Time waits for no team in NFL
Oct 03, 2006, 2:37:26 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ
The first victory of the Herm Edwards regime was a good reminder that sometimes you just have to be patient.
Chiefs fans, understandably, were not overflowing with patience when this season started. The Chiefs won 10 games a year ago and, though both starting tackles retired, defensive players kept insisting how much better things would be under Edwards.
So what happened? The Chiefs started 0-2, scored one touchdown and lost their quarterback. So a game that we checked off as a certain win a month earlier turned into a must-win game. The Chiefs played as if it were a must-win-big game and won 41-0.
The Chiefs may have needed a weak opponent that didn’t stand much of a chance in Arrowhead Stadium. But what they definitely needed – and still do – is time.
The Chiefs need time for Edwards’ defensive emphasis to really kick in. It’s darned impressive that the Chiefs haven’t allowed a touchdown for 10 consecutive quarters and on Sunday produced their first shutout since a 49-0 win over the Cardinals in 2002. But Edwards insists his defense is still a long way from becoming the dominating unit he envisions.
The Chiefs needed time for Damon Huard to shake off enough rust to enjoy an exceptional passing day, as indicated by his 133.3 rating. Six years between starts was an awful long time and coaches confined him to the short stuff a week earlier in Denver. The 49ers overplayed the run and dared Huard to throw. NFL defenses figure that if an inexperienced or rusty quarterback has to try and beat you, he probably won’t.
“That’s the impression,” Huard said, smiling. “But if you stay at the table long enough, you’re going to be dealt some cards.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Solari needed time to get more comfortable as a play caller. Of course, it helps when an offense is blowing down the field and repeatedly getting scoring opportunities. If a coach makes a call he wishes he hadn’t, another opportunity will pop up soon. Opportunity didn’t knock much for the Chiefs’ offense in the first two games, though, and it seemed pivotal when they ran and failed on some big third downs.
Dante Hall needed to time to become an offensive weapon again. In the first two games, he didn’t catch a pass longer than eight yards or break a big kick return. On Sunday, with a 60-yard punt return and a 13-yard catch, he scored half as many touchdowns as he did all last season. The Chiefs aren’t a contender if Hall isn’t a difference maker.
It’s tough to draw strong conclusions from Sunday’s romp except that the Chiefs aren’t going to be fighting for the top draft choice next April. It’s not as if they’ve lost to bad teams.
The Chiefs have been beaten by two division leaders. They lost at home to the Bengals, who’ve won eight of their last 10 road games. Even so, the Chiefs must be kicking themselves after noting how the Patriots shredded the Bengals’ run defense Sunday.
The Chiefs’ big problem with that opening-game home loss is that nearly every game becomes a must-win game now. They can’t expect to be a playoff contender should they lose Sunday at Arizona. They can’t afford to take a 1-3 record into Pittsburgh.
When you lose a game you were expected to win, you won’t make the playoffs unless you win a game you were expected to lose, unless the schedule is full of cream puffs. The Chiefs’ playoff train is one win behind schedule right now.
Still, the Chiefs’ picture has brightened significantly. The Chargers’ loss leaves the Chiefs just one game behind the AFC West co-leaders. The Chiefs have gotten themselves untracked and bought more time to keep improving.
Sunday’s breakout notwithstanding, they’ll need all the time they can get.
The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.
