So Kelce was out. Dan Campbell was still doing Maverick things. Chiefs management is probably on the hot seat because of Chris Jones. What a start to the 2023 Season!
Personally, I am happy for Detroit. Patrick Mahomes is a talented player who has had a good supporting cast. To beat them in their home stadium, in front of their very loyal fan base… what a feat!
Game Review
I’ve been told I don’t watch football like a regular person. I will replay live play and freeze to study what is going on in a game. Unfortunately, I was working during the live stream, so my in depth viewing came after my day job duties. But here are a few things I noticed:
Is it just me or did Mahomes’ throw a little off?
Now I don’t mean in the obvious way in that he threw a Pick 6. First of all, while the pass may have been a slight inch behind or badly timed, the receiver needed to hang onto the ball. Patrick should not need to take the fall for that Pick 6.
But during the entire game a fair amount of his passes over 10 yards seemed to have an awkward release.
Granted that doesn’t stop him from still making up for it with his athleticism and scrambling prowess. It will always forever be the thing that makes Patrick Mahomes so dangerous. And it even defines him, as some would say, the best quarterback in football.
This game was a defensive battle with mediocre offense for both teams.
Okay, even with preseason, sometimes even the pros might look a little rusty.
If you’re new to the world of football, preseason is essentially a live test for prospective players to earn their spot on a team roster. For the solidified veterans, they are more like a guest appearance or glorified spectator during preseason.
Once the real season starts, the starters are essentially starting out cold rather than warmed up. Getting into rhythm, even for the high caliber players they are, might take a few games.
You could see both Mahomes and Jared Goff struggling to find their passing connection with their receivers. Too many passes into the hands of defenders. Throws coming up short, behind or over the intended target. No dynamic deep passing plays down the field. Again, it was not the worst game either has ever played, but there is much to be desired of both quarterback performances.
However, it’s early in the season, and I have said before, this is a marathon not a sprint.
What happened to the run game?
I’ll be honest, I wanted more of a run game because I have Isiah Pacheco on my fantasy team. But I am also a Niner fan and have bought into the Shanahan theorem of running the ball to open up the passing game.
In particular I think Chiefs did themselves a disservice by trying to rely on Patrick’s arm and his ability to scramble. They have good running backs that they need to utilize creatively to open up Patrick’s options. Granted they tried a few Jet Sweeps and Direct Snaps, but the Lions clearly proved to be a formidable defense.
As for Detroit’s run game? Well, Jahmyr Gibbs had a few food touches as a rookie. But I think they still need to have an equal workload between him and David Montgomery. I think if the Lions can establish a consistent run formula, they will be devastating this season. I’m just not sure Dan Campbell would be a patient enough coach to establish that system.
Does Kelce’s Absence Discredit Detroit’s “W”?
It is hard to play the “what if” game in football. Too many elements to consider. But it happens regardless. There are a lot of people who will discredit the Lions win because Travis Kelce was out and Chris Jones was holding out.
Nothing is for certain in sports. Injuries can happen. Trades made. Deals are negotiated. And there is always the weather. But at the end of 4 quarters, the Lions won.
In my opinion, Kansas City had more than enough elements to win at home. Unfortunately, they chose not to utilize or take advantage of what they had and now the SuperBowl champs start 0-1.