Chiefs Chronicles: Preseason Week 1 Wrap & Pre-Preseason Week 2
The Bargain, KC's Special Teams Struggles Are Just A Ploy, Quick Hits From Chiefs at Jags, The Man of Steele, What I Want To See In Chiefs vs Lions, What's Up Next Week, & All The Usual Random Stuff!
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The Bargain
A brief story before I explain what The Bargain is. I was out of town last weekend, so I didn’t really get to sit down and watch the Chiefs Week 1 preseason game until Monday or Tuesday. My memory from the drive home Sunday night through Tuesday is pretty spotty due to exhaustion and car sickness (Note to self: if you’re not driving, never eat a bunch of greasy food right before an extremely curvy road trip), so I’m not exactly sure when it was.
The score had popped up in my alerts on Saturday, I watched the recap that night on my phone, and I read some articles about the game over the next few days, so I had a pretty good idea of how it went down before watching it.
Keeping all of that in mind, I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that I wasn’t overly excited when it was time to sit down and actually watch the game. By all accounts the Chiefs hadn’t played very well. The words “sloppy” and “ineffective” were used to describe their overall performance, and it just isn’t pleasant watching that brand of football. Those descriptions bring to mind all that we suffered through as Chiefs fans before Andy arrived and righted the ship. No one wants to be reminded of those black days.
Still, I thought, some Chiefs football is better than no Chiefs football and I would get to see Patrick and the first-team offense. It sounded like they did pretty well, outside of the “Hollywood” Brown injury (so glad that wasn’t more serious- that can be a life-threatening situation), and at least I’d get to see some of the new additions in action, however briefly.
With some snacks in easy reach and comfy pillows to lean on, I hit play on the YouTube TV recording of the game. Instead of Jaguars commentators talking about the upcoming game, I was greeted by a split-screen picture: on the left was the final moments of Raiders at Vikings (apparently the Vikings won it right at the end) and on the right was the Chiefs at Jaguars… already in progress.
There was 12:50 left in the first quarter, which means I’d missed not only around 2:00 of Patrick Mahomes (GIFed above) and the first-team offense, but also the Chiefs first crack at the new Dynamic Kickoff. I looked around on YouTube TV and found no other ways to watch the start of the game. Thanks, YouTube TV and NFL Network.
I’m sure you could fill up the comment section below with horror stories of games that you missed (in whole or in part) due to random NFL rules, OT games cutting deep into your chosen game, messed up DVR recordings (or VHS recordings for old people like me), or just tales of terrible networks having no clue how to get a football game on the air (I’m not bitter at all towards KVIQ, the CBS affiliate in Eureka, CA). These problems are an extremely unfair aspect of The Bargain- what I call the deal that fans have with the NFL and their broadcasters. The fact that we have to deal with issues like this, is an injustice that we have let slide for far too long.
For the sake of clarity, here are the details of The Bargain between NFL Fans (we deserve to be capitalized) and the NFL, Networks, & Streaming Services:
The Bargain: NFL Fans
Responsibilities: NFL Fans agree to watch the games, buy the merchandise, support the sponsors, and do whatever else (within reason) the NFL wants us to do. All of these actions will fund the NFL (to the tune of $12.873 billion in national revenue in 2023). So, in essence, NFL Fans agree to keep the NFL in business and rolling in money. We are how they afford their rock and roll lifestyle.
The NFL hasn’t made this easy for us. We have to work hard in order to watch our favorite teams play. An NFL Fan that wants to watch every NFL game has to subscribe to FIVE separate streaming services, plus local channels (in case of blackout). That isn’t ideal, as our world gets more expensive every day, but we do it because we want to be able to see our beloved Chiefs (or other, less awesome, favorite team) play every week. By paying to subscribe to all of the necessary channels/services and by doing the mental gymnastics required to figure out which one we need to use to watch the game on any given Sunday (or Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday), we are more than holding up our end of The Bargain.
The Bargain: The NFL, Networks, & Streaming Services
Responsibilities: Provide NFL Fans with NFL Football to watch and give us as many ways to watch it as possible. Put the best possible product out there for us to consume. There is no reason a prepared NFL Fan should ever miss any part of any game they want to watch.
I’d like to clarify that last part for the NFL powers-that-be: Don’t show us the end of a meaningless game (like you did on Saturday) and, in so doing, cut off the start of the game we want to see. NFL Fans have paid you enough money, this year and historically, to deserve some guarantees when it comes to watching games.
We’ve jumped through every hoop (and “over the dog-doo stick”) you’ve put in front of us, now it’s your turn to give a little. Let us watch the games we want to watch. If, for some unforeseen reason, a game is cut off or preempted or whatever, NFL Fans should always be able to access a full replay of that game. No more reading the Play-By-Play section of a box score to try and imagine what happened. What is this, the 20th Century?
That all seems fair, right? I think so.
The ball is in your court (there’s a mixed metaphor for you) NFL, Networks, & Streamers. Do the right thing.
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KC's Special Teams Struggles Are Just A Ploy
After watching the game against the Jags, the bordering-on-irrational confidence I had in Dave Taub and his plans for both sides of the new Dynamic Kickoff (see last week’s Chiefs Chronicles) took a bit of a hit. The first kickoff they tried to cover didn’t go well (at least they didn’t give up a touchdown) and the ST-dysfunction (STD? I might wanna change that acronym) seemed to extend throughout the game, with a low-point coming on the Mecole Hardman safety.
Plus, Rees⚡Lightning didn’t return a kick (Note: he was back at practice yesterday after being held out Wednesday, so he may get his chance against Detroit). How can he prove his worth (and my unshakeable faith in his skills) if he doesn’t get the opportunity to shine? He did have a kickoff (the more you can do the more valuable you are!) and, to my eyes, he also got a tackle with the coverage unit- he grabbed the returner by the ankles and tripped him up (the guy who fell on the returner got credit for the tackle).
After witnessing all of the above, my belief in the inevitable dominance of the Chiefs Special Teams unit was not doing well. I was, as the kids say, “shook." Then I watched this:
Does that seem like a guy who’s worried to you?
I think Uncle Dave (while he doesn’t look like my Uncle Dave, he does look to me like someone’s Uncle Dave) is hustling the league. He’s sandbagging just enough to make the Ravens and John Harbaugh (a former special teams coordinator) overconfident for the season opener. Once that game starts, he and the Chiefs ST unit will show the Ravens and Harbaugh what’s what.
Nicely played, sir. You almost fooled me.
Now lets see what our guy Rees⚡Lightning can do with some kick returns!
Quick Hits From Chiefs at Jags
Bucky Brooks (at first I thought it was Herm Edwards with a cold) needs a cough drop. The Jags preseason booth was underwhelming at best, actively annoying the rest of the time.
Let’s put to rest how to pronounce Rees⚡Lightning’s first name. I watched a bunch of interviews from his rugby days and everyone called him (I’m spelling it differently for clarity) LEWIS. C’mon people. He’s from Wales, not France.
Drue Tranquil looks good! And the second I wrote that, he got burned in coverage for a TD.
Why an inside handoff on 3rd and 15? It’s the preseason. Give a guy on the roster bubble (WR) a chance to make a play!
Wentz looked decent and showed of some escape ability. Good backup.
The Justyn Ross catch was fantastic! The Chiefs haven’t had a guy who could do that in a long time. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time they had that skillset on the field. Looks like a Red Zone TD monster, to me.
Deneric Prince hasn’t impressed me so far. The Chiefs may need to eventually spend a higher pick on a RB to beef up the depth at the position.
Brian Thomas Jr. (my guess for the Chiefs 1st Round pick before the draft) looked good. Should the Chiefs have listened to me and moved up to draft him? Time will tell. To be clear, I’m rooting for Xavier Worthy to be the guy. I’d happily be wrong on this one.
The so-called Punt God wasn’t great on Saturday. I saw a couple short punts. Hopefully, it was just first game jitters.
STEELE!!! He brings something the Chiefs desperately need- the ability to get a tough 1-3 yards. Plus, he can break tackles and go for longer runs. And his name is Steele! The Man of Steele nickname just works for a FB/RB. Just imagine: No more Blake Bell option runs for -2 yards! Carson Steele must make the team. Plus, he has a pet alligator!
Is it just me or does Mecole Hardman seem to make a lot of mistakes?
Preseason games are soooo boring when the Chiefs are losing, especially away games. The announcers never say which Chiefs player was involved in the play and they spend way too much time interviewing people on the sidelines.
The Man of Steele
You know you want more Carson Steele content. Here you go:
You’re welcome.
What I Want To See In Chiefs vs Lions
What do I want to see from the Chiefs in the game against the Lions? It’s fairly simple, really. The Chiefs need to play loose, clean up the mistakes, and avoid injuries. During the game they should:
Let the starters get a couple good drives in and then sit them down.
Figure out who will be the primary kick returner. Try and catch⚡in a bottle, as it were (wink).
I know it’s only a preseason game but they need to try and win it. Give the young guys the boost that comes from knowing all their hard work is paying off.
Get Steele out there with the first team offense and see what he can do.
Get the CB2 spot nailed down.
Gameplan on offense (not so much vanilla this week) so the WRs can show out. Let’s see what they’ve got.
What would you like to see in the game against Detroit? Let me know in the comments!
What’s Up Next Week
Thoughts on the Detroit game
A look ahead at the Bears game
Remembering my epic trip to the home of the Little Patricks
My favorite Chiefs gear/memorabilia
And a heaping helping of whatever else pops into my head as I write!
(Note: This list may not accurately represent the content contained in the next Chiefs Chronicles. I tend to procrastinate, which causes me to run out of time, and that necessitates some cuts to the column and rushed proofreading. I’m trying to do better, though.)
Thanks for reading and, as always…
You make a good point about the NFL actively campaigning against their own fans. Thankfully, it's easier up here in Canada, as there are no local teams and therefore no local blackouts. American streaming services are also different than Canadian ones (despite having the same names), so we don't have to deal with their exclusivity deals. Funnily enough, upon reading this article I went and checked my Canadian NFL Game Pass, and I can watch the whole Chiefs and Jags uninterrupted just fine. I'm only being slightly facetious when I suggest perhaps a Canadian VPN would be a good investment for NFL fans out there. This is an instance I'm very grateful not to be American.
I think they just think nobody (except us nerds) cares about the preseason, and so they don't care to fix the bad broadcasts or the bad broadcast teams. Is it shameful? Yes. Do they care about being shameful in the preseason? Not really.
I wonder what the NFL will do if their fans go UFC and heavily start flocking to the illegal methods of watching the games. The UFC hasn't really cared. Perhaps they haven't had enough influence to make any impact even if they did. The NFL is a big enough entity to have influence with the American government. Football games have been easy enough to watch for so long that it's never been an issue before, but if they continue to make them harder to see, it might become one.
Good read!