Kansas City Chiefs-Cincinnati Bengals: Three Key Observations

Kansas City’s games have had decreasing importance over recent weeks, but every game is vitally important to the seasons yet to come. 

In alignment with Christmas spirit, Kansas City fans remember fondly the seasons past, given their success through the nineties, haunted by the season present, but fighting to show fans hope for seasons yet to come. 

Looking to the future, there are three key notes regarding the 17-10 Week 16 loss to the playoff bound Cincinnati Bengals.

Offensive playmaker of the future

The adage goes, “It is better to give than it is to receive.”  With the release of running back Larry Johnson, essentially “giving” him to the Bengals, Kansas City discovered one of the up-and-coming stars of the NFL in Jamaal Charles. 

It has been easy to praise Charles in recent weeks as he has the second most rushing yards in the NFL since Week 10 (trailing only Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans). 

Yet, it is the manner in which these yards have been earned that is so promising.  Charles looks eerily like the reincarnation of Priest Holmes. 

Using his blockers well, Charles shows great patience as a runner and finds opportunities to utilize his speed.  Quarterback Matt Cassel has also praised the receiving ability of Charles by stating that he may have the best hands on the team.

This is the cog that will make the Kansas City offense go.  Charles will be an asset to the Chiefs the way Brian Westbrook has enjoyed such success with the Philadelphia Eagles.  The future is now for the Chiefs’ run game and it doesn’t look too shabby.

Defensive playmaker of the future

Praised throughout the season for his uncanny tackling, Brandon Flowers flaunted his superior skills in coverage.

Cornerbacks are never given the benefit of the doubt in the offensive-minded NFL.  Illegal contact, or the dreaded, pass-interference, are terms slapped upon corners with such frequency that fans of defense are left to wonder, “what is the defender supposed to do?”

With the grace of Lynn Swann, Flowers went airborne on a deep pass attempt, not even grazing the Bengals’ receiver, to break up a pass.  On another play, Flowers closed on the receiver from behind and found a way to get his arms around to break up the pass without putting a hand in the receiver’s back. 

Flowers is quickly becoming a shut-down type of corner.  Having confidence in one of your cover guys allows a defensive coordinator to have great flexibility in using the rest of the players on the field in a versatile arsenal of plays.

Key problem for the future

Todd Haley came in as the Kansas City head coach to find a team out-of-shape.  No team likely lost as much weight in training camp as the Chiefs.  Unfortunately, while the players have put down the pumpkin pie this holiday season, Haley could not relieve them of butterfingers.          

Leading the league in dropped passes, Kansas City fans are left to ponder what the offensive statistics might look like if you added nearly 50 completions to the offensive totals. 

This problem is most severe for Kansas City’s number one receiver, Dwayne Bowe.  Bowe, like many great receivers, is guilty of making the tough catches while dropping the easy ones. 

An offense struggling to put points on the board cannot be guilty of foolish mistakes.  Fans and Todd Haley are tired of asking, “who dropped the ball on this one?”

Play of the game

On 3^rd -and-10 at the Cincinnati 20, Cassel dropped back to pass and found Tim Castille, a backup fullback, on a pattern straight up the middle of the field. 

Catching the ball in traffic is an understatement as three Bengal defenders converged upon Castille at full speed. 

In a play most would assume to be incomplete because of contact made as soon as the ball touched Castille’s hands, the fullback rolled along the turf of the end zone clutching the ball. 

With strong hands and nonpareil concentration, Castille, a recent acquisition, earned his spot on the roster. 

Chief fans hope the ghost of football future is showing signs of promise and not of gloom.