Tag: Kansas City Chiefs

NFL Week 7 Reaction

Buffalo Bills (4-3) @ New England Patriots (2-5)

Credit to Mac Jones and the Pats. They came out and played well versus a much better Bills team. And even after blowing a big lead, Mac led the team down the field in the clutch and made some huge throws. Congrats to Bill on 300.

Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs (6-1)

The first half of this game was fun to watch and looked like it would be a shootout. In the second half, the Chiefs defense stepped up and the Chiefs showed they are still the top contenders in the AFC.

The Chargers season is on the line next week as they fall to 2-4 on the year.

Miami Dolphins (5-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (6-1)

The Eagles defense led the way to help Philly make their case as the best team in the league. Their jerseys were absolutely awesome too.

Betting Picks Results

Moneyline: 2-1 (18-9 Overall)

Spread: 1-2 (20-7)

O/U: 3-0 (15-11-1)

NFL Week 7 Predictions

Buffalo Bills (4-2) @ New England Patriots (1-5)

As overmatched as the Pats have looked vs the Bills in recent years, this Pats team is even worse. The Bills will win, cover (-8), and the over (40) hits.

Los Angeles Chargers (2-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)

A big game for a Chargers team that wants to get to .500 to get on track to make the playoffs. The Chiefs may be 5-1, but have not looked like their electric self on offense and have really relied on their defense to win games. I think the Chiefs win but the Chargers cover (+5.5) and the over hits (47.5).

Miami Dolphins (5-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

A high profile matchup between two 5-1 teams. I think the Dolphins have looked better this year, but that the Eagles are the better team overall and will make it further in the playoffs. I think the Eagles win, cover (-3), and the under hits (51.5).

Current Quaterbacks Going to the Hall Of Fame

No Doubt

Aaron Rodgers: A four time MVP who throws the prettiest ball of all time. He’ll be a first ballot HOF and no one will bat an eye.

Patrick Mahomes: He is putting up numbers and accolades at a faster pace than any QB ever. It pains me to say, but he will make a run at the NFL GOAT and at minimum should be on the Mt. Rushmore for QBs if he stays healthy.

Likely In

Russell Wilson: Forget last year and the beginning of this year. He’s a nine time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl Champ, an All-Pro, and the QB of a legendary team. I do think he needs one more MVP/OPOY/All-Pro type season to guarantee himself and he has a chance with Sean Payton. The one thing that could keep him out is if his play continues to be this ugly moving forward and our last memories of him are awful play and being overpaid.

Young, but will eventually make it

Justin Herbert: I think his floor is a Dan Marino type career where his team lets him down but he puts up all time numbers. If he can even win one Super Bowl, I think he goes down as a Top 10 QB ever.

Joe Burrow: He is a gamer and a winner and it looks like he’ll have Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase for years to come. I think the Bengals will win at least one Super Bowl and he’ll have many individual accolades.

Missing Out

Josh Allen: His play is absolutely amazing but playing like Superman has its consequences. I think he takes too many hits and it will lead to him having too short of a career to do what he needs to make the Hall.

Matthew Stafford: I don’t get the Hall buzz for Stafford. He has made one Pro Bowl, never been an All-Pro, never been considered a Top 5 QB, and never won a major award. It’s not even a question, he’s out.

Modern Keys to Build Successful Teams

The 2010s New England Patriots and late 2010s/2020s Kansas City Chiefs have given the rest of the NFL the blueprint on how to build sustained success in the NFL. Maybe Bill Belichick should take notes.

1. It all starts with a great ownership group. I’m not saying this is the most important thing, but it is what gets the ball rolling. Having great owners like the Krafts and Hunts is a bedrock for success. At the end of the day, even great coaches, players, and GMs get fired/released, retire, or move on, but families who are great owners can last until the end of time. Just look at the Rooney Family and the Steelers. The only down side is that is true for bad owners too (looking at you Lions).

2. Great owners will hire great GMs who know football like Belichick and Brett Veach, who can in turn fill out the rest of the front office with quality people. A great GM and front office then hire a great coach and draft/sign/trade for great players. Give Belichick all the shit you want about not being a great GM lately, but he is the architect of the 2000s-2010s Patriots (a dynasty that lasted two decades).

3. A great coach will work with the front office to bring in quality players. They will then develop them and coach them up to fit in the system. Andy Reid and Belichick obviously are experts on the side of the ball they grew up coaching, but also have a great level of knowledge on the other side too. They also hire coaches on their staff who know what they’re doing and bring a lot to the table. This all leads to high quality coaching on and off the field that is necessary for success.

4. This is the most important aspect: a star QB who is willing to take pay cuts. I know this seems to go without saying. But not only does a QB need to be great, especially in key moments, but they need to be willing to take pay cuts for the team. This allows the organization to create a better team around the QB. Brady and Mahomes are the only two QBs who seem to have realized this.

5. This will outline different positon groups in no particular order

  • Running backs: No need to spend big on this position. It’s better to have a running back by committee. That way you don’t commit too much salary cap to RBs and aren’t fucked if one goes down by injury.
  • Receivers: You need one great receiver and the rest don’t have to be stars, but need to have a few big moments when called on. The Pats and Chiefs lucked out that their star weapons have been TEs in Gronk and Kelce. Not only do they create matchup nightmares that open up the field for everyone else, but they produce as well as a star WR, for much less money. Outside of you star receiver, your other WRs and TEs should be solid guys but nothing special. Yes, one of the Super Bowls Mahomes won he had Tyreek Hill, but he proved last year he could win with a rag tag bunch of WRs too. Mahomes is so good he made them better, and they made plays when they had to. For the Pats, it was the same way. Julian Edelman was especially clutch, but he would not be the same player without Brady. Guys like Chris Hogan, Martellus Bennett, and Danny Amendola also stepped up when needed.
  • OLine: You need a solid unit that gels, but you do not need any superstar tackles or players. It is most important to have a unit as a whole that is great.
  • Defense: This is where the two teams differed. The Pats had overall great defenses who ranked in the top 10 in scoring each year from 2014-2018, but they did not have a constant superstar the entire run, more so just a great unit. The Chiefs defense has been better than people have given it credit the past 4 seasons, finishing 3 of them in the Top 10. Their biggest asset has been they stepped up their game in the postseason. Their only star defensive player for both rings has been Chris Jones. The rest of the defense has been a solid unit that played well together and wasn’t very expensive.
  • Special teams: Special teams need to be well coached and disciplined. They need to not lose their team’s games and ideally make a couple big plays throughout the season, such as a clutch kick or punt return.

The blueprint is there for teams and players to follow. It’s easier said than done but the NFL is a copycat league and unless another team adopts these ways, the Chiefs will keep dominating.

NFL Week 2 Reaction

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

I still won’t hit the panic button on the Bengals. The Bengals started off 0-2 last year and almost made the Super Bowl. If Burrow is injured and/or they play bad next weekend then it’s time to panic.

The Bengals offense is so flat right now and they aren’t doing a good job involving their stars. They played better at the end of the game and need to keep that momentum going next week.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Chris Jones showed just how important he is to the Chiefs. They held a great offense to nine points and he was the best player on defense by a mile. The offense will get it together and if the defense can continue to play like this, the Chiefs have nothing to worry about.

The Jags are a great team. They could’ve won that game, but did not execute well in the red zone. The Jags aren’t a team the Chiefs will want to have to play come the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

Those Patriots red uniforms are the best in sports and absolutely pop.

This was the second straight game where the Pats lost by inches. That’s sports but it’s still tough to swallow.

The Pats throw too many screens. They’re skill players aren’t good enough to make people miss and get big gains. They need to air it out more.

All things told, the Pats defense played well against one of the best offenses in football. Christian Gonzalez is special and helped lock up Tyreek Hill. He reminds me a lot of Richard Sherman with his size and tackling ability. He is one of the only young players on the Pats who has serious potential.

That blocked field goal by the Pats was genius. Never thought I’d see a guy go in motion on a field goal block, but I bet other teams will copy that.

Overall

Picks: 1-2 (7-7 Overall)

Spread: 1-2 (9-5)

O/U: 3-0 (6-7-1)

NFL Week 2 Preview

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals looked awful last weekend but there is no need to panic. They started off 0-2 last year and made it back to the AFC Championship. Not only are they 4-1 against the Ravens the last two seasons, but they are a better team than Baltimore. I think the Bengals win, cover (-3), and the over hits (46.5).

Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Chiefs got some much needed motivation by losing the NFL season opener to the Lions. They will take that fire into this week and they are getting two of the best players in the league back in Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. The Jags are a good team, but the Chiefs with motivation are nearly impossible to beat. The Chiefs will win, cover (-3.5), and the under hits (51).

Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

Don’t believe the Tua hype after one game. I think Belichick and the great Pats defense find a way to shut down Tyreek Hill and force Tua to win the game -which he won’t. The Pats offense showed it has much more spark than last year and the Dolphins defense is much worse than the Eagles. I think the Pats win, cover (+3), and the under hits (46.5).

Top 10 QBs of All Time

1 Tom Brady

He has put up the amazing stats in the regular and postseason. He has won regular season awards. And most importantly, he has won more Super Bowls than any NFL Franchise has. The one and only GOAT.

2 Joe Montana

A guy who played his best during the biggest moments. 4-0 in Super Bowls, 3 Super Bowl MVPs, 11 TDs-0 INTs, and a QB rating of 127.8. Oh yeah and he wasn’t too bad in the regular season, winning 2 MVPs and being a 5 time All-Pro.

3 Peyton Manning

A super likable guy off the field, he was a killer on it. A ten time All-Pro, 5 MVPs, and he also won 2 Super Bowls.

4 Aaron Rodgers

He probably throws the greatest ball in NFL history and doesn’t even look like he’s trying. It’s no surprise he’s won 4 MVPs and put up a ridiculous TD-Int ratio of 475-105.

5 Brett Favre

The ultimate gunslinger. Favre would improvise like no one else and was never afraid to make any throw, which led to many interceptions, but also 3 MVPs and a Super Bowl.

6 John Elway

One of the most hyped QBs coming out of college and he delivered with 2 Super Bowls and an MVP.

7 Johnny Unitas

Unitas was putting up big numbers in the passing game well before most QBs were. His 3 MVPs and 7 All-Pro selections show how dominant he was.

8 Patrick Mahomes

Probably the most talented QB to ever play. At only 27, he still has a lot of his legacy left to write and could make a run for the top spot on this list.

9 Dan Marino

He was dominant and put up modern day numbers in the 80s. The fact he’s on this list despite not winning the big one shows how good he was.

10 Drew Brees

He put up huge numbers year after year and brought NOLA a much needed Super Bowl.

Top 10 QBs in the NFL

Below are my top 10 QBs for this year. I am not solely basing it off last year, but instead both the last couple of years plus how I think they’ll perform this year. I will update again at midseason.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

No explanation needed.

2. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert’s size, arm, and athleticism have led to him to have the most passing yards and 2nd most passing TDs by a QB in their first 3 seasons. Poor coaching and injuries to teammates have affected him, but the postseason wins will start to come.

3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow has proven to us since college he is a gamer and a winner. His spectacular play will keep the Bengals contenders for years to come.

4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

The most physically gifted QB I have ever seen. I worry all the hits will pile up, but for now he is dominant and fun to watch.

5. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

An all-time great QB who still has a lot to prove. The 4-time MVP is still good enough to add a 2nd ring to his legendary resume.

6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

He jumped onto the scene as an MVP candidate last year. Will he be able to continue to build on his great play?

7. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

One of the highest rated QB prospects ever showed us how good he was last year. Like Hurts, it’s now about building on that and getting even better.

8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Lamar has proven he is the most athletic QB ever and can rack up the regular season wins. He now needs to stay healthy and start having more postseason success.

9. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

I absolutely do not think his best days are behind him. With new coach Sean Payton, he may show he’s still a Top 5 QB this year.

10. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

He was rusty last year, but with an entire offseason to continue improving, I think we see the Houston Deshaun who was a borderline Top 5 QB.

On the Bubble:

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Dak needs so much help around him to be great and consistently does not lead his team deep in the playoffs.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Kirk puts up big numbers, but does not get it done in the playoffs.

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Super talented QB, but there are big questions about his durability and leadership

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

He is now in a situation similar to his Detroit days (albeit with a better coach). He wasn’t a top 10 QB then, and still is not now.

Bold Predictions for 2023

With the regular season approaching, below are some bold predictions I have for this upcoming season:

I have long been a Justin Fields guy and always thought he should’ve been the 2nd QB taken in his draft. Every elite QB who was drafted in the past 10 years has put it together by the end of Year 3. Fields enters Year 3 and I think he puts it all together this season, throws for at least 3,000 yards and 25 TDs, and makes his first Pro Bowl.

Ron Rivera will get fired after this year. He has not posted a winning season in 3 years and won’t this year as the roster isn’t very talented outside of WR and D-Line. With a new ownership group that is even considering changing the team name again, they probably want to clean house and build the team in their vision.

The Packers will finish last in their division for just the 11th time in 103 seasons. That shows how good this franchise has been in its history, but this is a reset year for them.

This will be Bill Belichick’s last season as the Patriots coach. I think another mediocre season leads to Bill and the Pats deciding to part ways. I also think Josh McDaniels gets fired this year and returns to coach the Patriots. The Raiders will be the worst team in their division and will want to rebuild and move in a different direction. With Belichick leaving the Pats, I think they call on McDaniels to be their next coach.

Justyn Ross will have a great season and establish himself as a starter on the Chiefs. Ross has the talent, as he led the 2018 National Champion Clemson Tigers in receiving as a freshman. He made a remarkable comeback in college from a congenital fusion of two vertebrae in his neck and also dealt with a foot injury last year that cost him the season. He had an impressive training camp and preseason and now gets to make a name for himself for a team with the best coach/QB in the league, who also don’t have a clear cut star wide receiver.

Russell Wilson will double his TD passes from last year and come back to form. Wilson is not washed, last year was a fluke. With a great offensive coach in Sean Payton, Wilson is primed to get back on his Hall of Fame trajectory.

Jahan Dotson will have 1,000 yards receiving this year despite the QB uncertainty in Washington. He has tons of talent and will benefit from Terry Mclaurin seeing double teams.

Chase Young will bounce back from injuries to have double digit sacks and play himself into a massive contract. There’s a reason he was a number 2 overall pick and the DROY. He is so talented and will benefit from playing on the best D-line in the league.

Jared Goff will throw 30 TDs this year. He has surpassed expectations as the QB for the Lions and should put up big numbers in a high powered Lions offense.

Kyle Pitts will have another Pro Bowl season, doubling his yardage total from last year. He’s so talented and the best receiving option on the Falcons, so I see him bouncing back.

This is more of a long term prediction, but I think Anthony Richardson will end up being the best QB from the 2023 class. Richardson will be a work in progress right now, but his raw athletic skills remind me of Josh Allen and I think new coach Shane Steichen helps him realize his potential.