The Kansas City Chiefs ventured this past weekend to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in a Week 3 matchup. The Chiefs were the favorite to win; however, things did not go their way, and they lost 20-17. Much has been made of the mistakes made by several Chiefs players, but that aside, there was enough blame to condemn almost the entire roster to the practice squad.
Be sure to check out all of our NFL coverage.
Chris Jones‘ Penalty
Jones has acknowledged his part of the blame for the Colts’ win, thanks to the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for whatever he said on the field. That alone gave the Colts better field advantage and a fresh set of downs to work with. However, while it is admirable that Jones owns up to something he did, he is not entirely to blame for the Chiefs’ troubles. They started long before Jones opened his mouth.
Special Teams…More Like Not So Special
You knew from the moment rookie Skyy Moore muffed the punt return that it would be a long game for the Chiefs. That muffed punt was recovered by the Colts, giving them a first-and-goal. That was not the only special teams “oopsie” to be found. Isiah Pacheco decided to come out of the endzone on kickoffs when he should have just taken a knee.
Yesterday the Chiefs announced that they released Ammendola. Unfortunately, it was for the best. Matt Ammendola, who was filling in for Harrison Butker, missed an extra point and a field goal. That alone would have helped the Chiefs win the game. Also, don’t forget about that fake field goal that went absolutely nowhere. That was a horrendous display of non-trickery.
Who Needs Offense Anyways
The entire offensive line appeared to be off-kilter, which became more apparent as the game continued. The line did a poor job of protecting Patrick Mahomes at times, and dropped balls seemed to be a theme throughout the game. Of course, the most noticeable one was the drop by Travis Kelce with less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Had he been able to grab and keep the ball, it would have been a touchdown to give the Chiefs the upper hand in the game. Instead, the drive ended with a missed field goal.
Patience is undoubtedly needed and was mentioned in the offseason. However, if this continues with poor play, fans might not be so forgiving later in the season. The offense has yet to find a good rhythm, though it looked promising in the season’s first two games.
Defense Is Looking Good
Despite the loss, the Chiefs’ defense only allowed 259 total yards on Sunday. They sacked Matt Ryan five times and forced two fumbles, recovering one of them. The Chiefs were able to limit the Colts when it mattered most, giving the offense several chances to take the lead over the Colts. They have nothing to hang their head in shame about. Jones needs to learn not to say anything, and they’re golden.
No Panic Yet…Just Growing Pains
While some fans are losing their minds, there is no need to panic just yet. It was just the third game of the season, and the Colts were looking to prove something to their fans and the league. The Chiefs ended up helping them achieve that goal via their mental mistakes and poor decisions. The rookies for the Chiefs have to grow up fast, and it may be asking a lot of them, but this is what they are here for. The Chiefs have a young team, and with the loss of a few starters, it is not the well-oiled machine of a few years ago. Time is needed; however, time might be running out for another Superbowl if they are not careful.
If the Chiefs want to be at the top of the AFC and dominate the West, they will have to do better. Much, much better. Which is easier said than done. Unfortunately, the defense were the only ones who seemed to show up for the game. That cannot happen again, or Kansas City can say goodbye to the playoffs and the Superbowl.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @primetimesportstalk
Follow Liz Pendergraft on Twitter @lizzibear824
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
