Chiefs-Colts rapid reaction: Kansas City looked completely lost in Indianapolis

That unsportsmanlike conduct penalty

The sport was over… till it wasn’t.

Over the hours forward, we’ll find out more information about precisely what Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones stated to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan to trigger an official to throw an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on a game-clinching, 9-yard sack — however no matter what was stated, Jones unpardonable determination led to Kansas Metropolis dropping the sport.

Fairly frankly, it was a sport they deserved to lose.

The truth is that the second Jones will remorse for days and weeks to return was the ultimate a part of an extended listing of issues the Chiefs did incorrect on Sunday that delivered a beforehand 0-1-1 staff their first win of the season. The sport was marked by horrid particular groups play, offensive miscues and questionable choices past that of Jones — together with one which led to an argument between coach and quarterback that was caught on digicam.

The offense appeared out of sync all day, with missed throws, dropped passes and an incapacity to persistently transfer the ball on the bottom. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes needed to bail from the pocket all afternoon. All of that led to twenty of 35, 262-yard, one-touchdown, one-interception effort that didn’t get the job accomplished.

We’re left with one, clear-cut query (and one which shall be answered over the following 14 weeks): The Chiefs could also be a playoff staff, however will we realistically assume this staff can win a Tremendous Bowl?

It’s wayyy too quickly to know for positive. However Sunday’s sport looks like, wanting again, will probably be seen as an early turning level — or an indication of issues to return.

Particular groups woes

Sunday marked the worst particular groups effort I recall seeing from a Dave Toub-coached group in a very long time — and it most likely isn’t shut.

To begin the sport, rookie extensive receiver Skyy Moore botched two punts, certainly one of which led to the Colts scoring a landing after starting their offensive drive at Kansas Metropolis’s 4-yard line.

In his first sport of reduction of Harrison Butker (in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers), Matt Ammendola was good. In opposition to the Colts on Sunday, he was removed from that. Ammendola missed an additional level to start the sport, inflicting the Chiefs to go for 2 after their subsequent landing.

After making a 26-yarder, Ammendola missed from 34 within the fourth quarter — which made head coach Andy Reid and Toub later name a faux area objective try. Reid’s teaching determination begged some to ask why he would take away arguably the sport’s greatest quarterback for a trick play. These determinations all the time come off rather a lot worse in a loss.

The Chiefs additionally had a delay-of-game penalty referred to as on a area objective. Rookie Isiah Pacheco fell throughout a kick return — and on just a few events, had the Chiefs beginning wanting the 25-yard line after taking the ball out of the tip zone.

Punter Tommy Townsend had a strong sport, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to avoid wasting the group. Subsequent week, the kicker will both be Butker or somebody not named Ammendola.

The argument

The second after the primary half between Mahomes and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy caught by the NFL on CBS broadcast will little doubt be a speaking level in Kansas Metropolis all week lengthy.

Let’s describe what we predict we see: following a run name to operating again Jerick McKinnon to expire the ultimate 20 seconds of the half (with the Chiefs up 14-10 and going through second-and-20 at their very own 36), it seems like Mahomes could be seen complaining to Bieniemy concerning the lack of aggressive play-calling. Reid ultimately breaks up the disagreement.

The importance of this trade was already more likely to be closely debated in Kansas Metropolis, however the truth that (in hindsight) the Chiefs might have used the factors, will solely improve the magnifying glass.

Relentless stress

The only brilliant spot of the day was the defensive play-calling by coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and the execution by the gamers on his unit.

The No. 1 storyline all week was the query of how the Chiefs would handle a stretch with out Willie Homosexual Jr. throughout his suspension. The primary episode of 4 makes one consider will probably be OK (ignoring for a second that this received’t matter if the remainder of the staff is an absolute mess). Linebacker Nick Bolton made massive play after massive play, Darius Harris fought by some struggles in protection to steer the staff in tackles and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed regarded dynamic in among the best efforts of his profession.

Spagnuolo acknowledged early that Colts quarterback Matt Ryan wouldn’t be capable to deal with additional stress. So he designed his sport plan to present it — particularly bringing the warmth on third-down tries. The Chiefs registered 10 quarterback hits, 5.0 sacks and made well timed stops all through the afternoon — besides on the ultimate drive, which is an unlucky, vital footnote.

With out three key gamers — Homosexual, Mike Danna and Trent McDuffie — the protection performed high quality soccer; Spagnuolo must be sick that the hassle was wasted.

The ultimate phrase

The Colts have been purported to be the assumed win of the four-game stretch during which Homosexual can be lacking. The following three video games are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (their largest within the NFC), their division foe within the Las Vegas Raiders and the Buffalo Payments — their best non-division AFC adversary.

The Chiefs made a press release this offseason in buying and selling Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for future draft picks, preached that they might win by spreading the ball all over the place and nudged that they might be higher in the long term. As Miami loved its third win in as many tries on Sunday, the Chiefs look misplaced in all aspects.

To keep away from the quicksand, they’ll have to show the web page… shortly.