Great job on this. It just seems like Mahomes had a very bad half at the worst time possible, and nobody could bring him out of it. It happens sometimes. It sucks, but it happens. That's what I think I've come to at this point.
Well done as usual, Seth. I forced myself to go through this as part of moving on! In this case, for me, you confirmed what I saw: PM inexplicably getting shook, and AR not making adjustments to take what was offered and get a chance for a reset. Any small change could have swung this one, which is what makes it so hard to swallow. The only thing I'm uneasy about is PM's mindset - as this is now on every coach's radar. It's a vulnerability that is out there from early season performance and now repeated in the big game. He's got the throws, the moves, the mental game (reading and manipulating the field), but the emotional part came back to bite him, for reasons he only knows. This may be a hard fix because of that fact. Hopefully just a relapse that he'll get past.
Now, I have to jump the gun and look ahead, because ... I can't help myself! A few observations that I'm certain you'll be covering soon:
- The AFC will be much improved - featuring QBs and O's that rival our own
- I'm concerned that the current formula of dominant O with average D may not stand up in the new competitive world we're in. To what degree do we need to reload on O to keep up?
- I believe (as I think you suggest above) that the inability to replace Watkins made a season-long difference for PM and the O, and in Veach's comments, have not heard that as a priority (he's rightly started with D-line, which could and should be a make-over)
- Out of curiosity, I wonder if the O schemes are more complex than necessary, given the weapons we have. I ask because it seems to take a long time to work new players in, and if we infuse some new talent, would like to see things adapt quickly (seems to me that other teams can do this move quickly than we do). We have seen rookie WRs and new additions make immediate impact around the league, but it seems to take a couple of years for KC to get them into the line-up.
That's enough for now - and as always, fact check me on the observations from my lyin' eyes!
Mahomes needs to take a page out of other QB's and hold some off the books practices with whomever Veach brings in this offseason. And maybe some behavioral therapy.
On that last play of the first half, I'm still not certain why he didn't roll out and run the touchdown in with all the defense congregated on the left side of the field. I don't buy the "it wasn't the play call" excuse as Mahomes improvises regularly.
I am good with the conclusions but want to make this observation. In the first half, the run game or a pass to a RB out of the backfield was used effectively mixed in to the play calling.
SECOND HALF ADVANTAGE NOT USED Vs 3 man front. The second half, this wasn't true despite the fact that the Chiefs were facing largely a 2 deep secondary and a 3 man front. The run game, which advanced the ball extremely effectively in the first half, should have been a complete focus of the offense until the Bengals made an in-game-flow adjustment.
MISCUE BEFORE THE HALF: I am completely disturbed by the pass call to the flat to Hill just before the half. it should have been a pass to the end-zone or better yet, a run play called. Either it's complete or incomplete. then clock Management would not matter. As it was, the clock expired. This was a stupid play to call. and is one of those things that a critique of Andy Reid in the past(Clock Mgmt) came back to bite us. Or ditto if it was Eric Bieniemy who was calling the plays.
Even if the play-caller decided a run would allow the 5 seconds to expire, the pass would work. Either a TD or incomplete stopping the clock. A Field Goal could then be kicked. As it stands, this was a horrible play that took 3 points off the board if not 6.
Thanks for the analysis Seth. I definitely was hoping they would run the ball more in the second half. They were having success and it was obvious Mahomes was affected by the looks he was given. I know scrambling and "school-yard" type plays are a part of his game, but, it seems to me that some of his poorer performances involve his "happy feet." He creates a lot of pressure by moving out of clean pockets. I have always thought that Rodgers was a master of avoiding pressure with more subtle moves forward/backward within the pocket. I am not sure if Mahomes just does not trust the line, but, I bet it would be easier for them to block if he didn't bail on the pressure so quickly.
Thanks Seth. We will likely never know why Patrick got so jittery in the 2nd half. Trying too hard not to lose rather than playing to win? I don't know. What I do know is that when he began his 'sped up processing' it was readily apparent, to even the most casual fan. AR/EB should have immediately changed up the play calling to take some pressure off him and calm him down. We could have run them out of those light boxes and made the later throws much easier. It would have taken so little to have won that game after the start that they had. Fantastic opportunity lost.
My biggest fear is that these problems, rare though they are, won't get fixed unless those with the power to correct them do an honest assessment of the issues with their eyes wide open and their egos checked at the door.
Great job as always Seth. You mentioned something very briefly in the Times Ours podcast which I have been thinking about as well - maybe it’s time to stop doing so many RPOs. Just seems like these didn’t work as well this year, particularly when we ran the ball. I imagine it’s a huge undertaking in researching the success rate for the full season, but I would be curious. Maybe it’s better for our o-line when they know they are running?
Thanks, Seth for another season of wonderful breakdowns of the Chiefs! I think myself and all Chiefs fans had assumed that Mahomes was infallible and would never have a bad game or even half and we are now astonished to learn that he is indeed human. However, I place much more blame on Reid/ Bieniemy for the play calling in the 2nd half than I do on Mahomes bad play. I love throwing the ball but when a defense is completely daring you to run the ball and you have a lead and using clock is beneficial..... then run it down their throat! It's really hard to throw the ball into 8 man coverage in the NFL. I really thought the Chiefs had moved past all the early season offensive struggles with shell coverage and had learned to take what the defense gives them. I am definitely going to gift a subscription of Chief in the North Newsletter to Andy Reid and also Bieinemy... Hopefully they will read it!!!!! Thanks Seth- I can't wait for the NFL draft to start dreaming about next season!
Great job on this. It just seems like Mahomes had a very bad half at the worst time possible, and nobody could bring him out of it. It happens sometimes. It sucks, but it happens. That's what I think I've come to at this point.
Well done as usual, Seth. I forced myself to go through this as part of moving on! In this case, for me, you confirmed what I saw: PM inexplicably getting shook, and AR not making adjustments to take what was offered and get a chance for a reset. Any small change could have swung this one, which is what makes it so hard to swallow. The only thing I'm uneasy about is PM's mindset - as this is now on every coach's radar. It's a vulnerability that is out there from early season performance and now repeated in the big game. He's got the throws, the moves, the mental game (reading and manipulating the field), but the emotional part came back to bite him, for reasons he only knows. This may be a hard fix because of that fact. Hopefully just a relapse that he'll get past.
Now, I have to jump the gun and look ahead, because ... I can't help myself! A few observations that I'm certain you'll be covering soon:
- The AFC will be much improved - featuring QBs and O's that rival our own
- I'm concerned that the current formula of dominant O with average D may not stand up in the new competitive world we're in. To what degree do we need to reload on O to keep up?
- I believe (as I think you suggest above) that the inability to replace Watkins made a season-long difference for PM and the O, and in Veach's comments, have not heard that as a priority (he's rightly started with D-line, which could and should be a make-over)
- Out of curiosity, I wonder if the O schemes are more complex than necessary, given the weapons we have. I ask because it seems to take a long time to work new players in, and if we infuse some new talent, would like to see things adapt quickly (seems to me that other teams can do this move quickly than we do). We have seen rookie WRs and new additions make immediate impact around the league, but it seems to take a couple of years for KC to get them into the line-up.
That's enough for now - and as always, fact check me on the observations from my lyin' eyes!
Still sad. That said, shared this article to Facebook. Trying to make you some money so you can insulate the kitchen a little better.
Mahomes needs to take a page out of other QB's and hold some off the books practices with whomever Veach brings in this offseason. And maybe some behavioral therapy.
On that last play of the first half, I'm still not certain why he didn't roll out and run the touchdown in with all the defense congregated on the left side of the field. I don't buy the "it wasn't the play call" excuse as Mahomes improvises regularly.
I am good with the conclusions but want to make this observation. In the first half, the run game or a pass to a RB out of the backfield was used effectively mixed in to the play calling.
SECOND HALF ADVANTAGE NOT USED Vs 3 man front. The second half, this wasn't true despite the fact that the Chiefs were facing largely a 2 deep secondary and a 3 man front. The run game, which advanced the ball extremely effectively in the first half, should have been a complete focus of the offense until the Bengals made an in-game-flow adjustment.
MISCUE BEFORE THE HALF: I am completely disturbed by the pass call to the flat to Hill just before the half. it should have been a pass to the end-zone or better yet, a run play called. Either it's complete or incomplete. then clock Management would not matter. As it was, the clock expired. This was a stupid play to call. and is one of those things that a critique of Andy Reid in the past(Clock Mgmt) came back to bite us. Or ditto if it was Eric Bieniemy who was calling the plays.
Even if the play-caller decided a run would allow the 5 seconds to expire, the pass would work. Either a TD or incomplete stopping the clock. A Field Goal could then be kicked. As it stands, this was a horrible play that took 3 points off the board if not 6.
The juxtaposition of the halves was just bizarre. I still don't understand it. I really hope the missed opportunity doesn't haunt us into the future.
Thanks for the analysis Seth. I definitely was hoping they would run the ball more in the second half. They were having success and it was obvious Mahomes was affected by the looks he was given. I know scrambling and "school-yard" type plays are a part of his game, but, it seems to me that some of his poorer performances involve his "happy feet." He creates a lot of pressure by moving out of clean pockets. I have always thought that Rodgers was a master of avoiding pressure with more subtle moves forward/backward within the pocket. I am not sure if Mahomes just does not trust the line, but, I bet it would be easier for them to block if he didn't bail on the pressure so quickly.
Thanks Seth. We will likely never know why Patrick got so jittery in the 2nd half. Trying too hard not to lose rather than playing to win? I don't know. What I do know is that when he began his 'sped up processing' it was readily apparent, to even the most casual fan. AR/EB should have immediately changed up the play calling to take some pressure off him and calm him down. We could have run them out of those light boxes and made the later throws much easier. It would have taken so little to have won that game after the start that they had. Fantastic opportunity lost.
My biggest fear is that these problems, rare though they are, won't get fixed unless those with the power to correct them do an honest assessment of the issues with their eyes wide open and their egos checked at the door.
Great job as always Seth. You mentioned something very briefly in the Times Ours podcast which I have been thinking about as well - maybe it’s time to stop doing so many RPOs. Just seems like these didn’t work as well this year, particularly when we ran the ball. I imagine it’s a huge undertaking in researching the success rate for the full season, but I would be curious. Maybe it’s better for our o-line when they know they are running?
Thanks, Seth for another season of wonderful breakdowns of the Chiefs! I think myself and all Chiefs fans had assumed that Mahomes was infallible and would never have a bad game or even half and we are now astonished to learn that he is indeed human. However, I place much more blame on Reid/ Bieniemy for the play calling in the 2nd half than I do on Mahomes bad play. I love throwing the ball but when a defense is completely daring you to run the ball and you have a lead and using clock is beneficial..... then run it down their throat! It's really hard to throw the ball into 8 man coverage in the NFL. I really thought the Chiefs had moved past all the early season offensive struggles with shell coverage and had learned to take what the defense gives them. I am definitely going to gift a subscription of Chief in the North Newsletter to Andy Reid and also Bieinemy... Hopefully they will read it!!!!! Thanks Seth- I can't wait for the NFL draft to start dreaming about next season!