The Case of the Chiefs and the Playoffs

          This season is a summary of what it means to be a Chiefs fan. A good start, a disappointing middle with some injuries, and most likely a let down when it really matters. After starting 5-0, the Chiefs have fallen to 6-6 with their only real win since week 5 being against Denver. Denver is 3-9. Denver is worse this year then it was last year! Now the Chiefs are tied with both the Raiders, and the Chargers. The powerhouse that is the AFC West has collapsed on itself. With the Raiders and the Chargers games coming up in the next two weeks, one has to wonder if the Chiefs will make the playoffs this year. This all depends on how the Chiefs play these next two weeks. If they lose to either team they lose the West and possibly any playoff hopes for this year. If they win against the Raiders and the chargers lose two weeks straight, and the Raiders win the week after the Raiders will control the division. WE ARE IN A MUST WIN SITUATION. If we drop any games from now on the likelihood is that we do not win the division. The problem is that the Chiefs lately haven't given me ANY good reason to pick them in any games. The two easiest games on the schedule(the Giants and the Jets) were lost by this same Chiefs team. Whenever the defense finally gets going the offense bottoms out and vise versa. I just can't see any consistent problems that would be easy to fix, besides the team just being bad. Also what is up with the special teams? One of the most dynamic units in the league last year has gotten silent. You can not bench your whole offense or your whole defense. There are certain players that are weapons (Hill, Kelce, Peters) that aren't being used right. Peters is one of the best press corners in the league, and you are playing him 10 yards off the receiver. The same goes with Revis, while he whiffed on tackles he allowed passes to be completed because he was 10 yards off the receiver. Hill and Kelce were finally used correctly for the first time since week 5. Some of this is on the players. A lot of this is on coaching though. The biggest proof of this is the amount of penalties. The Chiefs are averaging 7.9 penalties a game! This is both on the offense and the defense. This is a huge lack of discipline and coaching. This also shows a lack of leadership in the locker room. Tamba Hali called out the leaders on this defense at the beginning of the season and none have answered the call. On the offense, Smith's leadeship and Kelce's leadership has diminished. Whether Smith's play recently or the addition of Patrick Mahommes, he seems to have the respect, but not the obedience of the offense. Kelce's own frustration has gotten rid of his leadership. Him either being too emotional, or missing press conferences because he didn't want to say something he would regret, has taken the leadership from him. The team is almost in a state of anarchy. That doesn't spell success. That spells a losing record. As much as I want to be optimistic about this team, I have no reason too. I think that we are going to miss the playoffs and that we are gonna see a huge change this offseason. If we don't, then I question the awareness of Andy Reid, and Clark Hunt. It's a shame we don't have that first round draft pick.