Monday, September 10, 2018

Deja Vu All Over Again

Different year, same story.

It started with the news that DE Joey Bosa would be out with a foot injury. Then the big plays from KC courtesy of WR Tyreek Hill. Right off the bat he returns a punt 91 yards. On the Chief's 2nd possession he takes a slant 58 yards to put the Chargers down 3-14. Hill had scored on long TDs in the first quarter of both games last season.

Chargers claw back into the game making it 12-17 at half, but just as the two games last year, Phillip Rivers throws a pick that kills a deep drive into Chiefs territory and JJ Jones fumbles a punt return to gift the Chiefs a goal-to-go inside the 5. Score 20-38 with 10 minutes to go and it's all but over.

Kinda-shoulda-woulda. Chargers WRs outright drop four big passes, three in the first half. One was dropped by Tyrell Williams in the end zone. Three dropped by Travis Benjamin. The first a possible TD. The 2nd could have set up a late FG before half. The 3rd in the end zone that would have made it a 3 point game with 1:45 left. Fittingly, Caleb Sturgis missed the ensuing FG that probably wouldn't have mattered, but would have at least kept hope alive if the Chargers could pull off the onside kick.

Even as a Charger fan you have to love Andy Reeds play calling. If your team has a player that is very aggressive Reed will see it on film and find a way to take advantage of it. Two of Patrick Mahomes TDs came from shovel passes that took advantage of hard inside rushes from DE Melvin Ingram.

It's only one game, but it was as big as a Week 1 game could be. The Chiefs have the Chargers number and until they can get over that the Division will be belong to KC.

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