Chiefs Chronicles: The "Only A Week To Go" Edition- 2024 Season Playoffs- Super Bowl LIX

The Game 4: Adrenaline Rush, RE: The Refs or The Difference Between the Chiefs and Other Teams, Mahomes & the Offense = Poetry in Motion, Returner-1 Has Finally Arrived, And the Name Is...!!!

Feb 02, 2025

Josh Allen hasn’t been able to beat KC in the playoffs yet, but he *can* pull off that “Enormous Hat” look that all the kids are wearing nowadays.

The Game 4: Adrenaline Rush

Despite the fact it was a little too close for my taste (someday the Chiefs are going to get that big game blowout I keep predicting), the AFC Championship Game between Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs and Josh Allen’s Bills was just as good as everyone wanted and expected it to be. Unless, that is, you’re a Bills fan or one of the apparent legions of Chiefs haters out there. I’m guessing y’all didn’t enjoy it as much as we did. A little more on that further down the column.

It wasn’t quite 13 Seconds (Note: I’ve explained to a couple of newer football fans recently, including my friend Caleb, that any game with a title, earned that title by being great or memorable for some reason), but it brought more than enough drama to the table in the form of four lead changes, some iconic moments, and Conspiracy Theory-level controversy with the officiating, to satisfy any real football fan amongst the record 57.7 million viewers.

The reason I went with “The Game 4: Adrenaline Rush” (for the informal, movie-style name for this game) was that a lot of the Chiefs biggest moments came from their ground attack. They included:

Patrick Mahomes’ running for multiple 1st downs, including a gotta-have-it 6-yd gain from the Chiefs own 39-yard line on 4th and 1. He ended up with 11 carries for 43 yards.
He also had 2 rushing TDs in the game (a first for him) and they were both of the “I’m getting in no matter what” variety. Basically, the kind of runs that show the type of toughness and want-to that you love to see from your QB, but that also make you hold your breath because you know he’s going to get hit hard.
Kareem Hunt’s Kansas City Redemption Tour (a bit wordy but it has a nice flow, so I’m adding it to the list of prospective band names) continued its feel-good rumblin’ bumblin’ stumblin’ run through the 2024 NFL Season. He was the Chiefs leading rusher with 17 carries for 64 yards and started the scoring with a nifty 12-yd TD run.

Kareem Hunt’s a little older and, hopefully, a little wiser than the kid who wore that #27 jersey. Still weird seeing him wearing #29.

The Bills rushed for more yards (147 to 135) and for a better average (4.6 to 3.9) than the Chiefs, but used James Cook oddly sparingly (13 carries) despite the fact he was by far their most effective runner (6.5 ypc). Josh Allen had a much more difficult time when they called his number. He mostly ran the same “to the left, to the left” short-yardage play over and over, without a lot of success (11 carries for 39 yards/3.5 ypc). His lack of success was certainly helped along by the fact that the Chiefs had identified how he liked to run that particular play.

When it was all over but the cheering (or crying, depending on who you were rooting for), the Chiefs had more game-changing plays on the ground than the Bills did. In the biggest moments, the Chiefs ground game came through for them and it’s a major reason they are headed back to their third straight Super Bowl.

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RE: The Refs or The Difference Between the Chiefs and Other Teams

(Note: Writing about refs made me think of this classic scene from the movie Necessary Roughness)

I was scanning my way through Substack the other day (and by using the phrase “the other day”, which can mean literally any day other than today, I have officially become my dad) and came across this piece by Tyler Dunne, who covers the Bills:

Go Long

Embrace Greatness. Embrace Patrick Mahomes.

Granted, it was always foolish to outright hate the New England Patriots. But those screaming profanities at their TV screens every January could at least pinpoint a source of furor. Be it a character or a controversy. The Darth Vader head coach, who seemed miserable 24/7. The quarterback, whose life was too good to be true. People never hid…

4 months ago · 22 likes · 6 comments · Tyler Dunne

It was a good read and I was moved to reply with my take on some of the things he had written. Typing with mostly my thumb (as I do- I’m old), I wrote a very long comment on my phone (it’s super time consuming and I can’t make myself stop) and posted it.

Seems to me like I made some good and/or funny points, so I’m going to copy and paste my comment here. Enjoy!

“Nice column! Am I biased? Sure I am (Chiefs fan since 1990 & I write Chiefs Chronicles on Substack), but I loved hearing it from the Bills point of view. That James Cook quote was 100% correct- with a team like the Chiefs you can’t leave it in the hands of the refs and hope you win. You want to beat the Chiefs? Then you can’t just lean on what’s worked for you all season. If the Bills had gotten just a little bit more aggressive/creative with their play-calling, things could’ve very well worked out in their favor. During the game, I honestly thought they were going to win.

Do the Chiefs sometimes get benefit of the doubt/“Protect the Face of the League” penalties? Absolutely. Every superstar player/great team in every league gets/has gotten those from time to time. It should also be noted, though, that there are terrible calls in literally EVERY game in the NFL. It’s amazing how people hyper-focus only on calls that go the Chiefs way. I’ve tried explaining the scope and impossibility of keeping a conspiracy that big a secret, but true believers in the Mahomes/Kelce/Reid/Swift/Satan Pentaverate won’t listen to reason.”

(Quick Note: Every time someone brings up some absurd Chiefs conspiracy theory, I immediately think of this scene from the Simpsons⬇️. It’s a good example of how quickly crazy ideas can spiral out of control.)

“There are two penalties (I’m sure there were many more) that went against KC before they became a dynasty that are burned into my brain- the ridiculous Chris Jones roughing penalty that took away a strip sack/fumble recovery against the Raiders (the Chiefs won anyway) & the egregiously horrible call by Jeff Triplette (who Chiefs fans had long claimed was biased against the Chiefs and who retired after that game) in the Chiefs playoff loss to the Titans in the 2017 playoffs. His absurd call that Marcus Mariota’s forward progress was stopped, took away a Derrick Johnson sack/forced fumble (that the Chiefs recovered) and continued a drive that led to a Titans FG in a game that the Chiefs lost by a single point.

Bad calls happen all the time, but there’s something else at work for the Chiefs that people tend to ignore. In the playoffs, every aspect of that team, from players to coaches to the lowest Gatorade person (do they have a job title?) cranks up to a level that other teams can’t seem to match. The Chiefs always seem to make not only that one extra play that their opponent can’t, but also enough fewer mistakes to make a difference in the outcome of the game. Good coaching counts for a lot and Chiefs have probably the greatest Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator duo in the history of the league, not to mention one of the best Special Teams coaches ever.

Combine that coaching with Patrick Mahomes (who is well on his way to becoming the greatest QB in NFL history), Travis Kelce (probably the best TE in NFL history, all things considered), ascending and dynamic speedster WR Xavier Worthy, a great interior O-Line (love the trio of Thuney/Humphrey/Smith!), Chris Jones (often under appreciated but a dominant DT on a HOF trajectory), a very young All-Pro CB in Trent McDuffie, solid up and coming players (like “Furious” George Karlaftis), and good role-players (too many to list) filling out the rest of the starting Offense and Defense and you’ve got a recipe for great success.

As for me, I’m just trying to tune out the anger and Chiefs hate. I was a loyal and patient fan for 25+ years, waiting and hoping for this success (never imagining this level of success, TBH) and I’m going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.”

Mahomes & the Offense = Poetry in Motion

The Chiefs first drive against the Bills last Sunday was a thing of beauty. The Offense seemed loose and it felt like everything was working. They only ended up needing 9 of “the first 15” plays to go from their own 10-yard line to scoring a touchdown. If my 3 AM math is correct, that means they averaged 10 yards per play!

Here’s what it looked like:

Chiefs First Drive vs the Bills
1st & 10 at KC 10: Mahomes pass short left to M.Brown to KC 21 for 11 yards
1st & 10 at KC 21: Mahomes pass short middle to M.Brown to KC 30 for 9 yards
2nd & 1 at KC 30: Mahomes scrambles right end to KC 34 for 4 yards
1st & 10 at KC 34: Mahomes pass short left to X.Worthy to KC 44 for 10 yards
1st & 10 at KC 44: Pacheco right guard to KC 47 for 3 yards
2nd & 7 at KC 47: Mahomes pass short middle to J.Smith-Schuster to BUF 22 for 31 yards
1st & 10 at BUF 22: Hunt right end to BUF 14 for 8 yards
2nd & 2 at BUF 14: Hunt left guard to BUF 12 for 2 yards
1st & 10 at BUF 12: Hunt left guard for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Winchester, Holder-M.Araiza.
Drive Length- 5:05

(Note: The shortest gains on the drive were three rushes that went for 4 yards or less (4/3/2), and two of them netted first downs.)

All in all, it was a massively impressive way for them to start the game and I was really pleased to see it. No drops, no penalties, no wasted plays. Our days of being angry at the inconsistent nature of the offense may be over.

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Returner-1 Has Finally Arrived

Before the season started I was writing about the new Dynamic Kickoff and presented the Chiefs options at returner. Without focusing on who I thought it would be (why I thought a rugby player would make the team is beyond me) let’s look at what I wrote about Nikko Remigio:

Nikko Remigio: 5’ 9”/187 lbs./4.56 40 - An outstanding and experienced kick and punt returner in college. Despite his relative lack of speed, he possesses two key traits that make him a dangerous return man: decisiveness and the ability to break tackles. He might make the Opening Day roster.

As you can see from the college highlight clip above, he knows what he’s doing when it comes to returning the ball- whether it be a kickoff or (as is the case above) a punt.

Knowing that he has that skill and confidence, I was very surprised when he fair caught the first punt from the Bills, despite the absence of coverage guys anywhere near him. He talked about that particular decision (and what Travis Kelce said to him about it immediately after) in an interview with Kay Adams a few days ago. If you’re only interested in that story, just watch the first two minutes, but I recommend watching the whole thing. It’s a great story.

I’ve got a feeling we haven’t heard the last from Nikko this postseason. Look for him to give them a boost in a big moment.

Lock it in.

If he keeps this up, he’s gonna need more fingers

And the Name Is...

As most of us know, legendary basketball player/coach/executive Pat Riley has trademarked the phrase “Three-Peat” (and all its permutations), so anyone that wants to use it for merchandise or whatever has to pay him.

No one wants to do that, so here’s a quick poll with some options the Chiefs could use if they end up winning their third consecutive Super Bowl. What’s your favorite? If you have a better one than what’s in the poll, let us know what it is in the comments!

Time to Sleep

That’s all I’ve got for now. Have a great week and keep your eyes peeled for another Chiefs Chronicles with all of my wacky predictions before the big game. As always…

GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!

(Here’s some more college highlights from Nikko Remigio!)