Game Thread: Chiefs @ Carolina

[Fountain City Blues]

 

[Clayton]

Chiefs need to lock up Eric Berry long-term.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

C Mitch Morse, 84.5

T Mitchell Schwartz, 82.7

G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, 79.4

WR Tyreek Hill, 75.5

RB Spencer Ware, 57.4

Offensive line stabilizes Kansas City offense

Kansas City offensive linemen combined to allow just eight total pressures on the day in pass protection. Six of those (including a sack) were surrendered by LT Eric Fisher (42.6 overall grade), with Eric Morse, Geoff Schwartz and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif combining to allow just one pressure between them. With Jeremy Maclin out, Tyreek Hill was easily Smith’s most active and reliable pass-catcher on Sunday, catching 10 of 13 targets for 89 yards, with six of those catches resulting in a first down. Spencer Ware averaged 4.7 yards per carry on the day, with 32 of his 61 rushing yards coming after contact to go with three forced missed tackles.

Top defensive grades:

CB Marcus Peters, 91.0

S Eric Berry, 89.3

CB Steven Nelson, 85.1

ILB Ramik Wilson, 84.9

ILB Derrick O. Johnson, 80.8

Star-studded secondary ignites Chiefs’ comeback

Kansas City’s aggressive press-man scheme requires great depth in the secondary to succeed. Safety Eric Berry gave up a couple of first downs to Greg Olsen, but otherwise enjoyed an outstanding game. He gave up only three catches on five targets for 26 yards, with a critical pick-six, and a pass breakup. In Berry and corner Marcus Peters, the Chiefs’ have a pair of defensive playmakers capable of winning games single-handedly. Peters did just that, taking the ball away from Kelvin Benjamin with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game, setting up the winning field goad l with a forced and recovered fumble. On 10 targets, Peters also managed three pass breakups.

Alex Smith was bad, rusty, and so was almost everyone else seemingly on offense outside of Tyreek Hill. Just gross and out of sync. The throws were there, they need to be completed. A high throw here, a drop there...

Ramik Wilson officially has locked down the S-ILB job next to DJ. Better natural fit for it and better for the run D overall, imo.

Berry making a case for why he should be resigned.

You need great DB depth, not good depth, to operate the defense at peak capacity.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

 

[cdumler7]

Was obviously really hoping that the Panthers could gift the Broncos with a Chiefs loss but even when they were up all I kept thinking was "The Panthers will find a way to lose this one." Great fight by the Chiefs to pull out a win. Can't wait for in 2 weeks for what should be another huge Broncos/Chiefs game.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Was obviously really hoping that the Panthers could gift the Broncos with a Chiefs loss but even when they were up all I kept thinking was "The Panthers will find a way to lose this one." Great fight by the Chiefs to pull out a win. Can't wait for in 2 weeks for what should be another huge Broncos/Chiefs game.

Honestly after these past two years I am seriously questioning Rivera's coaching acumen in 2nd halves. His teams routinely fall apart quite a bit more than most teams do. They were winning those games last year such as against the Giants, but it has been a drip, drip, drip phenomenon.

 

[cdumler7]

Honestly after these past two years I am seriously questioning Rivera's coaching acumen in 2nd halves. His teams routinely fall apart quite a bit more than most teams do. They were winning those games last year such as against the Giants, but it has been a drip, drip, drip phenomenon.

Oh I agree. I look at the talent on that Panthers team and honestly that roster should hold up to just about any out there yet we see most seasons where they just under perform. That 15-1 season and going to the Super Bowl probably saved his job but to me it was more of a fluke season. Not saying they were a bad team but easy schedule and the ball bouncing their way most of the year really made that season look much better than it was. This year I don't think they are as bad as their record as they have had some fluke things go against them but just kind of how the NFL goes sometimes of what bounced in your favor one year completely goes against you the next. Maybe time for a change before all that talent is wasted.