The Kansas City Chiefs have finished atop their division the last seven seasons. But for the first time in ages, the rug seems to be slipping out from under Patrick Mahomes’ feet.
Instead of humbly congratulating Josh Allen for his victory Sunday night, Patrick Mahomes had only one thing to say when the two quarterbacks crossed paths in the middle of the field: “Worst call I’ve seen in my life life. » And he knew very well that cameras were surrounding them.
The Chiefs pivot was referring to the officials’ call that occurred a few minutes earlier. On their last offensive sequence of the game, Mahomes found his handyman, Travis Kelce, about twenty yards in front. Trapped by the defense, the tight end had the quickness to throw the ball to Kadarius Toney, to his left, who sped alone into the end zone about twenty yards further.
The Chiefs players were celebrating their victory when a yellow handkerchief was left on the lawn of Arrowhead Stadium.
At the restart, we could clearly see Toney’s foot passing the ball on the line of scrimmage at the start of the action.
It was blatant, unequivocal and illegal.
The play was called, and the Chiefs lost the game.
Mahomes was furious on the sidelines. Almost uncontrollable.
Head coach Andy Reid added fuel to the fire in a press briefing by saying it was “embarrassing for the NFL.”
In reality, this outburst of anger is the fruit of a season which takes turns of disappointment.
Quick reminders for MVPat and coach Reid:
First, Toney was offside. Everyone saw it on the restart. It is factual, tangible, measurable, visible.
Secondly, according to Reid, officials should have warned Toney. However, it is the role of the receiver to check his alignment with the officials to ensure that everything is done according to the rules. Not the opposite.
Third, for once a decision by the officials disadvantages the Chiefs, no one will have pity. Everyone remembers the penalty called on James Bradberry of the Philadelphia Eagles at the very end of the game in the last Super Bowl. Penalty that should never have been reported. Penalty which undoubtedly cost the Eagles the title. There’s also the missed call earlier this season on L’Jarius Sneed when he took his helmet off in the end zone, an illegal action, and one of the referees politely asked him to put it back on. head.
The examples are numerous. And as frustrating as it is to lose a game due to a (fair) decision by the officials, no one on the Chiefs has the right to complain.
This conclusion is the accumulation of a season where little is really working for the Chiefs, despite an 8-5 record.
Does anyone honestly believe in their chances of winning the Super Bowl? In front of the Baltimore Ravens, the Miami Dolphins, the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys and the Eagles…
Mahomes remains the best quarterback in the league. However, he seems fragile, at the end of his resources and losing his bearings.
The truth is, it’s inconceivable to ask a quarterback to dominate every category season after season.
It is therefore in these troughs that the depth of a good team must appear. However, we realize that without Mahomes’ productivity, the Chiefs are nothing more than a good team, nothing more.
Kelce is nothing more than a shadow of himself. Like Dany Bédar, we see him less and less often. His performance is lower than what he has accustomed us to. It’s almost already a season to forget.
The irony is that no one is able to compensate for the decline in number 87.
Mahomes has no other averagely reliable receiver.
Rashee Rice ranks second on the team, after Kelce, in receiving yards with 663, good for 38th in the NFL. His pursuer is Justin Watson with 350 yards.
The ground game is fine, without smashing everything.
The Kansas City offense isn’t even in the top 10 in the NFL in points per game average and touchdowns scored per game.
In defense, the picture is not much better. It also started last summer with defensive end Chris Jones, in dispute with the team since the two camps did not agree on the value of Jones.
On Sunday, moreover, Jones had a disagreement with one of his coaches.
The Chiefs are among the worst teams in the NFL in crucial moments, especially on third and fourth down conversions.
The team is fragile, and it is difficult to see how it could compete with the teams at the top of the rankings.
However, Mahomes and Reid know how to win. And in football, no weapon is more dangerous than experience.
