in the 4th quarter on a 4th and f*cking foot, you have no business running a team. None. Haley the offensive coordinator is destroying Haley the head coach at this point.
Season on the line next Sunday. The margin for error is now officially zero. We have to win Sunday to have any shot to salvage anything out of this season. Right now, I'll be honest, I have ZERO faith and confidence in this coaching staff to rally the team. They clearly have no faith in the players on the roster, as evidenced by punting on 4th and 1 down 20. They'd rather keep it close than gamble to win. Todd, do us a favor and read Tuesday Morning Quarterback this week, where Gregg Easterbrook will 110% correctly rip you a new asshole for having no guts this week. You're better than this Todd. Either you coach to win, or quit. Some of us in this town are sick and tired of gutless football.
Whatever I may have thought of Dick Vermeil, Vermeil doesn't punt on 4th and 1 down 20. Vermeil tries to win. Haley punts. Winners go for it. Losers punt.
I'm just really too angry right now to continue. Blog over.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
hawk football: i'm one of them! (pause) aw! dammit!
(gregg, after patterson's knockdown sealed the win) you know, this is one of those games, that seems a helluva lot better in hindsight than it did for the last 30 minutes.
(brent) (nodding in agreement)
(steve) (still in shock ku held on) uuh, what? ...
What a magical, absolutely magical, Saturday of football at beautiful Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium. You had everything you could possibly want. It was sunny. But not excessively hot. (A really good thing when you're still suffering from a poison ivy outbreak, every drop of sweat only adds to the itching). It was the trifecta of Old School Hawk Football attendance, just me, Gregg and Brent. We had rockin bacon burritos to open the day, courtesy of the lovely Ashley.
And a season long dream came to fruition. As always, read along for the details ...
* I arrived first! I have no idea how it happened. I haven't been on time for a Hawk Football game since ... well, since I lived with Gregg and didn't have to be "on time". So hooray me! I also took a huge gamble today: I changed up the gameday gear. I still wore the KU shorts ... but I switched t-shirts to the Fighting Manginos shirt. My reasoning? I wasn't going to "drink like a champion today", so I didn't want to disgrace the Joe College shirt. The gamble (barely) paid off. Thank God. Now I can officially rotate that t-shirt into the gameday approved gear rotation and won't have to do a quick load of laundry on Friday night anymore ...
* Gregg sent me a text picture of the bacon sizzling for the burritos on the drive out there. As a fan of bacon (verifiable via my Facebook page) ... woo! woo bacon!
* the burrito was outstanding. Although I'm with everyone else -- we need a "side by side" comparison of the bacon vs sausage burrito.
* Brent arrived next. Since noone else was going, it was time to do what we do best ... pack up the burritos and head for some football.
* in honor of last week's iPod debacle, Gregg added the original (and by far, best) version of "Take My Breath Away" to the playing rotation. Although we never hit "Look Away". I actually thought of that walking in, "holy sh*t, we screwed this up!" Thankfully, a decision on top of Mount Oread overrode this incredible brain fart in the football god's eyes ...
* managed to park just north of 8th on Ohio. Gregg, obviously trying to build the karma bank account, warned a couple trying to park where we did last week that "you'll get ticketed". The couple thanked us and moved on. (And yes, every car within 30 feet of the stop sign at 8th and Ohio was ticketed. To the tune of $55.)
* Another $8.09 of alcoholic bliss purchased at Jensen Liquors. Jensen Liquors. If you live in Lawrence, give them your business! (north side of 9th between Louisiana and Mississippi).
* and the karma was repaid on the walk in, when a chick warned us at 10th and Mississippi "cross the street! there's bees in those bushes ahead!" I thought she was ... well, nuts. Until the postgame, when we walked in front of said bushes ... and both Gregg and I got stung. And I'm allergic to bee venom. So now I have no way of telling what swelling in my left hand is due to the bee, and what's due to the poison ivy. I swear, my life so should be a friggin sitcom.
* reached the sidewalk to head up to the Campanille, and Gregg asked "should we even bother?" The usual illegal tailgate was set up right by "The Bench". I countered with "didn't we discuss a new drinking tradition last week? Walk up, get hacked, then drink at the other bench?" So we walked.
And holy crap. They didn't hijack the bench! Gregg: "Confirm its his bench!" Brent: "Yup, its Coach Fam's!" G and I hit the Captain. Brent hit the Smirnoff. A shot to Hawk Football. On the Don Fambrough Memorial Bench. (Although is it "memorial", considering the guy is still alive? That's a gray area.)
* After a shot or two to the greatness that is Don Fambrough ... into the game we go! The (joe pesci voice) yute! ticket is still perfect, with one delay of entry penalty, over the last two years.
* I sat down for Sunflower Song. Apparently that caused folks around me to laugh. I'm telling you, I am NOT wrong about this! Sunflower Song Sucks! Roll in Africano or Jazzy Jayhawk and revitalize, revolutionize, at least shake up, the pregame tradition that probably hasn't changed since I was in diapers.
* The flyover was late on the Anthem. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Flyovers are the single biggest waste of taxpayer dollars known to man. And when you're $9 trillion in debt, you can't afford wastes like that.
* The game itself was every bit as close as you'd expect. A few things I wanted to highlight:
* Opurem was beyond outstanding today. As a true freshman, thrust into this spot with (literally) noone to back him up due to Sharp's injury, he rolled up 100 yards, scored twice, and only made one mistake (his fumble on a vicious hit that stripped him of the ball). Job well done.
* For Southern Miss, their QB, Austin Davis, is a future pro. This kid is gonna make it in the pros. He is calm, poised, and converted more 3rd downs than I care to remember. The kid is a pro. Ditto his tight end, #84, Leroy Banks. Somehow, he's listed as the backup in the program. 84 caught every damned ball thrown in his direction.
* Seriously, Southern Miss is a damned good team. I'd say they're playing for the CUSA title, unless they're in Houston's division. If they are, then USM vs Houston is for that division's title. A well coached, talented team that pushed us as much as they could. Thankfully, it just barely wasn't enough.
* Highlight of the game: the blurb after Hawk Football in the post title. We sat behind a bunch of freshmen today. (Class of 2013? Dear God I am old. I am effing old). Anyways, actually, for freshmen who are (just about) half our age, they were pretty cool. That, and they had a hot as holy hell chick with them in a "I want to get a tan" outfit. She was ... she was a winner, that's what she was. God bless her boyfriend, he seemed cool, and if you're sleeping with that every night, you are one lucky fellow, that's for damned sure.
Anyways. So we're nearing halftime, and the video board starts playing a basketball video that hypes the "16,300 strong at every game ..." and the kid in front of me (who smartly wore a red jersey today, since KU wore red), he starts getting fired up. He's ready. Kind of reminded me of Gregg or Brent 15 years ago. (Sweet Jesus, 15 years ago we were freshmen. 15 years ago! God bless it!)
Anyways. He's fired up. The video did start pretty awesomely. And he lets out a loud "I'm one of them!!!" in response to the "16,300" line.
Then, well ...
(video) (becomes obvious its for women's basketball)
(kid) aw! (pissed off) dammit!
(steve) (laughing his ass off)
(brent) (laughing his ass off)
(gregg) what?
(steve / brent) (explain reason for laughter)
(gregg) (laughing his ass off)
I think "aw! dammit!" has now hit "is it just me ..." status.
* One advantage of an Old School Hawk Football Saturday? No waiting around for chicks' friends, exes, or other assorted one night stands to say hi to. On the other hand, I would have been cool with hitting up Quinton's for some bacon potato soup and a vodka and sprite. I was craving that bacon potato soup for some reason. But off to KC we went.
* Pretty uneventful drive home. I am so looking forward to when the Turnpike expands to three lanes from Lawrence to KC, to get the deadbeat slow asses out of the left lane. Really guys, its simple. If you can't pass the semi or school bus in the right lane in under 10 seconds, don't try. You're a horrible driver and have no business ever entering the left lane.
* So here's the deal as I see it. KU is now 4-0, should be somewhere around 16, 17 when the polls come out this week. We now have the bye week, and might drop a spot or two due to not playing, but at worst we should be 20 entering Iowa State. We should roll them at home. Then, we need a win at Colorado on October 17th to stay atop the North, and get to 6-0, 2-0 conference, entering the game on October 24th.
Our opponent on October 24th, is currently ranked in the top 15, and has a huge roadie at Miami this week. Survive that, beat Baylor at home, and do what Stoops usually does, and beat Mack Brown in Dallas ... how can Gameday NOT come to Lawrence for 5-1 OU vs 6-0 KU in a battle of what would appear to be 7-8th ranked OU vs 12-13th ranked KU?
Gameday in Lawrence. Two years ago, I considered it historic that Gameday showed up at a neutral site for KU / MU. Now? Lee Corso choosing headgear on Mount Oread, in the shadow of the Campanille, is actually a reasonable, rational possibility a month from now. (matchbox 20 voice) let's see how far we've come! let's see how far we've come!
* Going to enjoy a weekend off. I miss my Saturday morning sleep in, its nice to have it back for a week. But finally ...
* The last time we hosted Iowa State ... well, let me set this up. KU was 10-0 and ranked number four in the country. KU enjoyed a laughable, never-even-competitive 45-17 win over Iowa State. It was just me and Gregg that went that cold November afternoon, and entering the fourth quarter, the PA guy informed the crowd (not a one of whom had left) that the Pride of Kansas wanted to pay tribute after the game to the team, so stick around and listen.
We're 10-0! Well on our way to 11-0! And its freaking Kansas Football! Of COURSE we're sticking around!
Well, KU wins. And, yeah I know, I'm a sap, but this is still one of the coolest moments in sports history to me. In 2005, we host Iowa State, and rush the field after an overtime win makes us bowl eligible. Two years later, we're 11-0, we're playing MU for the North Championship the next week, and then Memorial Stadium kind of goes dark. And quiet.
And then you start to hear the drums. (drum voice) da! da! da! da! / da! da! da! da! / da! da! da! da! / da! da! da! da!
Then the trumpets pick up the beat, which everyone recognizes. And then the video board starts showing highlights from the 2007 season. Every huge hit, every amazing reception, every damned score against those Huskers of Corn.
And when the full band starts in, 53,000 plus start singing as one.
"Just a small town girl!
Living in a lonely world!
She took the midnight train going anywhere ...
Just a city boy!
Born and raised in south Detroit!
He took the midnight train going anywhere ..."
I mention this, because on the drive up this morning, on my XM radio, they played the "Glee" version of this song. And it sounded so similar to what the Pride of Kansas and the Fans of Kansas pulled off two years ago, it literally gave me goose bumps.
We never stopped believin' in 2007. Hell, we left the stadium that night, and everyone filing out on Mississippi was STILL singing the chorus. "Don't Stop Believin'! Hold on to that feeling!"
I'm not a KU alumnus. I'm just a fan that has been gratefully adopted as an honorary alumnus by folks who matter. But going back a few paragraphs ... I never, ever, EVER!, imagined the day when KU football would draw 50,000 KU fans into Memorial Stadium. For a non-con game. We've done it. I never imagined we'd be ranked entering conference play. We are.
And the idea that if we do our part, and OU does it part, that Lee Corso might have Baby Jay's head on top of him come 10:59am on October 24th ... well ... its just unimaginable.
Sorry for the ramble, but I don't think coherently when I'm typing based on emotion. (And screwdrivers). Great win today. Huge win today. Enjoy the weekend off. And be ready come October 10th for Iowa State. And then for bowl eligibility on October 17th. And a hopeful historic ESPN appearance in the shadow of the Don Fambrough bench come the morning of October 24th ...
(brent) (nodding in agreement)
(steve) (still in shock ku held on) uuh, what? ...
What a magical, absolutely magical, Saturday of football at beautiful Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium. You had everything you could possibly want. It was sunny. But not excessively hot. (A really good thing when you're still suffering from a poison ivy outbreak, every drop of sweat only adds to the itching). It was the trifecta of Old School Hawk Football attendance, just me, Gregg and Brent. We had rockin bacon burritos to open the day, courtesy of the lovely Ashley.
And a season long dream came to fruition. As always, read along for the details ...
* I arrived first! I have no idea how it happened. I haven't been on time for a Hawk Football game since ... well, since I lived with Gregg and didn't have to be "on time". So hooray me! I also took a huge gamble today: I changed up the gameday gear. I still wore the KU shorts ... but I switched t-shirts to the Fighting Manginos shirt. My reasoning? I wasn't going to "drink like a champion today", so I didn't want to disgrace the Joe College shirt. The gamble (barely) paid off. Thank God. Now I can officially rotate that t-shirt into the gameday approved gear rotation and won't have to do a quick load of laundry on Friday night anymore ...
* Gregg sent me a text picture of the bacon sizzling for the burritos on the drive out there. As a fan of bacon (verifiable via my Facebook page) ... woo! woo bacon!
* the burrito was outstanding. Although I'm with everyone else -- we need a "side by side" comparison of the bacon vs sausage burrito.
* Brent arrived next. Since noone else was going, it was time to do what we do best ... pack up the burritos and head for some football.
* in honor of last week's iPod debacle, Gregg added the original (and by far, best) version of "Take My Breath Away" to the playing rotation. Although we never hit "Look Away". I actually thought of that walking in, "holy sh*t, we screwed this up!" Thankfully, a decision on top of Mount Oread overrode this incredible brain fart in the football god's eyes ...
* managed to park just north of 8th on Ohio. Gregg, obviously trying to build the karma bank account, warned a couple trying to park where we did last week that "you'll get ticketed". The couple thanked us and moved on. (And yes, every car within 30 feet of the stop sign at 8th and Ohio was ticketed. To the tune of $55.)
* Another $8.09 of alcoholic bliss purchased at Jensen Liquors. Jensen Liquors. If you live in Lawrence, give them your business! (north side of 9th between Louisiana and Mississippi).
* and the karma was repaid on the walk in, when a chick warned us at 10th and Mississippi "cross the street! there's bees in those bushes ahead!" I thought she was ... well, nuts. Until the postgame, when we walked in front of said bushes ... and both Gregg and I got stung. And I'm allergic to bee venom. So now I have no way of telling what swelling in my left hand is due to the bee, and what's due to the poison ivy. I swear, my life so should be a friggin sitcom.
* reached the sidewalk to head up to the Campanille, and Gregg asked "should we even bother?" The usual illegal tailgate was set up right by "The Bench". I countered with "didn't we discuss a new drinking tradition last week? Walk up, get hacked, then drink at the other bench?" So we walked.
And holy crap. They didn't hijack the bench! Gregg: "Confirm its his bench!" Brent: "Yup, its Coach Fam's!" G and I hit the Captain. Brent hit the Smirnoff. A shot to Hawk Football. On the Don Fambrough Memorial Bench. (Although is it "memorial", considering the guy is still alive? That's a gray area.)
* After a shot or two to the greatness that is Don Fambrough ... into the game we go! The (joe pesci voice) yute! ticket is still perfect, with one delay of entry penalty, over the last two years.
* I sat down for Sunflower Song. Apparently that caused folks around me to laugh. I'm telling you, I am NOT wrong about this! Sunflower Song Sucks! Roll in Africano or Jazzy Jayhawk and revitalize, revolutionize, at least shake up, the pregame tradition that probably hasn't changed since I was in diapers.
* The flyover was late on the Anthem. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Flyovers are the single biggest waste of taxpayer dollars known to man. And when you're $9 trillion in debt, you can't afford wastes like that.
* The game itself was every bit as close as you'd expect. A few things I wanted to highlight:
* Opurem was beyond outstanding today. As a true freshman, thrust into this spot with (literally) noone to back him up due to Sharp's injury, he rolled up 100 yards, scored twice, and only made one mistake (his fumble on a vicious hit that stripped him of the ball). Job well done.
* For Southern Miss, their QB, Austin Davis, is a future pro. This kid is gonna make it in the pros. He is calm, poised, and converted more 3rd downs than I care to remember. The kid is a pro. Ditto his tight end, #84, Leroy Banks. Somehow, he's listed as the backup in the program. 84 caught every damned ball thrown in his direction.
* Seriously, Southern Miss is a damned good team. I'd say they're playing for the CUSA title, unless they're in Houston's division. If they are, then USM vs Houston is for that division's title. A well coached, talented team that pushed us as much as they could. Thankfully, it just barely wasn't enough.
* Highlight of the game: the blurb after Hawk Football in the post title. We sat behind a bunch of freshmen today. (Class of 2013? Dear God I am old. I am effing old). Anyways, actually, for freshmen who are (just about) half our age, they were pretty cool. That, and they had a hot as holy hell chick with them in a "I want to get a tan" outfit. She was ... she was a winner, that's what she was. God bless her boyfriend, he seemed cool, and if you're sleeping with that every night, you are one lucky fellow, that's for damned sure.
Anyways. So we're nearing halftime, and the video board starts playing a basketball video that hypes the "16,300 strong at every game ..." and the kid in front of me (who smartly wore a red jersey today, since KU wore red), he starts getting fired up. He's ready. Kind of reminded me of Gregg or Brent 15 years ago. (Sweet Jesus, 15 years ago we were freshmen. 15 years ago! God bless it!)
Anyways. He's fired up. The video did start pretty awesomely. And he lets out a loud "I'm one of them!!!" in response to the "16,300" line.
Then, well ...
(video) (becomes obvious its for women's basketball)
(kid) aw! (pissed off) dammit!
(steve) (laughing his ass off)
(brent) (laughing his ass off)
(gregg) what?
(steve / brent) (explain reason for laughter)
(gregg) (laughing his ass off)
I think "aw! dammit!" has now hit "is it just me ..." status.
* One advantage of an Old School Hawk Football Saturday? No waiting around for chicks' friends, exes, or other assorted one night stands to say hi to. On the other hand, I would have been cool with hitting up Quinton's for some bacon potato soup and a vodka and sprite. I was craving that bacon potato soup for some reason. But off to KC we went.
* Pretty uneventful drive home. I am so looking forward to when the Turnpike expands to three lanes from Lawrence to KC, to get the deadbeat slow asses out of the left lane. Really guys, its simple. If you can't pass the semi or school bus in the right lane in under 10 seconds, don't try. You're a horrible driver and have no business ever entering the left lane.
* So here's the deal as I see it. KU is now 4-0, should be somewhere around 16, 17 when the polls come out this week. We now have the bye week, and might drop a spot or two due to not playing, but at worst we should be 20 entering Iowa State. We should roll them at home. Then, we need a win at Colorado on October 17th to stay atop the North, and get to 6-0, 2-0 conference, entering the game on October 24th.
Our opponent on October 24th, is currently ranked in the top 15, and has a huge roadie at Miami this week. Survive that, beat Baylor at home, and do what Stoops usually does, and beat Mack Brown in Dallas ... how can Gameday NOT come to Lawrence for 5-1 OU vs 6-0 KU in a battle of what would appear to be 7-8th ranked OU vs 12-13th ranked KU?
Gameday in Lawrence. Two years ago, I considered it historic that Gameday showed up at a neutral site for KU / MU. Now? Lee Corso choosing headgear on Mount Oread, in the shadow of the Campanille, is actually a reasonable, rational possibility a month from now. (matchbox 20 voice) let's see how far we've come! let's see how far we've come!
* Going to enjoy a weekend off. I miss my Saturday morning sleep in, its nice to have it back for a week. But finally ...
* The last time we hosted Iowa State ... well, let me set this up. KU was 10-0 and ranked number four in the country. KU enjoyed a laughable, never-even-competitive 45-17 win over Iowa State. It was just me and Gregg that went that cold November afternoon, and entering the fourth quarter, the PA guy informed the crowd (not a one of whom had left) that the Pride of Kansas wanted to pay tribute after the game to the team, so stick around and listen.
We're 10-0! Well on our way to 11-0! And its freaking Kansas Football! Of COURSE we're sticking around!
Well, KU wins. And, yeah I know, I'm a sap, but this is still one of the coolest moments in sports history to me. In 2005, we host Iowa State, and rush the field after an overtime win makes us bowl eligible. Two years later, we're 11-0, we're playing MU for the North Championship the next week, and then Memorial Stadium kind of goes dark. And quiet.
And then you start to hear the drums. (drum voice) da! da! da! da! / da! da! da! da! / da! da! da! da! / da! da! da! da!
Then the trumpets pick up the beat, which everyone recognizes. And then the video board starts showing highlights from the 2007 season. Every huge hit, every amazing reception, every damned score against those Huskers of Corn.
And when the full band starts in, 53,000 plus start singing as one.
"Just a small town girl!
Living in a lonely world!
She took the midnight train going anywhere ...
Just a city boy!
Born and raised in south Detroit!
He took the midnight train going anywhere ..."
I mention this, because on the drive up this morning, on my XM radio, they played the "Glee" version of this song. And it sounded so similar to what the Pride of Kansas and the Fans of Kansas pulled off two years ago, it literally gave me goose bumps.
We never stopped believin' in 2007. Hell, we left the stadium that night, and everyone filing out on Mississippi was STILL singing the chorus. "Don't Stop Believin'! Hold on to that feeling!"
I'm not a KU alumnus. I'm just a fan that has been gratefully adopted as an honorary alumnus by folks who matter. But going back a few paragraphs ... I never, ever, EVER!, imagined the day when KU football would draw 50,000 KU fans into Memorial Stadium. For a non-con game. We've done it. I never imagined we'd be ranked entering conference play. We are.
And the idea that if we do our part, and OU does it part, that Lee Corso might have Baby Jay's head on top of him come 10:59am on October 24th ... well ... its just unimaginable.
Sorry for the ramble, but I don't think coherently when I'm typing based on emotion. (And screwdrivers). Great win today. Huge win today. Enjoy the weekend off. And be ready come October 10th for Iowa State. And then for bowl eligibility on October 17th. And a hopeful historic ESPN appearance in the shadow of the Don Fambrough bench come the morning of October 24th ...
Friday, September 25, 2009
the week three predictions
Last Week ATS: 9-7-0
Season to Date ATS: 19-13-0
Last Week SU: 10-6-0
Season to Date SU: 22-10-0
Last Week Upset / Week: I love Norv Turner.
Season to Date Upset / Week: 1-1-0
This Week's Upset / Week: there are three road dogs I really, really love outright this week. I love the Dolphins at San Diego. I love the 49ers in Minnesota. But for the Upset of the Week, well, (steve voice) take a f*cking guess. (dusty voice) oh no! Steve's going with the Chiefs! (everyone else voice) but the Chiefs always win outright when his official Upset of the Week pick is "take a f*cking guess ..."
The Non-Chiefs Predictions:
* Titans (+3) 21, at Jets 20. I firmly believe you don't hit must win until you hit 0-3, but it would certainly behoove the Titans to steal this one in the Meadowlands.
* at Texans (-3 1/2) 34, Jaguars 3. Texans own the Jags. That, and the Jags have quit on Jack Of-The-River.
* at Ravens (-13) 74, Browns 0. The NFL record for most points scored in a game is 73. Could be a historic ass whoopin in the Charmed City on Sunday.
* Giants 24, at Bucs (+6) 21. Not really a trap game, as the Giants should (in theory) roll KC next week. But coming off two straight NFC East wins, could be in store for a letdown.
* Redskins (-6) 31, at Lions 3. Wayne Allyn Root Contrarian Game of the Week. Everyone loves Detroit. When in doubt, always bet the opposite of the gambling public.
* Packers (-6 1/2) 34, at Rams 27. Smells like a Rodgers to Jennings with :31 left to win type of game.
* at Patriots (-4) 28, Falcons 20. I will go to my grave with one gambling strategory I will never abandon. I will never, ever, EVER!, bet against a proven, veteran team, playing at home, with its back to the wall. The Pats need this one badly. Their next three after this one: vs Ravens, at broncos, vs Titans.
* 49ers (+6 1/2) 21, at Vikings 17. I was thrilled that the Sports Guy and Cousin Sal both agree with me on this. An underrated rising team on the road against the most overrated team in football.
* at Seahawks (+1 1/2) 13, Bears 10. I think Wallace can win this one in Seattle. In Chicago, I'd have predicted a Bears romp.
* at Bills (-6) 34, Saints 24. The Steve Gut Feeling Game of the Week. I love Buffalo at home in this one. Love the Bills in this spot.
* Dolphins (+6) 21, at Chargers 20. Chargers are beat up, and have a horrid head coach. Dolphins are desperate and really can't afford to fall to 0-3. They somehow, someway, find a way to win this.
* Steelers (-4) 24, at Bengals 17. "Ben" is 10-0 in the state of Ohio in his pro career. He'll be 12-0 at least by the time this season is over.
* at raiders (+1 1/2) 3, broncos 0. I have said it before, and in light of the developments of the past week, well, I have to say it again. If the terrorists strike oakland during this game, it is NOT a national tragedy. Especially if the hit occurs in the "ass crack of America".
* at Cardinals (-2 1/2) 41, Colts 38. This might wind up being the game of the year in terms of excitement. Feels like Colts / Chiefs in the 2003 playoffs, last team with the ball wins because neither side can stop the other. I am looking forward to this big time.
* at Cowboys 17, Panthers (+9) 16. I am not sure on this pick at all. The Cowboys don't look right. The Panthers really can't afford to be 0-3 overall and in the conference at the bye. Somehow Dallas wins this thing, but I'll be damned if I know how.
The Chiefs Prediction:
0-2.
For the fourth straight season. For the fifth time in six years. And for the seventh time this decade.
The good news is, no Chiefs team this decade has started worse than 0-3. Even more shockingly, nearly every time the Chiefs opened 0-2 or worse, then got their first win, it was in upset fashion:
* 2000: lost vs Colts and at Titans in overtime, then blew out an awful Chargers team 42-17 in week three.
* 2001: lost vs raiders on the last play of the game, and vs Giants in one of the most emotional games in NFL history. Then stunned the Redskins on the road as huge underdogs.
* 2004: lost at broncos, vs Panthers, and vs Texans, before stunning the Ravens in Baltimore on a Monday night.
* 2006: lost vs Bengals and at broncos, before destroying a 49ers team that thankfully, had one legitimate roadie in them that season.
* 2007: lost at Texans and at Bears, before squeaking by an average Vikings team.
* 2008: lost at Patriots, vs raiders, and at Falcons, before beating up on the donkeys in Arrowhead.
So there's precedent. History says the Chiefs will win at least one of these next two games.
At the risk of being labeled a homer, I look at this game, and I see no McNabb. I see no Westbrook. I see a bad Eagles secondary that is coming off a blowout loss, and they're now facing an offensive coordinator who picked them to pieces in the NFC Championship last year.
Every year I make at least one wacky Chiefs upset pick that has no business occurring, and yet it does. I nailed our win over denver last year. I nailed the win in San Diego in 2007 and got ridiculed for it all week ... up until D Bowe took it to the house to steal that one. Everyone laughed at me when at 0-2 in 2006, I guaranteed a Chiefs playoff berth.
I'm going out on the limb again. Chiefs (+9) 31, at Eagles 28. Its not who you play, its when you play them. And you can't catch the Eagles at a better time than what we have ...
Season to Date ATS: 19-13-0
Last Week SU: 10-6-0
Season to Date SU: 22-10-0
Last Week Upset / Week: I love Norv Turner.
Season to Date Upset / Week: 1-1-0
This Week's Upset / Week: there are three road dogs I really, really love outright this week. I love the Dolphins at San Diego. I love the 49ers in Minnesota. But for the Upset of the Week, well, (steve voice) take a f*cking guess. (dusty voice) oh no! Steve's going with the Chiefs! (everyone else voice) but the Chiefs always win outright when his official Upset of the Week pick is "take a f*cking guess ..."
The Non-Chiefs Predictions:
* Titans (+3) 21, at Jets 20. I firmly believe you don't hit must win until you hit 0-3, but it would certainly behoove the Titans to steal this one in the Meadowlands.
* at Texans (-3 1/2) 34, Jaguars 3. Texans own the Jags. That, and the Jags have quit on Jack Of-The-River.
* at Ravens (-13) 74, Browns 0. The NFL record for most points scored in a game is 73. Could be a historic ass whoopin in the Charmed City on Sunday.
* Giants 24, at Bucs (+6) 21. Not really a trap game, as the Giants should (in theory) roll KC next week. But coming off two straight NFC East wins, could be in store for a letdown.
* Redskins (-6) 31, at Lions 3. Wayne Allyn Root Contrarian Game of the Week. Everyone loves Detroit. When in doubt, always bet the opposite of the gambling public.
* Packers (-6 1/2) 34, at Rams 27. Smells like a Rodgers to Jennings with :31 left to win type of game.
* at Patriots (-4) 28, Falcons 20. I will go to my grave with one gambling strategory I will never abandon. I will never, ever, EVER!, bet against a proven, veteran team, playing at home, with its back to the wall. The Pats need this one badly. Their next three after this one: vs Ravens, at broncos, vs Titans.
* 49ers (+6 1/2) 21, at Vikings 17. I was thrilled that the Sports Guy and Cousin Sal both agree with me on this. An underrated rising team on the road against the most overrated team in football.
* at Seahawks (+1 1/2) 13, Bears 10. I think Wallace can win this one in Seattle. In Chicago, I'd have predicted a Bears romp.
* at Bills (-6) 34, Saints 24. The Steve Gut Feeling Game of the Week. I love Buffalo at home in this one. Love the Bills in this spot.
* Dolphins (+6) 21, at Chargers 20. Chargers are beat up, and have a horrid head coach. Dolphins are desperate and really can't afford to fall to 0-3. They somehow, someway, find a way to win this.
* Steelers (-4) 24, at Bengals 17. "Ben" is 10-0 in the state of Ohio in his pro career. He'll be 12-0 at least by the time this season is over.
* at raiders (+1 1/2) 3, broncos 0. I have said it before, and in light of the developments of the past week, well, I have to say it again. If the terrorists strike oakland during this game, it is NOT a national tragedy. Especially if the hit occurs in the "ass crack of America".
* at Cardinals (-2 1/2) 41, Colts 38. This might wind up being the game of the year in terms of excitement. Feels like Colts / Chiefs in the 2003 playoffs, last team with the ball wins because neither side can stop the other. I am looking forward to this big time.
* at Cowboys 17, Panthers (+9) 16. I am not sure on this pick at all. The Cowboys don't look right. The Panthers really can't afford to be 0-3 overall and in the conference at the bye. Somehow Dallas wins this thing, but I'll be damned if I know how.
The Chiefs Prediction:
0-2.
For the fourth straight season. For the fifth time in six years. And for the seventh time this decade.
The good news is, no Chiefs team this decade has started worse than 0-3. Even more shockingly, nearly every time the Chiefs opened 0-2 or worse, then got their first win, it was in upset fashion:
* 2000: lost vs Colts and at Titans in overtime, then blew out an awful Chargers team 42-17 in week three.
* 2001: lost vs raiders on the last play of the game, and vs Giants in one of the most emotional games in NFL history. Then stunned the Redskins on the road as huge underdogs.
* 2004: lost at broncos, vs Panthers, and vs Texans, before stunning the Ravens in Baltimore on a Monday night.
* 2006: lost vs Bengals and at broncos, before destroying a 49ers team that thankfully, had one legitimate roadie in them that season.
* 2007: lost at Texans and at Bears, before squeaking by an average Vikings team.
* 2008: lost at Patriots, vs raiders, and at Falcons, before beating up on the donkeys in Arrowhead.
So there's precedent. History says the Chiefs will win at least one of these next two games.
At the risk of being labeled a homer, I look at this game, and I see no McNabb. I see no Westbrook. I see a bad Eagles secondary that is coming off a blowout loss, and they're now facing an offensive coordinator who picked them to pieces in the NFC Championship last year.
Every year I make at least one wacky Chiefs upset pick that has no business occurring, and yet it does. I nailed our win over denver last year. I nailed the win in San Diego in 2007 and got ridiculed for it all week ... up until D Bowe took it to the house to steal that one. Everyone laughed at me when at 0-2 in 2006, I guaranteed a Chiefs playoff berth.
I'm going out on the limb again. Chiefs (+9) 31, at Eagles 28. Its not who you play, its when you play them. And you can't catch the Eagles at a better time than what we have ...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
chiefs! raiders! the recap ...
I put off typing this up for a couple days hoping that I'd calm down from the utterly crap-tacular play calling we witnessed Sunday. A conservative as hell gameplan that made Mike Solari look visionary and competent. Well, (president bush voice) Mission accomplished! And I mean that in the exact same lying manner our former leader said it ...
* The pre-party started Saturday night. Plenty of loyal fans, plus a couple raiders fans. Good times had by all. I ducked out at 9:30ish because I knew if I had to get up at 5:45, I couldn't stay up til 1am again.
* The bus rolled out about 6:40. Ditto the Command Center.
* We got to the complex about 7. The plan was to take advantage of the "early in" offer from the last couple years, pay an extra $25 at the service entrance and get in whenever the hell you want to. Unfortunately, the parking nazis struck early, you now have to buy the pre-pass early.
So let me just say, that is utterly ridiculous. You actually have fans who not only want to watch this abortion of a roster, we show up 5 hours before the damned kickoff to do so ... and you turn us away? (the who voice) Meet the new boss! Same as the old boss!
* Wayne! Our bowling league commish works for the Chiefs, he's in charge of Gate 6. It really is a small world after all.
(Bowling league starts October 7!)
* Channel 9 filmed us in the pre-party mode at the gate. Also at the Bus and the Command Center later on. You can go to kmbc.com in the video section and check it out.
* Once the gates opened, we wound up in the usual spot at the top of Lot G. The reason we wanted to move was because of the gigantic dumpster that's been relocated in front of us. But apparently the logistics folks in the group are convinced we can ram that thing out of the way next time. So we're staying.
* 8:52am text, Steve text to late-arrivals: "Its a smoker friendly tailgate next door". You could smell the good stuff. It was ... well, good stuff.
* The tailgating menu was pretty rock solid. raiders ribs. Pork loin. Smoked baked beans, smoked chicken. And the best item of all: Nancy's mushrooms.
* The flask is now 42 for 42 in passing Arrowhead security. :)
* There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that I love more about the home opener than the balloon launch. Nothing. Seeing the red and gold balloons launch ... good stuff.
* When I saw that some group named Fast Tyme was performing the anthem, I figured they were a rap or r&b group. Guess again. They're country apparently. And they were pretty solid.
* I continue to stand behind my belief that flyovers are the single biggest waste of taxpayer dollars known to man. Especially when they arrive 30 seconds after the friggin anthem is over.
* I'm not going to recap the game much, because quite honestly it was amongst the most boring 3 hours I've ever spent in that stadium. What hacked me off, I suppose, is different than most folks.
I wasn't upset that we failed to get the field goal before the half. OK, yeah, I wasn't happy, but that you don't blame on Haley. Savage was the checkdown, he was at best the 3rd option. Cassel was under pressure. He had a brain fart. It happens. In the first half, you don't crucify the guy over it.
What had me hacked, was that we threw deeper than 15 yards twice -- twice! -- all day. I get that the running game was working, with nearly 180 yards on the ground. Wonderful. What loosens up the running lanes best? A vertical passing attack!
We threw beyond 15 yards twice. One was a 3rd and forever bomb that Huff picked off on his own 4. Basically a punt. Nothing wrong with that. The other was the only touchdown we scored, a 29 yard perfectly thrown ball to D Bowe in my end zone.
To which I say, really? You expect to win in the NFL running the dink and dunk? I can name one team in the last 15 years that saw ANY success on the field running a dink and dunk passing offense. The 1999-mid 2003 oakland raiders. And they succeeded because they had the ultimate dink and dunk QB: a guy without a lot of arm strength, but with great mobility.
Matt Cassel is no dick gannon. He's got an arm. Let him use it!
Look it, I get that this season is about planning for 2010 and beyond, that anything accomplished in 2009 is gravy. I get that. If I didn't get it, I wouldn't have renewed my tickets. But goddammit, you HAVE to TRY to win! The Chiefs, once again, as they always did under Herm, played not to lose on Sunday. It was infuriating. It was pathetic. And its why Todd Haley is on my "it" list for the foreseeable future.
In 2001, when Vermeil came in and Saunders called the plays, they didn't reign in the offense. They lived with the mistakes. Because they knew that to come with anything less than your entire playbook, is admitting defeat off the bat. Sunday, the Chiefs waved the white flag of surrender before a snap was taken, by limiting Cassel's arm and passing patterns. If this happens again on Sunday, that'll be three straight games our head coach / offensive coordinator is basically ceding the game before a snap is played. If you aren't confident in your abilities to call a gameplan utilizing the entire playbook, you have no business calling plays in this league. None.
Sunday, there better be changes in the offensive gameplan. You don't win in this league by trying to keep it close and steal it at the end. You win in this league by pounding your opponent into submission from the moment you get off the bus.
* After the final snaps, I did the near unthinkable. I turned around, and congratulated the four raiders fans sitting behind me. Because other than Stacy and Jose, they're the first raiders fans I've ever sat by that exhibited class, legitimate football knowledge, and weren't on weekend furlough. They were actually pretty cool, all things considered. They're oakland STH's in section 201 at the black hole. They, like me, expressed utter shock that we never challenged oakland's secondary. They, like me, could not believe we played like we were the underdog and not the favorite.
And they, like me, agreed that a terrorist strike on fake mile high is not a national tragedy.
* After giving them some entertainment suggestions for their Sunday night stay (hopefully they paid a visit to everyone's favorite shack in a cornfield ...), it was off to the bus for some postgame boozing while waiting for traffic to die out. Everyone who had arrived on something other than the buses had already left, save for Will. Can't say I blame them. I wanted to storm out at halftime when it was obvious we weren't playing to win, but rather to not get embarrassed.
* Drive home was relatively uneventful. We could have used Mallory, that's for sure.
* So where do we go from here? We're 0-2 for the fourth straight season, and fifth time in six years. 0-2 teams simply don't rally to make much of their seasons. Only three NFL teams have ever rallied from 0-2 to win a Super Bowl: the 1993 Cowboys (who started 0-2 when Emmitt held out), the 2001 Patriots (who started some dude named Tom Brady in his first ever start in week 3), and the 2007 Giants (who pulled off the greatest upset in NFL history to beat the Patriots).
But every year, usually at least one team rallies from 0-2 to at least make the playoffs. Miami opened 0-2 last year and won the AFC East. The Giants in 2007. The Chiefs in 2006 rallied to steal a wildcard berth. The 2003 Eagles opened 0-2 and hosted the NFC Title Game. It can be done. It just isn't done all that often.
And at 0-3, the odds are even worse. Clearly, if anything is to come from 2009, we have to upset the Eagles on Sunday. We catch them at the right time. Likely no McNabb, likely no Westbrook.
In 2001, an awful, rebuilding Chiefs team hit the road at 0-2 and scored a shocking upset in Washington over the Redskins. Here's hoping the 2009 version can score another shocking upset on the road against a NFC East opponent ...
* The pre-party started Saturday night. Plenty of loyal fans, plus a couple raiders fans. Good times had by all. I ducked out at 9:30ish because I knew if I had to get up at 5:45, I couldn't stay up til 1am again.
* The bus rolled out about 6:40. Ditto the Command Center.
* We got to the complex about 7. The plan was to take advantage of the "early in" offer from the last couple years, pay an extra $25 at the service entrance and get in whenever the hell you want to. Unfortunately, the parking nazis struck early, you now have to buy the pre-pass early.
So let me just say, that is utterly ridiculous. You actually have fans who not only want to watch this abortion of a roster, we show up 5 hours before the damned kickoff to do so ... and you turn us away? (the who voice) Meet the new boss! Same as the old boss!
* Wayne! Our bowling league commish works for the Chiefs, he's in charge of Gate 6. It really is a small world after all.
(Bowling league starts October 7!)
* Channel 9 filmed us in the pre-party mode at the gate. Also at the Bus and the Command Center later on. You can go to kmbc.com in the video section and check it out.
* Once the gates opened, we wound up in the usual spot at the top of Lot G. The reason we wanted to move was because of the gigantic dumpster that's been relocated in front of us. But apparently the logistics folks in the group are convinced we can ram that thing out of the way next time. So we're staying.
* 8:52am text, Steve text to late-arrivals: "Its a smoker friendly tailgate next door". You could smell the good stuff. It was ... well, good stuff.
* The tailgating menu was pretty rock solid. raiders ribs. Pork loin. Smoked baked beans, smoked chicken. And the best item of all: Nancy's mushrooms.
* The flask is now 42 for 42 in passing Arrowhead security. :)
* There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that I love more about the home opener than the balloon launch. Nothing. Seeing the red and gold balloons launch ... good stuff.
* When I saw that some group named Fast Tyme was performing the anthem, I figured they were a rap or r&b group. Guess again. They're country apparently. And they were pretty solid.
* I continue to stand behind my belief that flyovers are the single biggest waste of taxpayer dollars known to man. Especially when they arrive 30 seconds after the friggin anthem is over.
* I'm not going to recap the game much, because quite honestly it was amongst the most boring 3 hours I've ever spent in that stadium. What hacked me off, I suppose, is different than most folks.
I wasn't upset that we failed to get the field goal before the half. OK, yeah, I wasn't happy, but that you don't blame on Haley. Savage was the checkdown, he was at best the 3rd option. Cassel was under pressure. He had a brain fart. It happens. In the first half, you don't crucify the guy over it.
What had me hacked, was that we threw deeper than 15 yards twice -- twice! -- all day. I get that the running game was working, with nearly 180 yards on the ground. Wonderful. What loosens up the running lanes best? A vertical passing attack!
We threw beyond 15 yards twice. One was a 3rd and forever bomb that Huff picked off on his own 4. Basically a punt. Nothing wrong with that. The other was the only touchdown we scored, a 29 yard perfectly thrown ball to D Bowe in my end zone.
To which I say, really? You expect to win in the NFL running the dink and dunk? I can name one team in the last 15 years that saw ANY success on the field running a dink and dunk passing offense. The 1999-mid 2003 oakland raiders. And they succeeded because they had the ultimate dink and dunk QB: a guy without a lot of arm strength, but with great mobility.
Matt Cassel is no dick gannon. He's got an arm. Let him use it!
Look it, I get that this season is about planning for 2010 and beyond, that anything accomplished in 2009 is gravy. I get that. If I didn't get it, I wouldn't have renewed my tickets. But goddammit, you HAVE to TRY to win! The Chiefs, once again, as they always did under Herm, played not to lose on Sunday. It was infuriating. It was pathetic. And its why Todd Haley is on my "it" list for the foreseeable future.
In 2001, when Vermeil came in and Saunders called the plays, they didn't reign in the offense. They lived with the mistakes. Because they knew that to come with anything less than your entire playbook, is admitting defeat off the bat. Sunday, the Chiefs waved the white flag of surrender before a snap was taken, by limiting Cassel's arm and passing patterns. If this happens again on Sunday, that'll be three straight games our head coach / offensive coordinator is basically ceding the game before a snap is played. If you aren't confident in your abilities to call a gameplan utilizing the entire playbook, you have no business calling plays in this league. None.
Sunday, there better be changes in the offensive gameplan. You don't win in this league by trying to keep it close and steal it at the end. You win in this league by pounding your opponent into submission from the moment you get off the bus.
* After the final snaps, I did the near unthinkable. I turned around, and congratulated the four raiders fans sitting behind me. Because other than Stacy and Jose, they're the first raiders fans I've ever sat by that exhibited class, legitimate football knowledge, and weren't on weekend furlough. They were actually pretty cool, all things considered. They're oakland STH's in section 201 at the black hole. They, like me, expressed utter shock that we never challenged oakland's secondary. They, like me, could not believe we played like we were the underdog and not the favorite.
And they, like me, agreed that a terrorist strike on fake mile high is not a national tragedy.
* After giving them some entertainment suggestions for their Sunday night stay (hopefully they paid a visit to everyone's favorite shack in a cornfield ...), it was off to the bus for some postgame boozing while waiting for traffic to die out. Everyone who had arrived on something other than the buses had already left, save for Will. Can't say I blame them. I wanted to storm out at halftime when it was obvious we weren't playing to win, but rather to not get embarrassed.
* Drive home was relatively uneventful. We could have used Mallory, that's for sure.
* So where do we go from here? We're 0-2 for the fourth straight season, and fifth time in six years. 0-2 teams simply don't rally to make much of their seasons. Only three NFL teams have ever rallied from 0-2 to win a Super Bowl: the 1993 Cowboys (who started 0-2 when Emmitt held out), the 2001 Patriots (who started some dude named Tom Brady in his first ever start in week 3), and the 2007 Giants (who pulled off the greatest upset in NFL history to beat the Patriots).
But every year, usually at least one team rallies from 0-2 to at least make the playoffs. Miami opened 0-2 last year and won the AFC East. The Giants in 2007. The Chiefs in 2006 rallied to steal a wildcard berth. The 2003 Eagles opened 0-2 and hosted the NFC Title Game. It can be done. It just isn't done all that often.
And at 0-3, the odds are even worse. Clearly, if anything is to come from 2009, we have to upset the Eagles on Sunday. We catch them at the right time. Likely no McNabb, likely no Westbrook.
In 2001, an awful, rebuilding Chiefs team hit the road at 0-2 and scored a shocking upset in Washington over the Redskins. Here's hoping the 2009 version can score another shocking upset on the road against a NFC East opponent ...
Monday, September 21, 2009
hawk football: take my breath away ...
Another beautiful, sunny, unseasonably warm victorious Saturday in Lawrence. Let's hope we get a few more of these along the way.
* Apparently I am not quite in midseason form yet. I didn't set the alarm when I went to bed at about 12:30am Friday night because I figured I'd be wide awake in plenty of time for Hawk Football.
I roll over in bed ... and see 7:57am on the alarm clock. I still need to get gas since the car was below empty. I still need to shower, get dressed, and hit an ATM as well for some cash for Saturday. And I'm supposed to be at G's by 8:45, a solid 31 minute drive away. Somehow, I made it with a couple seconds to spare. Let's just say, the new car ... I'm rediscovering the driving habits that made more than one person swear at me back in the day. 90 is the new 70!
* One thing that was in midseason form, hell in postseason form for that matter, was the breakfast burritos that only Ashley can make. They even made mine special for me, not using milk or cheese, and cooking it in a separate pan so that I (hopefully) wouldn't have my lactose intolerance bite me in the ass midway through the second quarter. Mission accomplished! Seriously, the burritos are quite possibly my third favorite thing about gameday. Behind the ridiculousness that is Jayhawk Football ticket taking / security, and my irrational hatred of anything affiliated with Sunflower Song, of course.
* The drive up was notable for one main reason: Gregg drove! I don't remember the last time Gregg drove up to a KU game. Its been me or Brent for the last three years, at least.
* The moment of inspiration guaranteed to touch the hearts, minds, souls, and tear ducts of any KU fan on the drive up:
"Don't worry baby --
I can take the news ok!
But if you see me walking by,
And the tears are in my eye --
Look away! Baby, look away!
And if we meet on the street someday,
And I don't know what to say --
Look away! Baby, look away!
Don't look at me!
I don't want you to see me this way ..."
As Meredith noted, "wow, its neat that you guys listen to songs that came out when I was 3 years old!" Thanks. I guess.
* Parked close to our usual spot, on Ohio between 8th and 9th. Emphasis on "close to our usual spot". As Mr. Hoduski would have noted, "stay tuned".
* Not much beats buying a bottle of vodka from our good friends at Jensen Liquors at 9:30 in the morning. I just need to remember the $.09 next time, so that I don't have to lug $.91 in change with me all day. You'd think after a decade, I'd remember that by now.
* The walk to the stadium on Mississippi, we must have passed 10-12 "Puke!" shirts. Granted, they were insults at our opponent, the Duke Blue Devils. But as Gregg and Brent so generously noted at each effing alley we passed, "hey, is it just me, or did Steve puke in this alley once?" Or "is it just me, or do you remember that time Steve puked in that corner of the alley". Really, guys, in all seriousness, if we're gonna start counting all the places I've puked from intoxication, we're gonna be here all day, night, and most of the week. Its called "alcoholism". I suffer from it.
* Also loved the fact that I'd sweated through the t-shirt by the time kickoff arrived. That's my kind of day, when its hot enough that you think "why in the hell am I wearing a shirt"? In my case, the answer was obvious: I have a really bad case of poison ivy right now from working in my folks yard all week. My face, chest and arms are swollen, and it hurts to type because my left hand is the size of the Hamburger Helper hand thingy. But I'm a trooper. Hence your recap.
* 0 for 2 in celebrating Hawk Football at the Don Fambrough Memorial Bench. This week, the (president obama voice) jackasses who "tailgate" up there, literally set their tent over the bench. This was ridiculous for three reasons:
1. there wasn't another tailgate within 20 yards of them. Unapproved tailgate on the Hill! Someone get Lew Perkins stat!
2. last time I checked, that bench was a PUBLIC bench. Not a private one for this arrogant collection of pricks. And most importantly,
3. who the hell uses a tent when its 80 and sunny at 10 in the morning? You don't hide from the sun, you embrace it! You treat it like ... well, like its the greatest thing since "reputable singles site" that I love so much. You don't hide like you're Edward in the "Twilight" series.
* Brent's suggestion: instead of having a shot at the bench, our tradition is now we "walk up the Hill to the Campanille expecting to take a shot at the bench, then get pissed when the bench isn't available, so we go to the other bench in anger and drink there". I'm good with that.
* Sat in section 21, but much lower this week, I believe we were in row 42 if I remember right.
* Unfortunately, we had one of the single biggest deuchebags in front of us that I can ever recall the student section hosting. There was that loser a few years ago with the effed up teeth who always wore Tennessee gear. There was (and still is) the loudmouthed drunk in the 95 homemade / P.O.S. jersey. But this guy, this guy takes the cake. He had no understanding of basic football 101. He thought KU could do no wrong (believe me, we can. You aren't tied with Duke midway through the 2nd quarter unless you're doing a LOT wrong). And worst of all, he piggybacked onto the "Rip His Fucking Head Off!" chant with "I Hate the Chiefs!". Its a miracle I didn't throw down with this guy.
* Noone disagreed with my suggestion to blend the Sunflower Song formation with Jazzy Jayhawk or Africano as the background noise. I suspect people were just being kind and tolerant with the mentally challenged guy making the suggestion, but thanks for caring enough to not make me look even dumber than I already appear.
* Best play of the game, I thought, was Duke's first play from scrimmage. After KU punted, Duke called a quick slant over the middle. The guard pulled on the play, and just LEVELED the KU linebacker, opening up a nearly 80 yard gain. Seriously, it was one of the most beautiful plays I have ever seen executed at any level of football. You'd think that Duke coach David Cutcliffe was an offensive guru who won a national title with Tee Martin, took Ole Miss to New Years Day bowls, and mentored both the Manning brothers. Oh ...
* Best KU play of the day, late 3rd quarter. Reesing is pressured, and literally does a handstand to keep his balance, he flips his body via a handstand, and scrambles for a 20 yard gain to set up goal to go. Its not possible to describe this. You just ... as Gregg put it as it happened in his best Verne Lundquist voice "OH MY GOODNESS!" Good stuff.
* Some things just aren't the same without Mallory. Raising the wheat, for example. Hopefully the little Jayhawks out in the fields were safe without her there to protect them.
* The highlight of the game: the attempt of KU to cover. Not that any of us had a financial stake in the game's final score. Let's just say, the interception on the final play of the game of Thaddeus Young, had a few people in the student section visibly excited. And a few more visibly shaken. The KU Student Section: we can't afford food, deodorant, or decent looking attire, but by God, we've got condoms, booze, and a gambling addiction! Its the little things in life that count, after all. :)
* Actually, what am I saying. The HIGHLIGHT of the game was a visibly intoxicated Gale Sayers attempting to pimp the Gridiron Club. I really hope someone youtube!'s this magical moment. It was that much of a train wreck. Gale, you might want to lay off the bloody mary's and mamossa's if you're going to be speaking in front of 50,000 plus people. Take it from me: its tough to speak in public to people you're trying to sell a product to, if you're slurring your words, think "Gridiron Club" is actually "The Jake", and you reek of bourbon and Parliaments.
* Post game, we wait around for Meredith's ex, who's a trainer at Duke. So there's at least one straight guy who attends Duke. Or one more than I thought (ka boom boom ching)!
* I kid, I kid. Greg Paulus was obviously straight, given his choice of the 'Cuse to continue his career. (ka boom boom ching)!
* The walk to the car ... more noting "hey, is it just me, or did Steve puke ..." Guys? Hello? You all pee, I puke. Either way, its still not the best idea to do in public. Although if I had to choose, I'd rather whiz than upchuck ... but they both beat the "take a squat" option ...
* And as for the "Stay Tuned" item earlier ... apparently we parked too close to a stop sign, because there was a $55 ticket on the windshield when we got back to the car.
So allow me to rant for a brief moment on "Lawrence's Finest".
There was NO painted yellow line on the curb signifying a no parking zone. There was no fire hydrant, there was no walkway, no sidewalk entrance, no ANYTHING to indicate this was an illegal parking spot. To ticket us, and others, on gameday, simply to pad your bottom line, is chicken shit.
This is where I'd normally rant about how true "heroes" aren't recognized as heroes simply because they do what they're paid by us to do. But why bother to pile on. Hopefully the ticket gets fixed, because there is no justifiable basis for its issuance. Christ, we parked in basically the same spot, maybe two cars back, at the last home game. We were in front of the same house. I didn't get ticketed. And I was within 30 feet of the stop sign.
Screw you Lawrence PD. Don't bother asking me or anyone else with us on Saturday for donations to some police charity. We're giving you $55 you don't deserve, that's more than enough.
Heroes my mother effing ass.
* Ride back, other than the ticket, was nothing unusual. I made a few ridiculous analogies. The iPod was rocking late 80s / early 90s music. Even the Urge's "Liquor Store" made it into the mix, always a good thing.
* Coming tomorrow, the recap of the other part of Gameday Weekend. Let's just say I was more upset leaving Arrowhead, than I was leaving Memorial Stadium ...
* Apparently I am not quite in midseason form yet. I didn't set the alarm when I went to bed at about 12:30am Friday night because I figured I'd be wide awake in plenty of time for Hawk Football.
I roll over in bed ... and see 7:57am on the alarm clock. I still need to get gas since the car was below empty. I still need to shower, get dressed, and hit an ATM as well for some cash for Saturday. And I'm supposed to be at G's by 8:45, a solid 31 minute drive away. Somehow, I made it with a couple seconds to spare. Let's just say, the new car ... I'm rediscovering the driving habits that made more than one person swear at me back in the day. 90 is the new 70!
* One thing that was in midseason form, hell in postseason form for that matter, was the breakfast burritos that only Ashley can make. They even made mine special for me, not using milk or cheese, and cooking it in a separate pan so that I (hopefully) wouldn't have my lactose intolerance bite me in the ass midway through the second quarter. Mission accomplished! Seriously, the burritos are quite possibly my third favorite thing about gameday. Behind the ridiculousness that is Jayhawk Football ticket taking / security, and my irrational hatred of anything affiliated with Sunflower Song, of course.
* The drive up was notable for one main reason: Gregg drove! I don't remember the last time Gregg drove up to a KU game. Its been me or Brent for the last three years, at least.
* The moment of inspiration guaranteed to touch the hearts, minds, souls, and tear ducts of any KU fan on the drive up:
"Don't worry baby --
I can take the news ok!
But if you see me walking by,
And the tears are in my eye --
Look away! Baby, look away!
And if we meet on the street someday,
And I don't know what to say --
Look away! Baby, look away!
Don't look at me!
I don't want you to see me this way ..."
As Meredith noted, "wow, its neat that you guys listen to songs that came out when I was 3 years old!" Thanks. I guess.
* Parked close to our usual spot, on Ohio between 8th and 9th. Emphasis on "close to our usual spot". As Mr. Hoduski would have noted, "stay tuned".
* Not much beats buying a bottle of vodka from our good friends at Jensen Liquors at 9:30 in the morning. I just need to remember the $.09 next time, so that I don't have to lug $.91 in change with me all day. You'd think after a decade, I'd remember that by now.
* The walk to the stadium on Mississippi, we must have passed 10-12 "Puke!" shirts. Granted, they were insults at our opponent, the Duke Blue Devils. But as Gregg and Brent so generously noted at each effing alley we passed, "hey, is it just me, or did Steve puke in this alley once?" Or "is it just me, or do you remember that time Steve puked in that corner of the alley". Really, guys, in all seriousness, if we're gonna start counting all the places I've puked from intoxication, we're gonna be here all day, night, and most of the week. Its called "alcoholism". I suffer from it.
* Also loved the fact that I'd sweated through the t-shirt by the time kickoff arrived. That's my kind of day, when its hot enough that you think "why in the hell am I wearing a shirt"? In my case, the answer was obvious: I have a really bad case of poison ivy right now from working in my folks yard all week. My face, chest and arms are swollen, and it hurts to type because my left hand is the size of the Hamburger Helper hand thingy. But I'm a trooper. Hence your recap.
* 0 for 2 in celebrating Hawk Football at the Don Fambrough Memorial Bench. This week, the (president obama voice) jackasses who "tailgate" up there, literally set their tent over the bench. This was ridiculous for three reasons:
1. there wasn't another tailgate within 20 yards of them. Unapproved tailgate on the Hill! Someone get Lew Perkins stat!
2. last time I checked, that bench was a PUBLIC bench. Not a private one for this arrogant collection of pricks. And most importantly,
3. who the hell uses a tent when its 80 and sunny at 10 in the morning? You don't hide from the sun, you embrace it! You treat it like ... well, like its the greatest thing since "reputable singles site" that I love so much. You don't hide like you're Edward in the "Twilight" series.
* Brent's suggestion: instead of having a shot at the bench, our tradition is now we "walk up the Hill to the Campanille expecting to take a shot at the bench, then get pissed when the bench isn't available, so we go to the other bench in anger and drink there". I'm good with that.
* Sat in section 21, but much lower this week, I believe we were in row 42 if I remember right.
* Unfortunately, we had one of the single biggest deuchebags in front of us that I can ever recall the student section hosting. There was that loser a few years ago with the effed up teeth who always wore Tennessee gear. There was (and still is) the loudmouthed drunk in the 95 homemade / P.O.S. jersey. But this guy, this guy takes the cake. He had no understanding of basic football 101. He thought KU could do no wrong (believe me, we can. You aren't tied with Duke midway through the 2nd quarter unless you're doing a LOT wrong). And worst of all, he piggybacked onto the "Rip His Fucking Head Off!" chant with "I Hate the Chiefs!". Its a miracle I didn't throw down with this guy.
* Noone disagreed with my suggestion to blend the Sunflower Song formation with Jazzy Jayhawk or Africano as the background noise. I suspect people were just being kind and tolerant with the mentally challenged guy making the suggestion, but thanks for caring enough to not make me look even dumber than I already appear.
* Best play of the game, I thought, was Duke's first play from scrimmage. After KU punted, Duke called a quick slant over the middle. The guard pulled on the play, and just LEVELED the KU linebacker, opening up a nearly 80 yard gain. Seriously, it was one of the most beautiful plays I have ever seen executed at any level of football. You'd think that Duke coach David Cutcliffe was an offensive guru who won a national title with Tee Martin, took Ole Miss to New Years Day bowls, and mentored both the Manning brothers. Oh ...
* Best KU play of the day, late 3rd quarter. Reesing is pressured, and literally does a handstand to keep his balance, he flips his body via a handstand, and scrambles for a 20 yard gain to set up goal to go. Its not possible to describe this. You just ... as Gregg put it as it happened in his best Verne Lundquist voice "OH MY GOODNESS!" Good stuff.
* Some things just aren't the same without Mallory. Raising the wheat, for example. Hopefully the little Jayhawks out in the fields were safe without her there to protect them.
* The highlight of the game: the attempt of KU to cover. Not that any of us had a financial stake in the game's final score. Let's just say, the interception on the final play of the game of Thaddeus Young, had a few people in the student section visibly excited. And a few more visibly shaken. The KU Student Section: we can't afford food, deodorant, or decent looking attire, but by God, we've got condoms, booze, and a gambling addiction! Its the little things in life that count, after all. :)
* Actually, what am I saying. The HIGHLIGHT of the game was a visibly intoxicated Gale Sayers attempting to pimp the Gridiron Club. I really hope someone youtube!'s this magical moment. It was that much of a train wreck. Gale, you might want to lay off the bloody mary's and mamossa's if you're going to be speaking in front of 50,000 plus people. Take it from me: its tough to speak in public to people you're trying to sell a product to, if you're slurring your words, think "Gridiron Club" is actually "The Jake", and you reek of bourbon and Parliaments.
* Post game, we wait around for Meredith's ex, who's a trainer at Duke. So there's at least one straight guy who attends Duke. Or one more than I thought (ka boom boom ching)!
* I kid, I kid. Greg Paulus was obviously straight, given his choice of the 'Cuse to continue his career. (ka boom boom ching)!
* The walk to the car ... more noting "hey, is it just me, or did Steve puke ..." Guys? Hello? You all pee, I puke. Either way, its still not the best idea to do in public. Although if I had to choose, I'd rather whiz than upchuck ... but they both beat the "take a squat" option ...
* And as for the "Stay Tuned" item earlier ... apparently we parked too close to a stop sign, because there was a $55 ticket on the windshield when we got back to the car.
So allow me to rant for a brief moment on "Lawrence's Finest".
There was NO painted yellow line on the curb signifying a no parking zone. There was no fire hydrant, there was no walkway, no sidewalk entrance, no ANYTHING to indicate this was an illegal parking spot. To ticket us, and others, on gameday, simply to pad your bottom line, is chicken shit.
This is where I'd normally rant about how true "heroes" aren't recognized as heroes simply because they do what they're paid by us to do. But why bother to pile on. Hopefully the ticket gets fixed, because there is no justifiable basis for its issuance. Christ, we parked in basically the same spot, maybe two cars back, at the last home game. We were in front of the same house. I didn't get ticketed. And I was within 30 feet of the stop sign.
Screw you Lawrence PD. Don't bother asking me or anyone else with us on Saturday for donations to some police charity. We're giving you $55 you don't deserve, that's more than enough.
Heroes my mother effing ass.
* Ride back, other than the ticket, was nothing unusual. I made a few ridiculous analogies. The iPod was rocking late 80s / early 90s music. Even the Urge's "Liquor Store" made it into the mix, always a good thing.
* Coming tomorrow, the recap of the other part of Gameday Weekend. Let's just say I was more upset leaving Arrowhead, than I was leaving Memorial Stadium ...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
steve goes out on a twig ...
"Cause when push comes to shove,
You taste what you're made of!
You might bend til you break,
Cause its all you can take.
On your knees, you look up!
Decide you've had enough!
You get mad, you get strong!
Wipe your hand, shake it off!
Then you stand. Then you stand!"
-- Rascal Flatts, "Stand".
----------
Its currently 4:26am as I start to type this.
Unlike last year about this time, however, the dogs aren't stirring. Because there are no dogs to, uuh, not stur. The roommate isn't sound asleep. Because there's no roommate to be, uuh, sound asleep.
But one thing isn't changing.
We're winning this f*cking game.
It has been 357 days since Arrowhead last saw a Chiefs team leave the field as a winner. Today, that streak ends.
Because we have historical precedence for this.
1989.
Twenty years ago, this franchise was pretty much in the same position it is today. Embracing regime change, a new GM, a new head coach, a new QB, a new defensive philosophy, a whole new organizational attitude. The old, complacent way of doing things, kicked to the curb.
You might remember that first team under Carl and Marty. They came in to do the impossible. Take a team with little to no success (aka zero playoff wins) over the previous 15 years and work a miracle.
The 1989 Chiefs were nothing more than a shell of a team that three years earlier, stole, absolutely freaking stole, out of thin air, a miraculous playoff berth on the last day of the regular season. (Sound familiar?) The next two years, entered with optimism and hope, instead turned into two of the darkest seasons in franchise history. (Sound familiar?)
Finally fed up, and with what remained of the fanbase at near riot-like conditions, Chiefs ownership stepped in, kicked the previous GM and his cronies to the curb, and hired one of the hot, up-and-coming executives in the league, a man with a world championship under his belt, and tremendous success at one of the league's model franchises. (Sound familiar?)
Said executive then went out, and after looking at various candidates, hired the "hottest commodity" available, a man who for some inexplicable reason, his previous organization was more than willing to say goodbye to, despite anyone with a brain knowing his departure would mean the end of the success of the previous team. (Sound familiar?)
And that 1989 team, opened on the road, against a likely Super Bowl contender (in fact, the denver broncos reached New Orleans that year before getting rolled by the 49ers). (Sound familiar?)
And that 1989 team, after playing well but ultimately losing on a couple late scores in the opener, then returned to Arrowhead, under a beautiful late September sunny sky, to take on ... the mike shanarat led los angeles raiders.
(Yup, we were still two weeks away from the first Art Shell era).
That Chiefs team had few believers. They beat the raiders 23-17 that afternoon, the first of eight wins that season. Had Nick Lowery hit ANY of his three whiffs at Cleveland in overtime, the Chiefs would have been the last team in. (Of course, had we simply beaten the 4-10 Chargers at home, the same would have been true).
The seeds for a decade of success, were planted twenty years ago, on this weekend. Week two. The home opener. The opener of a new era.
I firmly believe that today, history repeats itself.
Today, is the dawning of a new era. Today is the day the Chiefs launch themselves back into the national consciousness, where we resided throughout the 1990s and into the early years of the 2000s.
Today is ground zero! Don't look back five years from now, when the Chiefs are the model franchise in this league, and kick yourself in the nuts for missing out on the dawning of greatness. Don't look back five years from now with regret.
Instead, do what comes naturally as a fan of the greatest franchise on the planet. Show up! Be loud! Be the 12th, the 13th, the 14th man today! Its the effing oakland raiders! Put them in their place!
Chiefs 30, raiders 27. A win to end a year of futility. A win to get back to .500, to establish some momentum, some confidence, some purpose, some belief.
A win to allow me to send out my favorite text message of the season, probably about what, 3:15? 3:20 today?
Three magical words. Eternal optimism. A belief that all is right in the world.
Season! F*cking! On!!!
You taste what you're made of!
You might bend til you break,
Cause its all you can take.
On your knees, you look up!
Decide you've had enough!
You get mad, you get strong!
Wipe your hand, shake it off!
Then you stand. Then you stand!"
-- Rascal Flatts, "Stand".
----------
Its currently 4:26am as I start to type this.
Unlike last year about this time, however, the dogs aren't stirring. Because there are no dogs to, uuh, not stur. The roommate isn't sound asleep. Because there's no roommate to be, uuh, sound asleep.
But one thing isn't changing.
We're winning this f*cking game.
It has been 357 days since Arrowhead last saw a Chiefs team leave the field as a winner. Today, that streak ends.
Because we have historical precedence for this.
1989.
Twenty years ago, this franchise was pretty much in the same position it is today. Embracing regime change, a new GM, a new head coach, a new QB, a new defensive philosophy, a whole new organizational attitude. The old, complacent way of doing things, kicked to the curb.
You might remember that first team under Carl and Marty. They came in to do the impossible. Take a team with little to no success (aka zero playoff wins) over the previous 15 years and work a miracle.
The 1989 Chiefs were nothing more than a shell of a team that three years earlier, stole, absolutely freaking stole, out of thin air, a miraculous playoff berth on the last day of the regular season. (Sound familiar?) The next two years, entered with optimism and hope, instead turned into two of the darkest seasons in franchise history. (Sound familiar?)
Finally fed up, and with what remained of the fanbase at near riot-like conditions, Chiefs ownership stepped in, kicked the previous GM and his cronies to the curb, and hired one of the hot, up-and-coming executives in the league, a man with a world championship under his belt, and tremendous success at one of the league's model franchises. (Sound familiar?)
Said executive then went out, and after looking at various candidates, hired the "hottest commodity" available, a man who for some inexplicable reason, his previous organization was more than willing to say goodbye to, despite anyone with a brain knowing his departure would mean the end of the success of the previous team. (Sound familiar?)
And that 1989 team, opened on the road, against a likely Super Bowl contender (in fact, the denver broncos reached New Orleans that year before getting rolled by the 49ers). (Sound familiar?)
And that 1989 team, after playing well but ultimately losing on a couple late scores in the opener, then returned to Arrowhead, under a beautiful late September sunny sky, to take on ... the mike shanarat led los angeles raiders.
(Yup, we were still two weeks away from the first Art Shell era).
That Chiefs team had few believers. They beat the raiders 23-17 that afternoon, the first of eight wins that season. Had Nick Lowery hit ANY of his three whiffs at Cleveland in overtime, the Chiefs would have been the last team in. (Of course, had we simply beaten the 4-10 Chargers at home, the same would have been true).
The seeds for a decade of success, were planted twenty years ago, on this weekend. Week two. The home opener. The opener of a new era.
I firmly believe that today, history repeats itself.
Today, is the dawning of a new era. Today is the day the Chiefs launch themselves back into the national consciousness, where we resided throughout the 1990s and into the early years of the 2000s.
Today is ground zero! Don't look back five years from now, when the Chiefs are the model franchise in this league, and kick yourself in the nuts for missing out on the dawning of greatness. Don't look back five years from now with regret.
Instead, do what comes naturally as a fan of the greatest franchise on the planet. Show up! Be loud! Be the 12th, the 13th, the 14th man today! Its the effing oakland raiders! Put them in their place!
Chiefs 30, raiders 27. A win to end a year of futility. A win to get back to .500, to establish some momentum, some confidence, some purpose, some belief.
A win to allow me to send out my favorite text message of the season, probably about what, 3:15? 3:20 today?
Three magical words. Eternal optimism. A belief that all is right in the world.
Season! F*cking! On!!!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
the week two predictions
Last Week ATS: 10-6-0
Season to Date ATS: 10-6-0
Last Week SU: 12-4-0
Season to Date SU: 12-4-0
Last Week Upset / Week: close, but not quite.
Season to Date Upset / Week: 0-1-0
This Week's Upset / Week: Ravens (+3.5) over Chargers.
As always, all lines from today's USA Today.
The Non-Chiefs Predictions:
* at Falcons (-6.5) 31, Panthers 20. I don't think Delhomme is as bad as he's been his last two outings ... but the Panthers are just about done. They're staring 0-3 in the face, as they go to Dallas in the Monday Nighter next week. The Falcons, meanwhile, had a nice win last week against a solid Dolphins team, but they also need this one. Their next three after this game: at Patriots, at 49ers, vs Bears on a Monday night. I'll take the Falcons at home behind a nice 270 yard, 3 TD day out of Matt Ryan.
* Vikings 24, at Lions (+9.5) 20. Will be closer than people think. I can actually see Detroit winning this game. Brad Childress has sprinted past Rich Kotite bad. He's approaching Ray Rhodes levels of incompetence. Yes, the Vikings are arguably the NFC's best team. They're inarguably its worst coached.
* at Packers (-8.5) 35, Bengals 3. When you lose like Cincinnati did on Sunday, one of two things happens. Either (a) its a rallying point and you play with reckless abandon, or the far more usual and likely outcome, (b) you quit. I've seen nothing from the Bengals to convince me they're going to show up going forward.
* Cardinals (+3.5) 24, at Jaguars 20. A virtual must win for the Cardinals -- the Colts come calling next Sunday night. I think the line on this game is completely out of whack. The Jaguars are not a good team. The Cardinals muster up some pride and salvage the early part of the season with a huge road win.
* at Jets (+5.5) 24, Patriots 23. Did you know the Jets haven't beaten New England at home since the Al Groh era? I was really impressed with the Jets last week. I also thought it was awesome with a capital A, the personal phone call Rex Ryan left for every season ticket holder, urging them to show up and be the 12th, 13th, 14th man on Sunday. Most of the week, I was prepped to pick the typical Patriots blowout in the Meadowlands. But after reading about the phone call, screw it, I'm swallowing the Kool Aid. A late Sanchez to Dustin Keller touchdown gets the Jets the win.
* Saints (+1.5) 41, at Eagles 20. This line is completely out of whack. Even if McNabb plays, you don't think Gregg Williams isn't going to unleash a blitz on every down to knock him out of there? Saints roll early and win a laugher at the Linc.
* at Titans 28, Texans (+6.5) 24. Texans have the Jags and raiders coming to Reliant the next two weeks, so 0-2 isn't as bad as it would seem for them. Titans struggle but find a way to win at home.
* at Redskins (-9.5) 38, Rams 3. Yes, I watched every second of last week's debacle in the Meadowlands. And I'm still laying the 9 1/2 points. The Rams are this bad. And I don't think the Redskins are as bad as the Giants made them look last week. The next four after this for the Redskins: at Detroit, vs Tampa, at Carolina, vs KC. 5-1 hosting Philly on a Monday night come late October is not at all unrealistic.
* Bucs (+4.5) 13, at Bills 10. See Packers vs Bengals.
* at 49ers (-1.5) 27, Seahawks 24. Arguably the biggest game Candlestick has hosted since the 2002 wildcard win over the Giants. I think the 49ers are ready for it.
* at Bears (+2.5) 31, Steelers 13. I refuse to believe the Bears were as bad as they looked Sunday night. This one smells like a 350 yard, 4 TD day for Cutler, and a 3 turnover day for Ben.
* at broncos (-2.5) 24, Browns 20. I literally wanted to puke seeing that horrific ending in Cincinnati last week. I literally wanted to puke. Instead, I settled for throwing a beer can at the TV, screaming a bunch of obsenities, and reminding myself that its kyle orton. He can't do that every week. Sadly though, this week, the donkeys could start Barrel Man under center and win.
(and yes, I capitalized Barrel Man. The guy, well, (president obama voice) he's a jackass. But he's as legit of a fan as you get. I respect him. Which is why he gets capitalized while nearly everything else affiliated with that taint of a franchise will remain in lower case).
* Ravens (+3.5) 38, at Chargers 20. I refuse to take Norv Turner as a favorite against any legitimate NFL team. The implosion's getting closer Bolts fans. Its getting closer.
* at Cowboys (-2.5) 31, Giants 28. Smells like a last second field goal game.
* at Dolphins (+2.5) 17, Colts 13. After week one, I'd say Jim Caldwell is skipping the usual "awful coach treads water for seasons one and two" step and going straight to the "awful coach's team implodes in year three, and completely collapses if he sees a year four" mode.
The Chiefs Prediction:
I could give some inspirational, truly visionary speech in this spot to encourage you to show up on Sunday. But honestly, if coming out for our co-most hated rival, on a beautiful bright sunny day, for the home opener of a new era isn't enough to motivate you, then there's no reason for me to try.
Oh, who am I kidding. I can't let it go that easily.
Because you did catch the key part in there right? "The Home Opener of a New Era".
For the better part of a decade, a lot of Chiefs fans have wanted regime change at One Arrowhead Drive. I joined that chorus after the disasterous 2007 season. We got our wish after the even more catastrophic 2008 season.
Chiefs fans, we got what we wanted. We wanted a new general manager that is a proven winner in this league. Clark Hunt heard us, opened the checkbook, and went out and got, if not the best, then certainly a top five football mind in Scott Pioli. You know, the guy whose teams he helped construct haven't had a losing season since 2000, and whose teams in the eight years since 2000 have 6 division titles, 5 AFC Title Game appearances, 4 Super Bowl berths, and 3 Lombardi Trophies. You wanted regime change? You got it.
We wanted a franchise quarterback, someone who we could build a championship roster around over the next decade. I'll be honest, I don't know if Matt Cassel is that guy or not. I honestly believe he is. But he's gotta prove it, I'll grant that to the doubters. What I won't grant, however, is anyone upset over making the trade for Cassel. Brodie Croyle is atrocious. Tyler Thigpen is mediocre. Matt Cassel may wind up somewhere in between those two undesirable points, but he also might be the best thing this franchise has had under center in 35 years. We wanted someone who could be great. Our owner and GM went out and got that someone.
We wanted a new head coach that was willing to embrace what made Chiefs football so spectacular to root for. Someone who would kick the malcontents to the curb. Someone who would open up the offense, demand an aggressive defense and special teams that emphasized field position and winning the turnover battle. We got it in Todd Haley.
Furthermore, I wanted a head coach, and a coaching staff, that didn't shy away from hating our rivals, but THRIVED on hating them. I got it, we all got it, in Todd Haley, a man who was bred to hate the oakland raiders with a passion thanks to his father.
My point is this: we demanded change at One Arrowhead Drive. We demanded a new direction, and we demanded ownership hold the old regime accountable for their mistakes and lack of postseason success. We demanded a new quarterback, new players, a new organizational philosophy.
Ownership delivered. They gave us everything we wanted (and then some).
Now its our turn to step up, show up!, and do our part.
Sunday truly begins a new era. I'm excited to see how this plays out.
Because I think Sunday jumpstarts a truly magical season.
at Chiefs (-2.5) 30, raiders 27, on a last minute Ryan Succup 44 yard field goal, and a Brandon Flowers INT to seal it. Every Chiefs / raiders game is a heart attack in the making. Sunday will be no different.
You know the drill. Gates open at 8:30ish. We'll be in our usual spot, on the grassy knoll at the back of Lot G. Ribs, steak, kabobs, and a keg are the menu. But what really matters is getting the fans of this team in a seat on Sunday. Again, ownership gave us every damned thing we asked for. The least we can do is show up and say "thank you" ...
Season to Date ATS: 10-6-0
Last Week SU: 12-4-0
Season to Date SU: 12-4-0
Last Week Upset / Week: close, but not quite.
Season to Date Upset / Week: 0-1-0
This Week's Upset / Week: Ravens (+3.5) over Chargers.
As always, all lines from today's USA Today.
The Non-Chiefs Predictions:
* at Falcons (-6.5) 31, Panthers 20. I don't think Delhomme is as bad as he's been his last two outings ... but the Panthers are just about done. They're staring 0-3 in the face, as they go to Dallas in the Monday Nighter next week. The Falcons, meanwhile, had a nice win last week against a solid Dolphins team, but they also need this one. Their next three after this game: at Patriots, at 49ers, vs Bears on a Monday night. I'll take the Falcons at home behind a nice 270 yard, 3 TD day out of Matt Ryan.
* Vikings 24, at Lions (+9.5) 20. Will be closer than people think. I can actually see Detroit winning this game. Brad Childress has sprinted past Rich Kotite bad. He's approaching Ray Rhodes levels of incompetence. Yes, the Vikings are arguably the NFC's best team. They're inarguably its worst coached.
* at Packers (-8.5) 35, Bengals 3. When you lose like Cincinnati did on Sunday, one of two things happens. Either (a) its a rallying point and you play with reckless abandon, or the far more usual and likely outcome, (b) you quit. I've seen nothing from the Bengals to convince me they're going to show up going forward.
* Cardinals (+3.5) 24, at Jaguars 20. A virtual must win for the Cardinals -- the Colts come calling next Sunday night. I think the line on this game is completely out of whack. The Jaguars are not a good team. The Cardinals muster up some pride and salvage the early part of the season with a huge road win.
* at Jets (+5.5) 24, Patriots 23. Did you know the Jets haven't beaten New England at home since the Al Groh era? I was really impressed with the Jets last week. I also thought it was awesome with a capital A, the personal phone call Rex Ryan left for every season ticket holder, urging them to show up and be the 12th, 13th, 14th man on Sunday. Most of the week, I was prepped to pick the typical Patriots blowout in the Meadowlands. But after reading about the phone call, screw it, I'm swallowing the Kool Aid. A late Sanchez to Dustin Keller touchdown gets the Jets the win.
* Saints (+1.5) 41, at Eagles 20. This line is completely out of whack. Even if McNabb plays, you don't think Gregg Williams isn't going to unleash a blitz on every down to knock him out of there? Saints roll early and win a laugher at the Linc.
* at Titans 28, Texans (+6.5) 24. Texans have the Jags and raiders coming to Reliant the next two weeks, so 0-2 isn't as bad as it would seem for them. Titans struggle but find a way to win at home.
* at Redskins (-9.5) 38, Rams 3. Yes, I watched every second of last week's debacle in the Meadowlands. And I'm still laying the 9 1/2 points. The Rams are this bad. And I don't think the Redskins are as bad as the Giants made them look last week. The next four after this for the Redskins: at Detroit, vs Tampa, at Carolina, vs KC. 5-1 hosting Philly on a Monday night come late October is not at all unrealistic.
* Bucs (+4.5) 13, at Bills 10. See Packers vs Bengals.
* at 49ers (-1.5) 27, Seahawks 24. Arguably the biggest game Candlestick has hosted since the 2002 wildcard win over the Giants. I think the 49ers are ready for it.
* at Bears (+2.5) 31, Steelers 13. I refuse to believe the Bears were as bad as they looked Sunday night. This one smells like a 350 yard, 4 TD day for Cutler, and a 3 turnover day for Ben.
* at broncos (-2.5) 24, Browns 20. I literally wanted to puke seeing that horrific ending in Cincinnati last week. I literally wanted to puke. Instead, I settled for throwing a beer can at the TV, screaming a bunch of obsenities, and reminding myself that its kyle orton. He can't do that every week. Sadly though, this week, the donkeys could start Barrel Man under center and win.
(and yes, I capitalized Barrel Man. The guy, well, (president obama voice) he's a jackass. But he's as legit of a fan as you get. I respect him. Which is why he gets capitalized while nearly everything else affiliated with that taint of a franchise will remain in lower case).
* Ravens (+3.5) 38, at Chargers 20. I refuse to take Norv Turner as a favorite against any legitimate NFL team. The implosion's getting closer Bolts fans. Its getting closer.
* at Cowboys (-2.5) 31, Giants 28. Smells like a last second field goal game.
* at Dolphins (+2.5) 17, Colts 13. After week one, I'd say Jim Caldwell is skipping the usual "awful coach treads water for seasons one and two" step and going straight to the "awful coach's team implodes in year three, and completely collapses if he sees a year four" mode.
The Chiefs Prediction:
I could give some inspirational, truly visionary speech in this spot to encourage you to show up on Sunday. But honestly, if coming out for our co-most hated rival, on a beautiful bright sunny day, for the home opener of a new era isn't enough to motivate you, then there's no reason for me to try.
Oh, who am I kidding. I can't let it go that easily.
Because you did catch the key part in there right? "The Home Opener of a New Era".
For the better part of a decade, a lot of Chiefs fans have wanted regime change at One Arrowhead Drive. I joined that chorus after the disasterous 2007 season. We got our wish after the even more catastrophic 2008 season.
Chiefs fans, we got what we wanted. We wanted a new general manager that is a proven winner in this league. Clark Hunt heard us, opened the checkbook, and went out and got, if not the best, then certainly a top five football mind in Scott Pioli. You know, the guy whose teams he helped construct haven't had a losing season since 2000, and whose teams in the eight years since 2000 have 6 division titles, 5 AFC Title Game appearances, 4 Super Bowl berths, and 3 Lombardi Trophies. You wanted regime change? You got it.
We wanted a franchise quarterback, someone who we could build a championship roster around over the next decade. I'll be honest, I don't know if Matt Cassel is that guy or not. I honestly believe he is. But he's gotta prove it, I'll grant that to the doubters. What I won't grant, however, is anyone upset over making the trade for Cassel. Brodie Croyle is atrocious. Tyler Thigpen is mediocre. Matt Cassel may wind up somewhere in between those two undesirable points, but he also might be the best thing this franchise has had under center in 35 years. We wanted someone who could be great. Our owner and GM went out and got that someone.
We wanted a new head coach that was willing to embrace what made Chiefs football so spectacular to root for. Someone who would kick the malcontents to the curb. Someone who would open up the offense, demand an aggressive defense and special teams that emphasized field position and winning the turnover battle. We got it in Todd Haley.
Furthermore, I wanted a head coach, and a coaching staff, that didn't shy away from hating our rivals, but THRIVED on hating them. I got it, we all got it, in Todd Haley, a man who was bred to hate the oakland raiders with a passion thanks to his father.
My point is this: we demanded change at One Arrowhead Drive. We demanded a new direction, and we demanded ownership hold the old regime accountable for their mistakes and lack of postseason success. We demanded a new quarterback, new players, a new organizational philosophy.
Ownership delivered. They gave us everything we wanted (and then some).
Now its our turn to step up, show up!, and do our part.
Sunday truly begins a new era. I'm excited to see how this plays out.
Because I think Sunday jumpstarts a truly magical season.
at Chiefs (-2.5) 30, raiders 27, on a last minute Ryan Succup 44 yard field goal, and a Brandon Flowers INT to seal it. Every Chiefs / raiders game is a heart attack in the making. Sunday will be no different.
You know the drill. Gates open at 8:30ish. We'll be in our usual spot, on the grassy knoll at the back of Lot G. Ribs, steak, kabobs, and a keg are the menu. But what really matters is getting the fans of this team in a seat on Sunday. Again, ownership gave us every damned thing we asked for. The least we can do is show up and say "thank you" ...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
my reaction to the opening loss
These recaps aren't as much fun when you aren't there in person. I don't care what The Sports Guy or any other columnist writes, there is nothing like a legitimate NFL experience. Sadly, those are dwindling fast. By this time next year you'll be down to about 10 NFL experiences left that can rival the college game. Thank God we're one of them.
My quick thoughts on the loss before turning the focus to where it belongs: winning our first home game in 357 days ...
* I thought Todd Haley did a decent job in his debut. There were zero clock management issues (I didn't even object to the end of the first half strategory. No sense giving the Ravens the ball back with a spent defense on the field). I thought the offensive playcalling was fine. However, two things I want to bitch about the Coach for:
1. Sticking with Brodie Croyle. Todd, I don't know you. I intend to meet you Friday night at the Red Friday festivities, and I will tell you to your face, what I am telling you now in type. I don't give a shit what your issues with Tyler Thigpen are. I don't care if Tyler Thigpen slept with your wife. He is by far and away the better option than Brodie Croyle. Croyle had ONE legitimate drive today. ONE drive where he took us to the red zone for points. That's it. Our other scoring drives, we never crossed the 30, and he was given the ball at the 5 (and needed 3 plays and a penalty to score). Brodie Croyle is HORRID. Tyler Thigpen is at least mediocre.
I'm not saying Thigpen would have won today. My guess is Baltimore would have won 31-24 had Thigpen played the second half. But to keep playing Croyle to spite Gailey's love of Thigpen is utterly irresponsible. Contrary to what you might think, Todd, you aren't God's gift to football. Sticking with a sub-standard QB to prove a point is utterly retarded. Let's not do this again, ok?
2. Gutless football on 4th and less than a foot. Twice, Chiefs WR Mark Bradley failed to gain a 1st down on a 3rd down reception due to stupidity of not knowing where the chains were. Both times, I argued you go for it.
The first time, late in the first quarter, was 4th and less than a foot at our own 38ish yard line. A punt there, I'm hacked about. We're already down 10-0, the offense has done nothing, and you need a spark to get going. In hindsight, the punt was the right call, as we wound up blocking a punt for a touchdown in the aftermath.
The second time though, is utterly inexcusable piss poor coaching. 4th and less than 1, again around your own 40. I believe the score at this point was tied at 17. As I argued then, and as I will argue to your face, sir, when I meet you on Friday, to win games like this, you HAVE TO TAKE CALCULATED RISKS!
What more calculated risk is there than that? Its a fucking foot! Take a QB snap and fall forward! Hell, put Thigpen in for the fall forward if you're worried about Croyle's health.
I know the counter is "well, if we don't get it, they get great field position". Well what happened with the punt pal? Dusty C shanked it. Baltimore scored a couple plays later. You gained NOTHING by punting. You gained NOTHING by playing pussy ass conservative football. What you COULD have gained by having a pair and going for it, is confidence for the offense, another 2 minutes off the field for the defense, and the chance to seize the destiny in front of you.
As Sean Connery noted in "The Rock", "losers go home and whine. Winners f*ck the prom queen". Todd, buddy: winning coaches take advantage of the situation. Losing coaches punt. Today, you were a loser. I trust that will improve as time goes along; studying your body of work through the years, you don't strike me as Herm Jr.
* Brodie Croyle. Sweet Jesus. Awful. Absolutely awful. Again, if Cassel can't go Sunday against oakland, and Thigpen isn't the starter, then it damned well better be Gutierrez under center. Brodie Croyle should NEVER start another game in this league again. He is not NFL caliber. If there was any doubt about that before today, it should have been cleared up with today's piss poor effort under center.
* the defensive line looked really good. Consistently pushed the pocket back, consistently got pressure, consistently hit the running back. Until they were obviously gassed late in the 4th (another reason you don't punt on 4th and 1, save your defense for as long as you can), they did a tremendous job of keeping things in control.
* the linebackers though. Yikes. A disaster. DJ had his INT, and was generally where he needed to be, but everyone else, yikes. Demorrio had a couple nice tackles but you rarely heard his name called. Corey Mays was so overmatched covering Todd Heap that I felt embarrassed for Mr. Mays.
* and the secondary. I don't know who thought Maurice Leggett was a NFL caliber corner, but that person should be fired. Immediately. Maurice Leggett has as much business guarding a receiver as I do. And there's a damned good reason why I was always the last one picked in our post-Chiefs games football pickup games at Holy Trinity back in high school. Because I can't play man coverage. I fucking suck. Everyone knew, throw it at Steve, guaranteed touchdown. I suspect Joe Flacco was saying the same thing throwing it at Maurice Leggett today.
(yes, I just hauled out the classic old school football games at Holy Trinity. Don't tell me years of alcohol use have damaged the memory cells!)
* Succup looked solid. Every kick save one was solid, and it was a designed squibber. His field goal was beyond rock solid, 53 yards into a stiff right-to-left wind that split the uprights. Good stuff from Mr. Irrelevant.
* Very few penalties today. Two of them were purposeful delay-of-game penalties. The other few that were called, I can live with. The only "bad" penalty was the illegal contact that offset a holding call for a safety. But even that worked out -- instead of a safety, we blocked the punt for a touchdown.
* all in all, I was fine with today. It was exactly what I expected. A tough dogfight, that we just came up short in winning. Now comes the hard part.
I think Sunday defines the season. With a win over oakland, 3-4 at the bye is absolutely in focus, and 5-2 isn't as laughable as it seems (McNabb is hurt, we have a 50/50 shot of facing Kolb or Vick instead; the Redskins offense is even worse than our Brodie Croyle led effort, and if you split with the Giants and Cowboys, well ...). I still think 4-3 at the bye with a win Sunday.
But it all starts Sunday. Please, do NOT give up on this team after one tough loss. This isn't 2008, where we lost a heartbreaker on the road to a Super Bowl contender and came home to host oakland.
We went toe-to-toe with what is in my opinion the best team in the AFC (they're my Super Bowl pick) in their house, and for 57 minutes and 52 seconds played them to a draw. Without our starting QB. Without our starting CB. And with a rookie head coach / offensive coordinator, brand new defensive coordinator, and with 30 of our 53 roster spots being filled by guys not acquired by Carl and/or Herm. Huge turnover, brand new leadership ... and we still had the ball at the 2 minute warning with a shot to tie. In Baltimore.
I'll save the show up plea for the picks. But yeah, I am fired up for Sunday. Monty gets in Wednesday night to start getting the command center ready. The pre-party starts sometime Saturday after KU demolishes Duke in Lawrence. And the postgame party, well, let's hope this replays itself. From the Chiefs / donkeys recap last year:
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* Postgame, and yes I'm skipping a lot of the game but I want to really review it before recapping it in detail ... postgame, I just stand in my spot for a solid 30, 45 seconds. I literally was crying. Finally Russ patted me on the back and was like "the beer's colder at the bus!" Yes. Yes it was.
I darted off to the bano to, uuh, relieve myself, and to refill the water bottle (yes, incredibly enough, I did not purchase an adult beverage during the game. Emphasis on the word "purchase", trust me, I consumed some between the three flasks floating around the confluence of 131 / 132 ...) Anyways, after a couple minutes at the trough and the water fountain, I started the climb up the spiral ramp. And the Tomahawk Chop chants were just flying around. You could actually hear them still up at the bus 10 minutes later. Don't tell me this town doesn't love its team. Just give us a reason to hope, and we'll believe.
* I got to the bus, t-shirt draped John Thompson style, covered in sweat and bite marks from stress ... and there's Dusty. "We f*cking did it!" Nothing says "first win in 344 days" like a freaking man hug with the roommate.
* Damien was next. "Un f*cking believable!" Another man hug and high fives all around.
* Russ and Mona next. Although we'd shared many a hug, high five, and hit off the flask prior to the postgame reunion. It never gets old. The Chiefs winning. The postgame tailgate. None of it ever gets old. Win or lose ... oh yeah. We still booze!
* The traditional postgame hug with Jennifer up next.
* Then the moment it all sinks in, which as always results in me grabbing a Coors Light out of the cooler, walking over to the walkway, starting to high five randoms as they walk by ... and I just have to sit. With a massive, ain't leaving anytime soon, sh*t eating grin on my face.
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OK, so DJ may not be the roomie anymore ... but other than that, let's replay this scene come Sunday at 3:15ish. Ashley "take the shirt off" texts included. Let's win this game. Let's establish ourselves as a threat to win against anyone at home, just as we established today ourselves as a threat to beat anyone on the road. Let's get this done.
If only for my sanity ...
My quick thoughts on the loss before turning the focus to where it belongs: winning our first home game in 357 days ...
* I thought Todd Haley did a decent job in his debut. There were zero clock management issues (I didn't even object to the end of the first half strategory. No sense giving the Ravens the ball back with a spent defense on the field). I thought the offensive playcalling was fine. However, two things I want to bitch about the Coach for:
1. Sticking with Brodie Croyle. Todd, I don't know you. I intend to meet you Friday night at the Red Friday festivities, and I will tell you to your face, what I am telling you now in type. I don't give a shit what your issues with Tyler Thigpen are. I don't care if Tyler Thigpen slept with your wife. He is by far and away the better option than Brodie Croyle. Croyle had ONE legitimate drive today. ONE drive where he took us to the red zone for points. That's it. Our other scoring drives, we never crossed the 30, and he was given the ball at the 5 (and needed 3 plays and a penalty to score). Brodie Croyle is HORRID. Tyler Thigpen is at least mediocre.
I'm not saying Thigpen would have won today. My guess is Baltimore would have won 31-24 had Thigpen played the second half. But to keep playing Croyle to spite Gailey's love of Thigpen is utterly irresponsible. Contrary to what you might think, Todd, you aren't God's gift to football. Sticking with a sub-standard QB to prove a point is utterly retarded. Let's not do this again, ok?
2. Gutless football on 4th and less than a foot. Twice, Chiefs WR Mark Bradley failed to gain a 1st down on a 3rd down reception due to stupidity of not knowing where the chains were. Both times, I argued you go for it.
The first time, late in the first quarter, was 4th and less than a foot at our own 38ish yard line. A punt there, I'm hacked about. We're already down 10-0, the offense has done nothing, and you need a spark to get going. In hindsight, the punt was the right call, as we wound up blocking a punt for a touchdown in the aftermath.
The second time though, is utterly inexcusable piss poor coaching. 4th and less than 1, again around your own 40. I believe the score at this point was tied at 17. As I argued then, and as I will argue to your face, sir, when I meet you on Friday, to win games like this, you HAVE TO TAKE CALCULATED RISKS!
What more calculated risk is there than that? Its a fucking foot! Take a QB snap and fall forward! Hell, put Thigpen in for the fall forward if you're worried about Croyle's health.
I know the counter is "well, if we don't get it, they get great field position". Well what happened with the punt pal? Dusty C shanked it. Baltimore scored a couple plays later. You gained NOTHING by punting. You gained NOTHING by playing pussy ass conservative football. What you COULD have gained by having a pair and going for it, is confidence for the offense, another 2 minutes off the field for the defense, and the chance to seize the destiny in front of you.
As Sean Connery noted in "The Rock", "losers go home and whine. Winners f*ck the prom queen". Todd, buddy: winning coaches take advantage of the situation. Losing coaches punt. Today, you were a loser. I trust that will improve as time goes along; studying your body of work through the years, you don't strike me as Herm Jr.
* Brodie Croyle. Sweet Jesus. Awful. Absolutely awful. Again, if Cassel can't go Sunday against oakland, and Thigpen isn't the starter, then it damned well better be Gutierrez under center. Brodie Croyle should NEVER start another game in this league again. He is not NFL caliber. If there was any doubt about that before today, it should have been cleared up with today's piss poor effort under center.
* the defensive line looked really good. Consistently pushed the pocket back, consistently got pressure, consistently hit the running back. Until they were obviously gassed late in the 4th (another reason you don't punt on 4th and 1, save your defense for as long as you can), they did a tremendous job of keeping things in control.
* the linebackers though. Yikes. A disaster. DJ had his INT, and was generally where he needed to be, but everyone else, yikes. Demorrio had a couple nice tackles but you rarely heard his name called. Corey Mays was so overmatched covering Todd Heap that I felt embarrassed for Mr. Mays.
* and the secondary. I don't know who thought Maurice Leggett was a NFL caliber corner, but that person should be fired. Immediately. Maurice Leggett has as much business guarding a receiver as I do. And there's a damned good reason why I was always the last one picked in our post-Chiefs games football pickup games at Holy Trinity back in high school. Because I can't play man coverage. I fucking suck. Everyone knew, throw it at Steve, guaranteed touchdown. I suspect Joe Flacco was saying the same thing throwing it at Maurice Leggett today.
(yes, I just hauled out the classic old school football games at Holy Trinity. Don't tell me years of alcohol use have damaged the memory cells!)
* Succup looked solid. Every kick save one was solid, and it was a designed squibber. His field goal was beyond rock solid, 53 yards into a stiff right-to-left wind that split the uprights. Good stuff from Mr. Irrelevant.
* Very few penalties today. Two of them were purposeful delay-of-game penalties. The other few that were called, I can live with. The only "bad" penalty was the illegal contact that offset a holding call for a safety. But even that worked out -- instead of a safety, we blocked the punt for a touchdown.
* all in all, I was fine with today. It was exactly what I expected. A tough dogfight, that we just came up short in winning. Now comes the hard part.
I think Sunday defines the season. With a win over oakland, 3-4 at the bye is absolutely in focus, and 5-2 isn't as laughable as it seems (McNabb is hurt, we have a 50/50 shot of facing Kolb or Vick instead; the Redskins offense is even worse than our Brodie Croyle led effort, and if you split with the Giants and Cowboys, well ...). I still think 4-3 at the bye with a win Sunday.
But it all starts Sunday. Please, do NOT give up on this team after one tough loss. This isn't 2008, where we lost a heartbreaker on the road to a Super Bowl contender and came home to host oakland.
We went toe-to-toe with what is in my opinion the best team in the AFC (they're my Super Bowl pick) in their house, and for 57 minutes and 52 seconds played them to a draw. Without our starting QB. Without our starting CB. And with a rookie head coach / offensive coordinator, brand new defensive coordinator, and with 30 of our 53 roster spots being filled by guys not acquired by Carl and/or Herm. Huge turnover, brand new leadership ... and we still had the ball at the 2 minute warning with a shot to tie. In Baltimore.
I'll save the show up plea for the picks. But yeah, I am fired up for Sunday. Monty gets in Wednesday night to start getting the command center ready. The pre-party starts sometime Saturday after KU demolishes Duke in Lawrence. And the postgame party, well, let's hope this replays itself. From the Chiefs / donkeys recap last year:
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* Postgame, and yes I'm skipping a lot of the game but I want to really review it before recapping it in detail ... postgame, I just stand in my spot for a solid 30, 45 seconds. I literally was crying. Finally Russ patted me on the back and was like "the beer's colder at the bus!" Yes. Yes it was.
I darted off to the bano to, uuh, relieve myself, and to refill the water bottle (yes, incredibly enough, I did not purchase an adult beverage during the game. Emphasis on the word "purchase", trust me, I consumed some between the three flasks floating around the confluence of 131 / 132 ...) Anyways, after a couple minutes at the trough and the water fountain, I started the climb up the spiral ramp. And the Tomahawk Chop chants were just flying around. You could actually hear them still up at the bus 10 minutes later. Don't tell me this town doesn't love its team. Just give us a reason to hope, and we'll believe.
* I got to the bus, t-shirt draped John Thompson style, covered in sweat and bite marks from stress ... and there's Dusty. "We f*cking did it!" Nothing says "first win in 344 days" like a freaking man hug with the roommate.
* Damien was next. "Un f*cking believable!" Another man hug and high fives all around.
* Russ and Mona next. Although we'd shared many a hug, high five, and hit off the flask prior to the postgame reunion. It never gets old. The Chiefs winning. The postgame tailgate. None of it ever gets old. Win or lose ... oh yeah. We still booze!
* The traditional postgame hug with Jennifer up next.
* Then the moment it all sinks in, which as always results in me grabbing a Coors Light out of the cooler, walking over to the walkway, starting to high five randoms as they walk by ... and I just have to sit. With a massive, ain't leaving anytime soon, sh*t eating grin on my face.
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OK, so DJ may not be the roomie anymore ... but other than that, let's replay this scene come Sunday at 3:15ish. Ashley "take the shirt off" texts included. Let's win this game. Let's establish ourselves as a threat to win against anyone at home, just as we established today ourselves as a threat to beat anyone on the road. Let's get this done.
If only for my sanity ...
chiefs! ravens! live blog ...
Even without Matt Cassel under center, I still think we can keep this respectable and hang tough today.
The three key players for the Chiefs:
1. Larry Johnson. He has to top 100 if we're to have a chance.
2. Corey Mays. The coaching staff sees something in this guy. As do I. He needs to be the leader this defense hasn't had since DT passed away.
3. Dusty Colquitt. We know 3 and outs are coming today. We need Dusty C to get us solid field position when he trots out onto the field.
15 minutes to kickoff!
As always, i'm logged onto Yahoo! at teamtito15. Feel free to comment along.
Oh crap. Ian Eagle and Dick Gannon our commentators. I might need to sync this up to 101 the FOX.
I really wish someone would kick Ray Lewis in the balls every time he does his stupid pregame dance.
Chiefs to receive. Jamaal Charles back deep.
And we are underway! Out to the 26. Shockingly decent return.
Two LJ runs nets zero yards. 3rd and long already.
No huddle! Doesn't work, probably should have been picked. For the first time but definitely not the last, enter Dusty C.
Outstanding coverage, and a holding call to boot. Ravens should start about their own 20.
Flacco takes off for 3. No pressure. Must have been solid downfield coverage considering he had at least 6-7 seconds to throw.
Flacco to Mason for 20. Horrendous cover two coverage on that one.
Washington for 22. Why aren't the refs flagging these fuckers for taunting yet?
If you had 12:08 for the first f bomb of the live blog, congratulations.
Great throw by Flacco but Mason couldn't get two feet in. They are terrorizing our safeties at this point.
Ravens burn a timeout. Time to refill the glass of shiraz.
6th straight pass. Mason couldn't bring it in.
First run, and the DL was ready. Loss of two. 3rd and 12 coming up.
GREAT blitz by DJ forced an early throw. 44, 45 yd field goal attempt upcoming.
3-0 Ravens. That's defense I can live with though. Bend but don't break. Stand when you have to. Yes, I'm reaching for positives today.
What self respecting woman would sleep with Romeo Crennel? Wouldn't he like crush you if he was on top?
Make sure those laces are out. Wouldn't want Ray Finkle to stalk you, Ravens kicker.
Charles returns it to the 25. An explosive returner would have really hit the hole and exploited it there, there was a huge seam to run through.
Look at this! 5 abreast! 5 wide in the shotgun! Gain of one on a screen.
Good God, Brodie Croyle sucks. 3rd and long.
Ravens burn another TO. I'm burning through the booze at about the same rate.
OK, I'm cheap, but sweet Jesus, where does McDonalds find these people to "sell" the dollar menu?
How in the hell are you not prepared for the play coming out of a timeout? This is ridiculous. Chiefs burn at TO because of Bumblin' Brodie's incompetence.
There is no way Croyle is better than Thigpen. No freaking way.
Yikes, another awful Croyle effort. He's 1 for 4 for a yard, and damned near 2 picks.
Another Dusty C punt upcoming. Two three and outs in two tries.
Carr trips at his own 30. 57 yard punt, 6 yard return. Back in a few.
Nice screen but its coming back. Hali did a good job on that actually, he didn't fall for the fake and stuck with the QB.
Flacco is just abusing Maurice Leggett. He is in way over his head. Clancy needs to adjust ASAP, maybe move Mike Brown over in a man and one for support?
Rice for 4, maybe 5, on first down.
Rice for 2. 3rd and 3 upcoming near midfield.
First down Washington. Again, when is the taunt going to be called? What a fucking prick Kelley Washington is. Wow, you got a first down. Get on with your overhyped bad self.
Rice for 6. 2nd and 4 at the Chiefs 31.
"Joe Flacco could balance his checkbook back there!" -- Ian Eagle on the Chiefs pass rush.
Total yards: 109 for Ravens, -4 for Chiefs. Good job Brodie.
Screen to McClain. Looks like a 3 yard gain on 1st down.
The brother checks in. "We're horrible". In Brodie Croyle and Maurice Leggett's case, that is a very accurate statement.
Near INT by the Chiefs on a deflected pass. 3rd and 7.
Dial up the blitz?
Nope. Drop 7. WIDE OPEN Todd Heap gains 15. Our pass coverage is awful so far, awful. Corey Mays was supposed to be on him. Mays failed miserably.
Rice to the 4. 2nd and goal.
Rice to the 2. 3rd and goal. Ravens going big, tackle eligible.
Christ Jesus. Someone should be fired for that play. Joe Flacco had 15 seconds to throw. Touchdown McGahee.
10-0 Ravens. If Croyle doesn't get points on this drive, you have to make the switch before this gets completely out of control. The defense is struggling right now, but -4 yards offense is inexcusable. Either Brodie puts up points, or storm the field, grab him by the jersey, and yank his ass to the unemployment line.
Its put up or shut up time Brodie. Its been three years pal. Enough is enough. Either show something or have some dignity and step aside for someone who's actually won a game in this league. (And somehow had our offense putting up yards and points last year).
We'll start at our 16. Poor decision to return that kick.
LJ trips. Loss of one.
Seriously, watch Croyle's reaction to even simple handoffs. Its obvious he has no confidence at all back there. BENCH BRODIE NOW!
LJ, decent screen, gains 7. 3rd and 4 upcoming.
This is gonna be close. I think he's just short.
He is.
Why can't you go for that? Gutless football. Absolutely embarrassing. I'm beyond pissed off right now.
Ravens will start inside their 15 after a penalty.
Starting at their 7 actually. Solid wrap-up of McGahee. Loss of 2. Should be the last play of the quarter.
10-0 Ravens after one. We need a stand here.
Flacco airs it out! Leggett actually with outstanding coverage. 3rd and 9, apparently McGahee got forward progress on first down.
Flacco first down, but it should be coming back for a hold. Front four got pressure on him that time.
Damned near a safety. Penalty occurred at the one.
Good call, the hold did start before entering the end zone.
3rd and 14 is my guess. CBS doing a piss poor job showing down and distance.
Come on guys. Stand.
That should be intentional grounding!
God dammit! Offsetting fouls. God fucking dammit!
Another 3rd and 14 must stand.
Gain of 12. Good job by the D that drive. Punt upcoming.
Leggett fumbles the punt! At least he recovered it. Let's just say Maurice Leggett is not getting a gameball today. Although he might be getting a personal invite to see Ray Farmer tomorrow morning. And don't forget the playbook.
I would switch to Thigpen. Croyle has shown he can't move this team. You have an opportunity right now to try to get back into this thing, to put yourself in a position where a turnover can give you the lead. Grab the opportunity Coach, and put in at QB the guy who can get you a win (as opposed to the guy who hasn't won a game since his senior year in college).
Still Croyle. Even odds this is a three and out or worse.
LJ for three.
Thigpen is in! Runs for a gain of three.
And he's staying in!
Todd Haley just won me over.
Not sure what in the hell that play was for. Charles on a pitch? No gain. Another Dusty C appearance upcoming.
Fair catch inside his own ten. Dumb decision.
I feel a huge momentum shift coming on this drive. I feel a defensive score upcoming. I also feel like I need another glass of shiraz. Back in a minute.
The wings Dusty J brought last night are reheating in the oven, the shiraz is going down like a Harrah's employee fixing a television in Tahoe, life is good. Other than this game, of course.
Rice for three, maybe four.
Call it five.
Mason drops a first down catch. Third and five upcoming.
Nadal is getting destroyed at the Open right now, already down a set and down two breaks in the second.
AWESOME blitz from the corner by Mays, the D was ready for the bailout pass. No gain to McGahee. Punt upcoming.
I nailed it! I fucking nailed it! Scroll up six lines! Punt block touchdown! Jon McGraw! 10-7! We're in it!
Nadal now down 2 sets. So much for the dream of Federer and Nadal in prime time tomorrow night, that doesn't look good right now.
Carr to his 18, maybe 19. There's a fire on this defense right now. A swagger. There's a buzz. You can feel it. Of course, that might just be me being buzzed but still.
Rice, nice screen. Its close to a first. Nice play call by Cam Cameron to calm things down.
It was a first. Rice gets 4 to follow up. 2nd and 6 at about the 35.
Nice cheap shot from Vrabel to "knock" Flacco out of bounds. Awesome pressure up the middle from Jackson. 3rd and 6.
Make that 3rd and 11, delay of game.
WIDE OPEN Todd Heap to the 47, 48 yard line. First down. Looks like Mays blew the cover three assignment on that one.
McGahee makes something out of nothing, four yard gain on a bailout screen.
First down Ravens, Mark Clayton. Guess who on the coverage. Hurry back soon Brandon. Maurice sucks.
Dick Gannon noting the Chiefs need to roll support towards Leggett. I made that point 35 fucking minutes ago.
FUMBLE! Tamba Hali! Looks like the Ravens recover, but the front four pressure is TREMENDOUS today.
Incomplete! Brown was reacting to the pass, if he'd laid back that might have been picked. Third and fourteen. Come on guys!
Another pass against Leggett, another first down. Once again, we're leaving Leggett one on one. It isn't working. Its not going to work. Admit failure and adjust.
First and ten Ravens, Chiefs 29 yard line.
Rice gets 5, maybe 6.
Nice hit by Page to dislodge a Heap first down catch. Third and five. Would be nice to hold the Ravens to a field goal attempt here.
Flacco's pass tipped! Corey Mays with the tip. Field goal try upcoming. HUGE moral victory there for our defense, which has been on the field for all but about 3 minutes so far.
NO GOOD! Wide left! WOW! Momentum has completely swung! Let's hope Thigpen can get something going. Chiefs ball at their own 31 when we get back.
I hope the heat on the Ravens field is at least 10 degrees hotter at Arrowhead next Sunday. My tan's starting to fade.
Croyle back in at QB. Ugh.
Immediate penalty. False start on Albert.
Full house backfield. LJ for seven up the middle. The line is opening no holes, but LJ is consistently falling forward for an extra yard or two more than he should get.
Horrible end around that fools nobody. Loss of three. Third and ten upcoming. Considering Bad Brodie hasn't thrown a pass deeper than 5 yards downfield yet, this doesn't look good.
Croyle in the gun.
First down! Bobby Engram!
Should take us to the two minute warning. First and ten at our own 42.
Nadal already down a break in the third. He might get swept out of the semis, unbelievable.
And yes, I have US Open tennis on the 2nd TV. Why? Because its the US Open. Its the one tourney I'll tune in for. Always good stuff.
We have a Ravens challenge on the spot. Not a bad decision. I think he got it but he did take a step back before moving forward again.
Chiefs win the challenge. Ravens now out of TOs for the half. Chiefs still have two.
Nice run by Jamaal Charles. First down to the Ravens 48.
Charles for one. I like the strategy, we'll start throwing eventually but ensure the Ravens don't get the ball back with time to do anything with it.
Charles gains one on a dumpoff. He knew the second he caught it he should have dropped it.
3rd and 8. :50 left in the half. I'd look 15 yards downfield.
D Bowe hadn't had a catch yet.
Draw play. End of the half. I'm not thrilled with it, but oh well.
Why call TO there? Unless you're trying the free kick or throwing a Hail Mary?
Hail Mary attempt. Nothing there. Charles gains 20 on a screen.
10-7 Ravens at the half. Ravens get the ball. Back in 15 minutes or so.
And we're back.
Succup's kick goes out of the end zone. Touchback.
The Ravens have 171 passing yards. I'm guessing 161 of those are against Maurice Leggett.
Flacco gets five. Blatant hold on Vrabek ignored by Gene Stenatore.
Rice with a big offtackle gain, 15 maybe 16. Nice play call. First down Ravens.
Nearly picked by Jarrad Page! Damn! Great pass coverage on that play. That's how the cover two is supposed to work.
Rice for three. Third down and about 6 1/2 near midfield.
Nadal swept out of the Open. Its now Federer's 16th slam to lose.
First down Kelley Washington. Who for once doesn't taunt the opponent.
Complete to Mason. Guess who on the coverage. 2nd and 1.
Maurice Leggett makes you long for Mark McMillian or Eric Warfield.
First down run.
Flacco hit as he throws. Incomplete. Holding call on Baltimore it looks like to boot. Yup.
First and 20.
Flacco scrambles for one. Seriously, the front four has only gotten to him once (the Hali fumble), but they are consistently pressuring Flacco.
Call it two. 2nd and 18 at the Chiefs 43.
Rice gets close to 10. 3rd and 8ish at the Chiefs 35. Need a stand.
INTERCEPTION! DJ! He's gone! No, pushed out inside the 10!
Chiefs ball at the 5ish yard line. First and goal. Flacco saved the TD.
Pound the damned ball with LJ.
LJ to the four.
The Ravens crowd is stunned. No noise issues.
Croyle incomplete. Awful pass. Flag on the play.
Illegal hands to the face, Ravens. Half the distance, first down Chiefs.
Pound the damned ball with LJ.
At the 2.
TOUCHDOWN! D BOWE! Holy fucking shit! Holy fucking shit, we're winning! Woo!
14-10 Chiefs!
The only cause for concern is how tired the D has to be. But they keep bending and not breaking. The Ravens have moved the ball. They've now had 6 possessions. 1 TD, 1 FG, 1 punt, 1 missed field goal, 1 blocked punt TD, 1 interception. I can live with that.
Ravens get a solid return, starting at their own 36 after a bad squibber.
That INT / TD combo has awoken Arrowhead Nation. Anthony: "who are these guys and what did they do with the chiefs?" Dusty: "did that really just happen?" Drew: "hell yeah!"
A 3 and out here followed by a long offensive possession would be HUGE. Absolutely hu-yuge.
McClain for 7. Nice tackle by Brown trying to dislodge the ball.
First down run for Rice. Gain of 5. 1st and 10 Ravens near midfield.
Flacco incomplete. Again, the pocket was being collapsed by our front four so he had to hurry the throw. We might not be sacking Flacco but we're definitely getting to him.
Rice for two. Three at the most. 3rd and long at midfield. HUGE play upcoming.
First down, Todd Heap. Protection was there that time. 1st and 10 at Chiefs 40.
The crowd is completely dead. Unbelievable.
McGahee gains 17. That'll wake them up.
The D is spent. Gain of 9 for McGahee. They're just gassed. The offense MUST have a long point-producing drive and soon.
First down McClain. Ravens at about the Chiefs 12, 13 yard line. Holding them to three here would be huge.
McGahee gets 2. 2nd and 8 at the 9ish yard line.
Flacco's pass broken up by (of all people) Maurice Leggett!
Touchdown Todd Heap. Great throw. Solid defense but better throw. Should be 17-14 Ravens after the point after attempt.
Wow, nearly shanked. But good.
If Brodie Croyle is an NFL level quarterback, its high fucking time he shows it on this drive.
Never understood why its called the "walk of shame". I think it should be the "walk of yeah, I got some and you didn't last night, so blow me".
Or the "walk of accomplishment and achievement". Or the "walk of pride".
Chiefs start near their own 20.
I can't believe I'm excited for a show starring LL Cool J. Then again, NCIS:LA will TiVo since its up against Melrose 2.0.
LJ gets two up the middle.
Dick Gannon just said we've called a "masterful gameplan" on offense. Not even Obama lies that bad.
LJ for another two, maybe three. 3rd and 5ish.
Its obviously Haley has no confidence in Croyle.
It'll be close. Bradley with the catch. Just short. And we're punting. This is a HORRENDOUS mistake.
Haley is ripping Bradley a new one. With good cause. That's his second fuckup on third down today that has led to a punt.
Delay of game. Haley is livid. I'm livid at you coach. Grow a pair. You have to take risks to win a game like this. How is 4th and half a yard a risk?
Dusty C shanks it. Ravens ball near midfield. God fucking dammit. That's why you go for it on 4th and a foot.
McClain gets 10 on a whiff by Vrabel.
Sorry, I don't care how many people text or IM me that punting was the right call there, you're fucking wrong. You don't win in ANY sport as a double digit underdog if you're scared to take chances. Especially when there's no real downside. So what if we don't get 4th and 1? Our defense has been getting pushed all over the field in this half. You expect us to stop them now?
2nd and 10. Bad throw over Clayton's head. There was a solid 7-8 yard gain to be had there.
End of the third quarter. Huge 3rd and 10 at the Chiefs 39 upcoming.
I miss Red Friday in the City Market. Then again, I'm still outraged that Bill Grigsby no longer hosts these things. He was always good for a drunken inappropriate outburst or five. Like in 2003 when he dropped the "how the f*ck you doing" line on the air. Or the postgame rants from the Pavilion, when you knew Mitch and Len had the dump button pressed and ready to go.
We're back. Huge 3rd and 10. Stand guys. Stand.
Sorry, its at our 41, not 39. Dyslexia there.
INCOMPLETE! Way off the mark. Corner blitz but wasn't a factor.
Send in the punter!
And please, dear Jesus, send in Tyler Thigpen.
Engram fair catch at the 9. The only time you fair catch inside your 10 is when multiple cover guys are behind you ready to down it. That was the case here. Good call.
We Want Thig Pen! We Want Thig Pen!
Biggest drive of this young season upcoming. An 13 play, 91 yard touchdown drive that chews up 8 minutes off the clock is just what we need.
Good point just raised -- remember last year's season opener, as 13 plus point underdogs, came down to literally the final play of the game, a 4th and goal pass that fell incomplete.
LJ gains 4 on first down. That's the first successful sweep of the day, all our running yardage has come up the middle so far.
LJ for 2 up the middle. 3rd and a long 3, short 4 upcoming.
If Croyle doesn't convert this, there is not one goddamned reason imaginable to keep him in this game.
Full house backfield.
HOLY SHIT! MARK BRADLEY! Apparently the ass chewing by Haley worked! HUGE gain! AWESOME throw! Perfect throw 30 yards downfield! 50 yard gain! WOW!
LJ no gain. Great backside LB support there, and Reed had him stood up. Chiefs went hurry up on that to try to catch the Ravens offguard. It ain't gonna happen.
Play fake. Had to throw it away. Another huge 3rd down coming up. It'd be a 53 yard field goal attempt from here.
Incomplete. I think you have to try the field goal.
We are. Succup trots out.
53 yards.
Wind blowing heavily.
ITS GOOD! Christ, that was good from 60! The wind blowing HARD to the left, and he just DRILLED it!
Tied at 17!
Again, an unexplained premonition, but I feel a Tamba Hali forced fumble with a Tyson Jackson recovery coming on this drive. Or maybe I'm just feeling the effects of 1 1/2 bottles of shiraz by 2:30 in the afternoon.
Carr returns it to the 24, maybe 25.
McGahee for three, maybe four. Again, the crowd is COMPLETELY dead. The first quarter you couldn't hear yourself type it was so loud. Now its just dead.
2nd and 7 at the 28.
McGahee nice screen. First down.
DJ is getting beat every time by either Heap or McGahee in pass coverage.
Ditto Corey Mays.
That time Mike Brown is abused by Todd Heap. A solid 25 yard gain. The D is spent. We need just one brief fuck up from Flacco, a trip or stumble, to let the pressure get to him. The one time we've hit him, he coughed it up.
1st and 10 at the Chiefs 39. McGahee gets 4.
Maybe its time to call the all out blitz. We haven't blitzed much today.
Nickel package. Incomplete to McClain. Again, the front four got solid pressure on Flacco. He's just releasing it before we get there. This kid's impressing me.
Big 3rd down, this is a 54 yard attempt from here.
All out blitz. Flacco unfazed. First down to Mason. Guess who was on coverage. Maurice "I fucking suck" Leggett.
denver 6, Cincy 0. The NFL: its all about the offense!
Why even bother to measure? Anyone with the gift of sight could see that was a first down.
Rice gets 7 on first down.
Rice ... out at the one. I thought he was in. Mike Brown temporarily saves the touchdown.
McClain, touchdown. The defense is done. They've been on the field for nearly 35 minutes already, and there's still 8:10 to go.
Can Brittle Brodie answer?
Touchback. 8:10 to go, 1st and 10 at our own 20. Come on Brodie. Prove me wrong.
Here we go.
Croyle complete to Engram. Gain of 8. Nice throw.
Incomplete on 2nd down. Roughing the passer call though! So 1st and 10 at about the 42, 43 yard line upcoming.
Crowd starting to get into it.
Everyone's talking like the raiders next week is an easier opponent. We haven't beaten those guys at Arrowhead since 2006, and the four previous wins against them, we won on a last second INT (2006), a last second TD (2005), and a last second FG (2004, 2003). It won't be easy.
First down, Mark Bradley. Nice throw. Chiefs in Ravens territory.
At some point, the bomb to Bowe has to be looked at.
Hey, Steve's a psychic! Bowe inside the 20! AWESOME throw by Croyle, huge hole in the Ravens defense, the cover two blitz left the middle wide open.
Croyle hit as he threw, still accurate to Bowe. 2nd and 1 at the Ravens 10 upcoming. Nice play fake on that play to LJ, the defensive line bought it long enough to stop for a second.
LJ and Battle in the backfield.
Is he in? TOUCHDOWN! Shawn Ryan! Holy. Fucking. Shit!
What a play!
What a drive by Brodie Croyle!
Even if the ball came out early, Ryan recovered it. So why challenge it?
Ravens ball near the 25. 5:14 to go. A 3 and out here would be huge. Come on D! DE FENSE! DE FENSE!
Thank GOD McGahee stepped out. He was gone if he walks the tightrope.
There is no underneath support at all today. The linebackers pass coverage is atrocious.
End around to Clayton. Gain of 9. 2nd and 1 at midfield.
McClain falls forward, first down. 3:55 to go. We need a stop, and soon.
I didn't think that was a catch. Penalty on the play. Looked like McGahee scraped it off the ground. Penalty on us anyways, illegal use of hands, so it doesn't matter. 1st down Ravens.
3:08 to go. We need a stop or a turnover, and we need it now.
Ball at the Chiefs 44. 1st and 10.
Rice gets 8. Things are starting to get chippy out there.
McClain falls forward. First down. 2:55 to go. Time to start thinking about a timeout strategory here.
Its a 50 yard attempt from here. Make that 47; 3 yard gain for McGahee. 2:20 to go. Need a stop. Looks like the Chiefs took a timeout, but CBS hasn't noted that yet.
Yes, timeout KC. We have two left. 2nd and 7 at the 30 upcoming.
Cincy takes the lead, 7-6!
Flacco going deep! Incomplete! For once, solid coverage by Leggett. He had no support, it was cover one and Page went with Clayton and Heap.
Huge 3rd down.
Come on D.
Touchdown, Clatyon. We sent everyone on that play after Flacco. Carr burned on the coverage. Ravens up 31-24 with 2:06 to go.
Time for Brittle Brodie to hold serve here.
Charles to the 22. 2 minute warning. 78 yards in 2 minutes with 2 timeouts. This is doable for Bad Brodie and the Boys.
Drew, stating the obvious: "if you blitz the qb someone has to hit the qb".
Four wide, Charles in the backfield.
Croyle sacked. Fumble? Refs say its Ravens ball.
This will be reviewed.
Ground caused the fumble. That was NOT a fumble. This should still be Chiefs ball.
If Stenatore upholds this, the first real disappointment of the season will be that Mike Pereira is no longer around to explain his ref's atrocious decisions on NFL Network every Tuesday.
Eagle and Gannon's pro-Ravens stance this entire game has been nothing short of vomit inducing.
The way the ref talking to Stenatore is writing, you get the feeling this is still Chiefs ball.
Chiefs expect an overturned call.
Correct call. Chiefs ball. 2nd and 18 at the 13.
Gannon: "We got a break here". There's no "we" when it comes to you and this franchise you mother fucking backstabbing traitor.
Bradley and Bowe have caught everything thrown their way today. Just get it in the vicinity Brodie.
Awful pass. In D Bowe's direction. Not even God could have caught that wounded duck. 3rd and 18.
What the fuck was that? Why are you throwing a 3 yard out to your tight end on 3rd and 18? Now 4th and 18.
I'd run Bowe and Bradley on streaks here. 4 Jet All Go.
Croyle sacked. Ballgame.
Gannon stunned that Croyle imploded in crunch time. Anyone who's watched this team the last 3 years is not even REMOTELY surprised by what we just saw. This is the Chiefs the last three years: good enough to lose in the last two minutes. We were 1-7 last year in games decided by 7 or less. We were 2-10 in 2007 in that stat. Its yet another close loss. Although the Ravens will likely tack on a FG here to push the lead to 10.
Look it, I'm not going to get angry over losing because we deserved to lose. But you can't play like shit on offense for 3 quarters and expect to get away with it. Croyle had one good drive today. One. That won't cut it. Brodie Croyle should never again step foot on a NFL field as a starting QB. Never again. If Cassel can't go next week, it damned well better be Thigpen under center. Croyle is NOT a NFL caliber QB. If today doesn't prove that to the new regime, then they're more clueless than the folks they replaced.
I think McGahee was in and the Ravens will win this review. Its a meaningless late score but I thought he was in.
Ruling stands. 4th and goal at the 1. I don't think this is running it up, for what its worth. The Ravens are simply running up the middle.
Dick Gannon and Ian Eagle want the Ravens to try the FG.
Oh good God Dick, we aren't moving 99 yards with no TO's in 36 seconds.
Here's hoping next Sunday at Arrowhead is as bright, sunny, and hot as today's game in Baltimore.
Touchdown McGahee. Get on wit' yo bad self.
DJ whiffed on the tackle. If he stands him up, odds are he doesn't score. Instead he did a dive kind of attempt and McGahee scoots underneath for the score.
:27 to go. Chiefs ball near the 40 after the squibber.
Early prediction: Chiefs 31, raiders 21.
D Bowe padding the stats.
denver won? How the fuck did that happen?!?!
Ballgame. 38-24 Ravens.
There were a lot of positives to take. But the one overwhelming negative is that for some inexplicable reason, the decision makers of this team think Brodie Croyle is a NFL caliber QB. Watch the film tonight guys. He's not. He's awful. And if he ever steps foot on the field again as a Kansas City Chief, heads should roll.
The three key players for the Chiefs:
1. Larry Johnson. He has to top 100 if we're to have a chance.
2. Corey Mays. The coaching staff sees something in this guy. As do I. He needs to be the leader this defense hasn't had since DT passed away.
3. Dusty Colquitt. We know 3 and outs are coming today. We need Dusty C to get us solid field position when he trots out onto the field.
15 minutes to kickoff!
As always, i'm logged onto Yahoo! at teamtito15. Feel free to comment along.
Oh crap. Ian Eagle and Dick Gannon our commentators. I might need to sync this up to 101 the FOX.
I really wish someone would kick Ray Lewis in the balls every time he does his stupid pregame dance.
Chiefs to receive. Jamaal Charles back deep.
And we are underway! Out to the 26. Shockingly decent return.
Two LJ runs nets zero yards. 3rd and long already.
No huddle! Doesn't work, probably should have been picked. For the first time but definitely not the last, enter Dusty C.
Outstanding coverage, and a holding call to boot. Ravens should start about their own 20.
Flacco takes off for 3. No pressure. Must have been solid downfield coverage considering he had at least 6-7 seconds to throw.
Flacco to Mason for 20. Horrendous cover two coverage on that one.
Washington for 22. Why aren't the refs flagging these fuckers for taunting yet?
If you had 12:08 for the first f bomb of the live blog, congratulations.
Great throw by Flacco but Mason couldn't get two feet in. They are terrorizing our safeties at this point.
Ravens burn a timeout. Time to refill the glass of shiraz.
6th straight pass. Mason couldn't bring it in.
First run, and the DL was ready. Loss of two. 3rd and 12 coming up.
GREAT blitz by DJ forced an early throw. 44, 45 yd field goal attempt upcoming.
3-0 Ravens. That's defense I can live with though. Bend but don't break. Stand when you have to. Yes, I'm reaching for positives today.
What self respecting woman would sleep with Romeo Crennel? Wouldn't he like crush you if he was on top?
Make sure those laces are out. Wouldn't want Ray Finkle to stalk you, Ravens kicker.
Charles returns it to the 25. An explosive returner would have really hit the hole and exploited it there, there was a huge seam to run through.
Look at this! 5 abreast! 5 wide in the shotgun! Gain of one on a screen.
Good God, Brodie Croyle sucks. 3rd and long.
Ravens burn another TO. I'm burning through the booze at about the same rate.
OK, I'm cheap, but sweet Jesus, where does McDonalds find these people to "sell" the dollar menu?
How in the hell are you not prepared for the play coming out of a timeout? This is ridiculous. Chiefs burn at TO because of Bumblin' Brodie's incompetence.
There is no way Croyle is better than Thigpen. No freaking way.
Yikes, another awful Croyle effort. He's 1 for 4 for a yard, and damned near 2 picks.
Another Dusty C punt upcoming. Two three and outs in two tries.
Carr trips at his own 30. 57 yard punt, 6 yard return. Back in a few.
Nice screen but its coming back. Hali did a good job on that actually, he didn't fall for the fake and stuck with the QB.
Flacco is just abusing Maurice Leggett. He is in way over his head. Clancy needs to adjust ASAP, maybe move Mike Brown over in a man and one for support?
Rice for 4, maybe 5, on first down.
Rice for 2. 3rd and 3 upcoming near midfield.
First down Washington. Again, when is the taunt going to be called? What a fucking prick Kelley Washington is. Wow, you got a first down. Get on with your overhyped bad self.
Rice for 6. 2nd and 4 at the Chiefs 31.
"Joe Flacco could balance his checkbook back there!" -- Ian Eagle on the Chiefs pass rush.
Total yards: 109 for Ravens, -4 for Chiefs. Good job Brodie.
Screen to McClain. Looks like a 3 yard gain on 1st down.
The brother checks in. "We're horrible". In Brodie Croyle and Maurice Leggett's case, that is a very accurate statement.
Near INT by the Chiefs on a deflected pass. 3rd and 7.
Dial up the blitz?
Nope. Drop 7. WIDE OPEN Todd Heap gains 15. Our pass coverage is awful so far, awful. Corey Mays was supposed to be on him. Mays failed miserably.
Rice to the 4. 2nd and goal.
Rice to the 2. 3rd and goal. Ravens going big, tackle eligible.
Christ Jesus. Someone should be fired for that play. Joe Flacco had 15 seconds to throw. Touchdown McGahee.
10-0 Ravens. If Croyle doesn't get points on this drive, you have to make the switch before this gets completely out of control. The defense is struggling right now, but -4 yards offense is inexcusable. Either Brodie puts up points, or storm the field, grab him by the jersey, and yank his ass to the unemployment line.
Its put up or shut up time Brodie. Its been three years pal. Enough is enough. Either show something or have some dignity and step aside for someone who's actually won a game in this league. (And somehow had our offense putting up yards and points last year).
We'll start at our 16. Poor decision to return that kick.
LJ trips. Loss of one.
Seriously, watch Croyle's reaction to even simple handoffs. Its obvious he has no confidence at all back there. BENCH BRODIE NOW!
LJ, decent screen, gains 7. 3rd and 4 upcoming.
This is gonna be close. I think he's just short.
He is.
Why can't you go for that? Gutless football. Absolutely embarrassing. I'm beyond pissed off right now.
Ravens will start inside their 15 after a penalty.
Starting at their 7 actually. Solid wrap-up of McGahee. Loss of 2. Should be the last play of the quarter.
10-0 Ravens after one. We need a stand here.
Flacco airs it out! Leggett actually with outstanding coverage. 3rd and 9, apparently McGahee got forward progress on first down.
Flacco first down, but it should be coming back for a hold. Front four got pressure on him that time.
Damned near a safety. Penalty occurred at the one.
Good call, the hold did start before entering the end zone.
3rd and 14 is my guess. CBS doing a piss poor job showing down and distance.
Come on guys. Stand.
That should be intentional grounding!
God dammit! Offsetting fouls. God fucking dammit!
Another 3rd and 14 must stand.
Gain of 12. Good job by the D that drive. Punt upcoming.
Leggett fumbles the punt! At least he recovered it. Let's just say Maurice Leggett is not getting a gameball today. Although he might be getting a personal invite to see Ray Farmer tomorrow morning. And don't forget the playbook.
I would switch to Thigpen. Croyle has shown he can't move this team. You have an opportunity right now to try to get back into this thing, to put yourself in a position where a turnover can give you the lead. Grab the opportunity Coach, and put in at QB the guy who can get you a win (as opposed to the guy who hasn't won a game since his senior year in college).
Still Croyle. Even odds this is a three and out or worse.
LJ for three.
Thigpen is in! Runs for a gain of three.
And he's staying in!
Todd Haley just won me over.
Not sure what in the hell that play was for. Charles on a pitch? No gain. Another Dusty C appearance upcoming.
Fair catch inside his own ten. Dumb decision.
I feel a huge momentum shift coming on this drive. I feel a defensive score upcoming. I also feel like I need another glass of shiraz. Back in a minute.
The wings Dusty J brought last night are reheating in the oven, the shiraz is going down like a Harrah's employee fixing a television in Tahoe, life is good. Other than this game, of course.
Rice for three, maybe four.
Call it five.
Mason drops a first down catch. Third and five upcoming.
Nadal is getting destroyed at the Open right now, already down a set and down two breaks in the second.
AWESOME blitz from the corner by Mays, the D was ready for the bailout pass. No gain to McGahee. Punt upcoming.
I nailed it! I fucking nailed it! Scroll up six lines! Punt block touchdown! Jon McGraw! 10-7! We're in it!
Nadal now down 2 sets. So much for the dream of Federer and Nadal in prime time tomorrow night, that doesn't look good right now.
Carr to his 18, maybe 19. There's a fire on this defense right now. A swagger. There's a buzz. You can feel it. Of course, that might just be me being buzzed but still.
Rice, nice screen. Its close to a first. Nice play call by Cam Cameron to calm things down.
It was a first. Rice gets 4 to follow up. 2nd and 6 at about the 35.
Nice cheap shot from Vrabel to "knock" Flacco out of bounds. Awesome pressure up the middle from Jackson. 3rd and 6.
Make that 3rd and 11, delay of game.
WIDE OPEN Todd Heap to the 47, 48 yard line. First down. Looks like Mays blew the cover three assignment on that one.
McGahee makes something out of nothing, four yard gain on a bailout screen.
First down Ravens, Mark Clayton. Guess who on the coverage. Hurry back soon Brandon. Maurice sucks.
Dick Gannon noting the Chiefs need to roll support towards Leggett. I made that point 35 fucking minutes ago.
FUMBLE! Tamba Hali! Looks like the Ravens recover, but the front four pressure is TREMENDOUS today.
Incomplete! Brown was reacting to the pass, if he'd laid back that might have been picked. Third and fourteen. Come on guys!
Another pass against Leggett, another first down. Once again, we're leaving Leggett one on one. It isn't working. Its not going to work. Admit failure and adjust.
First and ten Ravens, Chiefs 29 yard line.
Rice gets 5, maybe 6.
Nice hit by Page to dislodge a Heap first down catch. Third and five. Would be nice to hold the Ravens to a field goal attempt here.
Flacco's pass tipped! Corey Mays with the tip. Field goal try upcoming. HUGE moral victory there for our defense, which has been on the field for all but about 3 minutes so far.
NO GOOD! Wide left! WOW! Momentum has completely swung! Let's hope Thigpen can get something going. Chiefs ball at their own 31 when we get back.
I hope the heat on the Ravens field is at least 10 degrees hotter at Arrowhead next Sunday. My tan's starting to fade.
Croyle back in at QB. Ugh.
Immediate penalty. False start on Albert.
Full house backfield. LJ for seven up the middle. The line is opening no holes, but LJ is consistently falling forward for an extra yard or two more than he should get.
Horrible end around that fools nobody. Loss of three. Third and ten upcoming. Considering Bad Brodie hasn't thrown a pass deeper than 5 yards downfield yet, this doesn't look good.
Croyle in the gun.
First down! Bobby Engram!
Should take us to the two minute warning. First and ten at our own 42.
Nadal already down a break in the third. He might get swept out of the semis, unbelievable.
And yes, I have US Open tennis on the 2nd TV. Why? Because its the US Open. Its the one tourney I'll tune in for. Always good stuff.
We have a Ravens challenge on the spot. Not a bad decision. I think he got it but he did take a step back before moving forward again.
Chiefs win the challenge. Ravens now out of TOs for the half. Chiefs still have two.
Nice run by Jamaal Charles. First down to the Ravens 48.
Charles for one. I like the strategy, we'll start throwing eventually but ensure the Ravens don't get the ball back with time to do anything with it.
Charles gains one on a dumpoff. He knew the second he caught it he should have dropped it.
3rd and 8. :50 left in the half. I'd look 15 yards downfield.
D Bowe hadn't had a catch yet.
Draw play. End of the half. I'm not thrilled with it, but oh well.
Why call TO there? Unless you're trying the free kick or throwing a Hail Mary?
Hail Mary attempt. Nothing there. Charles gains 20 on a screen.
10-7 Ravens at the half. Ravens get the ball. Back in 15 minutes or so.
And we're back.
Succup's kick goes out of the end zone. Touchback.
The Ravens have 171 passing yards. I'm guessing 161 of those are against Maurice Leggett.
Flacco gets five. Blatant hold on Vrabek ignored by Gene Stenatore.
Rice with a big offtackle gain, 15 maybe 16. Nice play call. First down Ravens.
Nearly picked by Jarrad Page! Damn! Great pass coverage on that play. That's how the cover two is supposed to work.
Rice for three. Third down and about 6 1/2 near midfield.
Nadal swept out of the Open. Its now Federer's 16th slam to lose.
First down Kelley Washington. Who for once doesn't taunt the opponent.
Complete to Mason. Guess who on the coverage. 2nd and 1.
Maurice Leggett makes you long for Mark McMillian or Eric Warfield.
First down run.
Flacco hit as he throws. Incomplete. Holding call on Baltimore it looks like to boot. Yup.
First and 20.
Flacco scrambles for one. Seriously, the front four has only gotten to him once (the Hali fumble), but they are consistently pressuring Flacco.
Call it two. 2nd and 18 at the Chiefs 43.
Rice gets close to 10. 3rd and 8ish at the Chiefs 35. Need a stand.
INTERCEPTION! DJ! He's gone! No, pushed out inside the 10!
Chiefs ball at the 5ish yard line. First and goal. Flacco saved the TD.
Pound the damned ball with LJ.
LJ to the four.
The Ravens crowd is stunned. No noise issues.
Croyle incomplete. Awful pass. Flag on the play.
Illegal hands to the face, Ravens. Half the distance, first down Chiefs.
Pound the damned ball with LJ.
At the 2.
TOUCHDOWN! D BOWE! Holy fucking shit! Holy fucking shit, we're winning! Woo!
14-10 Chiefs!
The only cause for concern is how tired the D has to be. But they keep bending and not breaking. The Ravens have moved the ball. They've now had 6 possessions. 1 TD, 1 FG, 1 punt, 1 missed field goal, 1 blocked punt TD, 1 interception. I can live with that.
Ravens get a solid return, starting at their own 36 after a bad squibber.
That INT / TD combo has awoken Arrowhead Nation. Anthony: "who are these guys and what did they do with the chiefs?" Dusty: "did that really just happen?" Drew: "hell yeah!"
A 3 and out here followed by a long offensive possession would be HUGE. Absolutely hu-yuge.
McClain for 7. Nice tackle by Brown trying to dislodge the ball.
First down run for Rice. Gain of 5. 1st and 10 Ravens near midfield.
Flacco incomplete. Again, the pocket was being collapsed by our front four so he had to hurry the throw. We might not be sacking Flacco but we're definitely getting to him.
Rice for two. Three at the most. 3rd and long at midfield. HUGE play upcoming.
First down, Todd Heap. Protection was there that time. 1st and 10 at Chiefs 40.
The crowd is completely dead. Unbelievable.
McGahee gains 17. That'll wake them up.
The D is spent. Gain of 9 for McGahee. They're just gassed. The offense MUST have a long point-producing drive and soon.
First down McClain. Ravens at about the Chiefs 12, 13 yard line. Holding them to three here would be huge.
McGahee gets 2. 2nd and 8 at the 9ish yard line.
Flacco's pass broken up by (of all people) Maurice Leggett!
Touchdown Todd Heap. Great throw. Solid defense but better throw. Should be 17-14 Ravens after the point after attempt.
Wow, nearly shanked. But good.
If Brodie Croyle is an NFL level quarterback, its high fucking time he shows it on this drive.
Never understood why its called the "walk of shame". I think it should be the "walk of yeah, I got some and you didn't last night, so blow me".
Or the "walk of accomplishment and achievement". Or the "walk of pride".
Chiefs start near their own 20.
I can't believe I'm excited for a show starring LL Cool J. Then again, NCIS:LA will TiVo since its up against Melrose 2.0.
LJ gets two up the middle.
Dick Gannon just said we've called a "masterful gameplan" on offense. Not even Obama lies that bad.
LJ for another two, maybe three. 3rd and 5ish.
Its obviously Haley has no confidence in Croyle.
It'll be close. Bradley with the catch. Just short. And we're punting. This is a HORRENDOUS mistake.
Haley is ripping Bradley a new one. With good cause. That's his second fuckup on third down today that has led to a punt.
Delay of game. Haley is livid. I'm livid at you coach. Grow a pair. You have to take risks to win a game like this. How is 4th and half a yard a risk?
Dusty C shanks it. Ravens ball near midfield. God fucking dammit. That's why you go for it on 4th and a foot.
McClain gets 10 on a whiff by Vrabel.
Sorry, I don't care how many people text or IM me that punting was the right call there, you're fucking wrong. You don't win in ANY sport as a double digit underdog if you're scared to take chances. Especially when there's no real downside. So what if we don't get 4th and 1? Our defense has been getting pushed all over the field in this half. You expect us to stop them now?
2nd and 10. Bad throw over Clayton's head. There was a solid 7-8 yard gain to be had there.
End of the third quarter. Huge 3rd and 10 at the Chiefs 39 upcoming.
I miss Red Friday in the City Market. Then again, I'm still outraged that Bill Grigsby no longer hosts these things. He was always good for a drunken inappropriate outburst or five. Like in 2003 when he dropped the "how the f*ck you doing" line on the air. Or the postgame rants from the Pavilion, when you knew Mitch and Len had the dump button pressed and ready to go.
We're back. Huge 3rd and 10. Stand guys. Stand.
Sorry, its at our 41, not 39. Dyslexia there.
INCOMPLETE! Way off the mark. Corner blitz but wasn't a factor.
Send in the punter!
And please, dear Jesus, send in Tyler Thigpen.
Engram fair catch at the 9. The only time you fair catch inside your 10 is when multiple cover guys are behind you ready to down it. That was the case here. Good call.
We Want Thig Pen! We Want Thig Pen!
Biggest drive of this young season upcoming. An 13 play, 91 yard touchdown drive that chews up 8 minutes off the clock is just what we need.
Good point just raised -- remember last year's season opener, as 13 plus point underdogs, came down to literally the final play of the game, a 4th and goal pass that fell incomplete.
LJ gains 4 on first down. That's the first successful sweep of the day, all our running yardage has come up the middle so far.
LJ for 2 up the middle. 3rd and a long 3, short 4 upcoming.
If Croyle doesn't convert this, there is not one goddamned reason imaginable to keep him in this game.
Full house backfield.
HOLY SHIT! MARK BRADLEY! Apparently the ass chewing by Haley worked! HUGE gain! AWESOME throw! Perfect throw 30 yards downfield! 50 yard gain! WOW!
LJ no gain. Great backside LB support there, and Reed had him stood up. Chiefs went hurry up on that to try to catch the Ravens offguard. It ain't gonna happen.
Play fake. Had to throw it away. Another huge 3rd down coming up. It'd be a 53 yard field goal attempt from here.
Incomplete. I think you have to try the field goal.
We are. Succup trots out.
53 yards.
Wind blowing heavily.
ITS GOOD! Christ, that was good from 60! The wind blowing HARD to the left, and he just DRILLED it!
Tied at 17!
Again, an unexplained premonition, but I feel a Tamba Hali forced fumble with a Tyson Jackson recovery coming on this drive. Or maybe I'm just feeling the effects of 1 1/2 bottles of shiraz by 2:30 in the afternoon.
Carr returns it to the 24, maybe 25.
McGahee for three, maybe four. Again, the crowd is COMPLETELY dead. The first quarter you couldn't hear yourself type it was so loud. Now its just dead.
2nd and 7 at the 28.
McGahee nice screen. First down.
DJ is getting beat every time by either Heap or McGahee in pass coverage.
Ditto Corey Mays.
That time Mike Brown is abused by Todd Heap. A solid 25 yard gain. The D is spent. We need just one brief fuck up from Flacco, a trip or stumble, to let the pressure get to him. The one time we've hit him, he coughed it up.
1st and 10 at the Chiefs 39. McGahee gets 4.
Maybe its time to call the all out blitz. We haven't blitzed much today.
Nickel package. Incomplete to McClain. Again, the front four got solid pressure on Flacco. He's just releasing it before we get there. This kid's impressing me.
Big 3rd down, this is a 54 yard attempt from here.
All out blitz. Flacco unfazed. First down to Mason. Guess who was on coverage. Maurice "I fucking suck" Leggett.
denver 6, Cincy 0. The NFL: its all about the offense!
Why even bother to measure? Anyone with the gift of sight could see that was a first down.
Rice gets 7 on first down.
Rice ... out at the one. I thought he was in. Mike Brown temporarily saves the touchdown.
McClain, touchdown. The defense is done. They've been on the field for nearly 35 minutes already, and there's still 8:10 to go.
Can Brittle Brodie answer?
Touchback. 8:10 to go, 1st and 10 at our own 20. Come on Brodie. Prove me wrong.
Here we go.
Croyle complete to Engram. Gain of 8. Nice throw.
Incomplete on 2nd down. Roughing the passer call though! So 1st and 10 at about the 42, 43 yard line upcoming.
Crowd starting to get into it.
Everyone's talking like the raiders next week is an easier opponent. We haven't beaten those guys at Arrowhead since 2006, and the four previous wins against them, we won on a last second INT (2006), a last second TD (2005), and a last second FG (2004, 2003). It won't be easy.
First down, Mark Bradley. Nice throw. Chiefs in Ravens territory.
At some point, the bomb to Bowe has to be looked at.
Hey, Steve's a psychic! Bowe inside the 20! AWESOME throw by Croyle, huge hole in the Ravens defense, the cover two blitz left the middle wide open.
Croyle hit as he threw, still accurate to Bowe. 2nd and 1 at the Ravens 10 upcoming. Nice play fake on that play to LJ, the defensive line bought it long enough to stop for a second.
LJ and Battle in the backfield.
Is he in? TOUCHDOWN! Shawn Ryan! Holy. Fucking. Shit!
What a play!
What a drive by Brodie Croyle!
Even if the ball came out early, Ryan recovered it. So why challenge it?
Ravens ball near the 25. 5:14 to go. A 3 and out here would be huge. Come on D! DE FENSE! DE FENSE!
Thank GOD McGahee stepped out. He was gone if he walks the tightrope.
There is no underneath support at all today. The linebackers pass coverage is atrocious.
End around to Clayton. Gain of 9. 2nd and 1 at midfield.
McClain falls forward, first down. 3:55 to go. We need a stop, and soon.
I didn't think that was a catch. Penalty on the play. Looked like McGahee scraped it off the ground. Penalty on us anyways, illegal use of hands, so it doesn't matter. 1st down Ravens.
3:08 to go. We need a stop or a turnover, and we need it now.
Ball at the Chiefs 44. 1st and 10.
Rice gets 8. Things are starting to get chippy out there.
McClain falls forward. First down. 2:55 to go. Time to start thinking about a timeout strategory here.
Its a 50 yard attempt from here. Make that 47; 3 yard gain for McGahee. 2:20 to go. Need a stop. Looks like the Chiefs took a timeout, but CBS hasn't noted that yet.
Yes, timeout KC. We have two left. 2nd and 7 at the 30 upcoming.
Cincy takes the lead, 7-6!
Flacco going deep! Incomplete! For once, solid coverage by Leggett. He had no support, it was cover one and Page went with Clayton and Heap.
Huge 3rd down.
Come on D.
Touchdown, Clatyon. We sent everyone on that play after Flacco. Carr burned on the coverage. Ravens up 31-24 with 2:06 to go.
Time for Brittle Brodie to hold serve here.
Charles to the 22. 2 minute warning. 78 yards in 2 minutes with 2 timeouts. This is doable for Bad Brodie and the Boys.
Drew, stating the obvious: "if you blitz the qb someone has to hit the qb".
Four wide, Charles in the backfield.
Croyle sacked. Fumble? Refs say its Ravens ball.
This will be reviewed.
Ground caused the fumble. That was NOT a fumble. This should still be Chiefs ball.
If Stenatore upholds this, the first real disappointment of the season will be that Mike Pereira is no longer around to explain his ref's atrocious decisions on NFL Network every Tuesday.
Eagle and Gannon's pro-Ravens stance this entire game has been nothing short of vomit inducing.
The way the ref talking to Stenatore is writing, you get the feeling this is still Chiefs ball.
Chiefs expect an overturned call.
Correct call. Chiefs ball. 2nd and 18 at the 13.
Gannon: "We got a break here". There's no "we" when it comes to you and this franchise you mother fucking backstabbing traitor.
Bradley and Bowe have caught everything thrown their way today. Just get it in the vicinity Brodie.
Awful pass. In D Bowe's direction. Not even God could have caught that wounded duck. 3rd and 18.
What the fuck was that? Why are you throwing a 3 yard out to your tight end on 3rd and 18? Now 4th and 18.
I'd run Bowe and Bradley on streaks here. 4 Jet All Go.
Croyle sacked. Ballgame.
Gannon stunned that Croyle imploded in crunch time. Anyone who's watched this team the last 3 years is not even REMOTELY surprised by what we just saw. This is the Chiefs the last three years: good enough to lose in the last two minutes. We were 1-7 last year in games decided by 7 or less. We were 2-10 in 2007 in that stat. Its yet another close loss. Although the Ravens will likely tack on a FG here to push the lead to 10.
Look it, I'm not going to get angry over losing because we deserved to lose. But you can't play like shit on offense for 3 quarters and expect to get away with it. Croyle had one good drive today. One. That won't cut it. Brodie Croyle should never again step foot on a NFL field as a starting QB. Never again. If Cassel can't go next week, it damned well better be Thigpen under center. Croyle is NOT a NFL caliber QB. If today doesn't prove that to the new regime, then they're more clueless than the folks they replaced.
I think McGahee was in and the Ravens will win this review. Its a meaningless late score but I thought he was in.
Ruling stands. 4th and goal at the 1. I don't think this is running it up, for what its worth. The Ravens are simply running up the middle.
Dick Gannon and Ian Eagle want the Ravens to try the FG.
Oh good God Dick, we aren't moving 99 yards with no TO's in 36 seconds.
Here's hoping next Sunday at Arrowhead is as bright, sunny, and hot as today's game in Baltimore.
Touchdown McGahee. Get on wit' yo bad self.
DJ whiffed on the tackle. If he stands him up, odds are he doesn't score. Instead he did a dive kind of attempt and McGahee scoots underneath for the score.
:27 to go. Chiefs ball near the 40 after the squibber.
Early prediction: Chiefs 31, raiders 21.
D Bowe padding the stats.
denver won? How the fuck did that happen?!?!
Ballgame. 38-24 Ravens.
There were a lot of positives to take. But the one overwhelming negative is that for some inexplicable reason, the decision makers of this team think Brodie Croyle is a NFL caliber QB. Watch the film tonight guys. He's not. He's awful. And if he ever steps foot on the field again as a Kansas City Chief, heads should roll.
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