Tell the truth Tuesday

[NoCalSkins]

Last night felt like a boxing match where the underdog scores a couple surprise jabs early but fails to capitalize with combinations and once the favorite gets their wind back they slowly and methodically break the will of their opponent.

This team isn't good enough right now to recover from getting 0pts off 2 early turnovers. The offense had a decent strategy early, mostly dink-dunk-take what the defense is allowing, but as soon as Spagnola adjusted, the offense had zero ability to make their own adjustments to it. More drops, more inability to get anything vertical going. Terry either reaggravated the quad injury or he was never fully healed to begin with, because it seemed odd that he was on the sideline on multiple 3rd downs.

At the end of the day, it's the Chiefs. It's Mahommes. Mahommes was doing Mahommes things out there. Nothing the Chiefs did surprised me. This was going to be a tough game even if the Commanders were 100% healthy. To me, the losses to Atlanta & Chicago, and to a lesser extent Dallas, are more indicative of how this season is going to go.

 

[Conn]

I went to bed after we failed to get points after the 2nd interception. I knew we had no chance.

I don’t remember a time where I’ve turned a game off but I’ll admit I did.

Can’t blame you, watching the rest felt like a punishment. That’s the frustrating fan experience I posted about, it kills interest

 

[ExoDus84]

At least I made $250 on a few betting props that hit. Mahomes/Mariota 25+ rushing yards each, and McLaurin over 46 yards receiving. It was the only joy in a predictable, and equally frustrating, loss.

 

[Dlts20]

The D looked like one of the best in the league in the first half and the worst in the league in the 2nd. Our O wasn't much different. It wasn't as bad as our D in the 2nd half but our OK looked so dynamic in the first half and couldn't get nothing going, coincidentally after Terry went out. We did a poor job in the first half of capitalizing.

All in all, I still saw enough good to have hope that with Jayden and Terry, our team can be great. The problem right now is that neither side can consistently help the other. The D gives up way too many first downs so the clock is constantly moving. Sometimes our OK has to sit for a long time which throws off the rhythm. We just consistently allow a high competition percentage and enough runs to where our OK just sits.

Then when the D plays well, we constantly shoot ourselves in the foot on offense with a terrible turnover, misses block, a drop, a penalty or a missed FG and it honestly deflates both sides of the ball. If our OK can get back to scoring, playing with a lead, then our D will play better. If we can get some 3 and outs to get our OK the ball back quicker, then they can get a rhythm.

We also need to stop the dumb penalties. It was 7-7 in the 3rd and we had just stopped them to make it 3rd and long but Quan hits their receiver late, they get a 15yd penalty, automatic first down, and score a TD. It completely changed the game and we have done that a lot this year. Stupid penalties to allow drives to continue which always end in a TD.

As for Coleman, he is a great tackle and I love having him as a back up. You can't fault the team for wanting to protect Jayden but there was one thing I talked a ton about after that draft that everyone just blows over. I think that Connerly has been more solid than others do, after that gauntlet of DE monsters that he had to start the season with but I said after the draft that just because you are a great LT doesn't mean that you are a great RT.

In HS I was extremely dominant on one side of my body. I dominated at left DE but could get easily taken advantage of when they switched me to the opposite side. You are using a different power hand/leg and the footwork is completely backwards and in the opposite direction. Connerly may be great right now at LT and be below average at RT. That was my fear of drafting him after signing Tunsil but I was banking on the fact that our staffed also realized this, worked him out there pre draft, and saw enough good to make that decision. Otherwise we may should have taken Simmons who KC has loved so far.

All in all I still feel like while we look like crap, this is one of the few times when a coach says that we are not that far away and it actually be true. We are just a tick off every game but if we can get both Jayden and Terry healthy for an extended period then I think that this Offense can be an explosive, 30pt offense again and that will in turn help the defense so much. I loved the way Lattimore played BTW. Keep him in press on one side and Amos on the other. That's a start.

My only fear is that Jayden and Terry can save us but I'm not sure either will be healthy right now

 

[RFK Lives]

Not much I can add here as you all have covered everything I felt.

It was nice to see that fire from the defense early on, but not sure if they got tired, disheartened that turnovers did not lead to points, or a combination.

The refs weren't their usual Chief Mahomes loving selves, but I swear I have not seen a virtual measurement all year until that one, and why you cannot still challenge the crappy spot, I thought Ertz had that one. Several missed holds when rushing 15 and I hated the pick play, ran on 4th down to go up 14-7, felt like I knew then it was over.

Oh, shoot, just reading the post about the late hit, I must admit, I went to bed, once the competitive portion of the game was over. Glad to see the refs are protecting him more than anybody else.

 

[Gooseneck]

A couple of thoughts about yesterday:

The D held up for a half, but when the dam burst it wasn't a crack but a gusher. We are fundamentally lacking in the trenches. Can't pressure the QB and are becoming soft against the run not just around the edge but right up the gut where Payne and Kinlaw and Newton and Goldman still play. The D Line is suffering from injuries at end, but they are also suffering from choices. After getting wrecked by the run game in 2025, the braintrust decided they needed more beef. It hasn't worked.

It's hard to judge Witt's playcalling yesterday because Maholmes had thirty seconds to throw the damn ball. That said, the defense held up forcing Mahomes to hold the ball a lot so the coverage was probably initially good for most of the game.

Coleman's a tackle not a guard. He just performs better outside. I'm beginning to wonder if they made a mistake in drafting Connerly. Tunsil at left and Coleman at right probably would have been good and that would have freed us up to get a pass rusher. Still, it's a good thing to have three tackles you can trust.

I expected to lose yesterday. I thought I might be turning off the game after the first quarter and wondered if Maholmes would score 100 points. We played well enough to keep me tuned in all the way to the fourth quarter.

Blown opportunities. Blown opportunities. We never took advantage of the excellent kickoff returns. We failed to take advantage of the turnovers. You can't do that against a team like the Chiefs. Entering the half tied was fool's gold.

This team made a mistake by cutting the doink and not giving Siebert a second chance. Matt Gay has been inconsistent and now he's hurt.

The refs kept calling our receivers out when they were in. They kept marking us short. Not the reason we lost, but didn't help. I noted at least three times the upstairs officials had to overrule the refs on the field and another time they got it right because we threw the challenge flag. We weren't reffed in this game, but the refs sure short changed us a lot.

Thanks for the update on Coleman. I came to this thread with that question in mind. Maybe a good swing tackle for us for years to come. I have not given up on this year, but see it as a good year to evaluate players.

 

[Chris]

I have to admit that I just shook my head after Newton flung Mahomes into the end zone that Aikman said ‘you can’t do that to a QB, especially that QB‘.

He actually said the quiet part out loud. 🤣

 

[Chris]

I try not to forget that Conerly is still only 21 years old (for about another week). Still basically a boy against grown ass men.

 

[Dlts20]

Watching back on that non block sack of Mariota, that was definitely Cosmis fault. Idk what others are looking at but that was one hundred percent his man. That's why the camera showed the coach grilling him and not Connerly and why Sam was being so demonstrative

 

[Faithful Fan]

True with regard to defense, but in the last 10 drafts, we have only drafted TWO offensive lineman in round 1 or 2 (Conerly and Cosmi). I understand that there are trades and FA, but I would absolutely NOT say that we've heavily invested in the Oline.

I agree we haven’t invested in the line well over the last decade, letting Scherff go was bad, and the Trent Williams debacle was one of the worst things I’ve seen this team do.

However, I don’t think you can say that about the current regime, which is the context I was thinking. We drafted a linemen high in the third last year, drafted a linemen in the first this year, and traded like four draft picks for a LT.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I try not to forget that Conerly is still only 21 years old (for about another week). Still basically a boy against grown ass men.

Fair, and I do hope he developes, but he has been a liability, probably bad enough to bench him until he is further along. If not that, then we need to scheme him more help from TE and RB.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Can’t blame you, watching the rest felt like a punishment. That’s the frustrating fan experience I posted about, it kills interest

It’s pretty much the same frustrating fan experience we’ve had for 30 years outside the odd 2005, 2012, or 2024, and even those have been followed by stinkers like this. That’s the hard part, I was really starting to believe we finally turned the corner after decades of futility, but evidently not. It’s just sad, but at least we are used to it.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Some notes from yesterday:

Good:

1. Lattimore and Wagner getting turnovers.
2. Terry returning and making acrobatic catches.
3. Jeremy McNichols doing his thing, 5 catches for 64 yards and a great block on the TD play.
4. Luke McCaffery doing what he can with his opportunities. He had a beautiful sideline grab, a nice kick return, and came back to a throw to prevent a sure INT.
5. Jeremy Reaves flying to the ball.
6. First half energy.

Bad:

1. Wagner getting beat in coverage.
2. Deebo letting the ball bounce off his hands and facemask resulting in an interception that killed a good drive.
3. Whatever happened on that 4th & 1.
4. Wide open guys in the secondary.
5. Our rushing attack.
6. Lane and Conerly’s rookie mistakes.
7. Second half energy.

Ugly:

1. Injuries continue to pile up. Now it’s Tunsil, Kinlaw, and Terry again. Hope these aren’t serious.
2. Officiating is trash. Both of Terry’s big catches had to be challenged, I still think Ertz had a first down, and the personal foul penalties were soft.
3. We have not had two consecutive good seasons since 1991-1992. I expected that to change this year, not now.

 

[Chris]

Some notes from yesterday:

Good:

1. Lattimore and Wagner getting turnovers.
2. Terry returning and making acrobatic catches.
3. Jeremy McNichols doing his thing, 5 catches for 64 yards and a great block on the TD play.
4. Luke McCaffery doing what he can with his opportunities. He had a beautiful sideline grab, a nice kick return, and came back to a throw to prevent a sure INT.

Bad:

1. Wagner getting beat in coverage.
2. Deebo letting the ball bounce off his hands and facemask resulting in an interception that killed a good drive.
3. Whatever happened on that 4th & 1.
4. Wide open guys in the secondary.
5. Our rushing attack.

Ugly:

1. Injuries continue to pile up. Now it’s Tunsil, Kinlaw, and Terry again. Hope these aren’t serious.
2. Officiating is trash. Both of Terry’s big catches had to be challenged, I still think Ertz had a first down, and the personal foul penalties were soft.
3. We have not had two consecutive good seasons since 1991-1992. I expected that to change this year, but looks like I was wrong unless our luck changes a lot.

I would put Jeremy Reaves at the top of the good list. He epitomized everything that Quinn espoused in the area of desired play style. He really stepped up and exhibited the characteristics that we want to see.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I would put Jeremy Reaves at the top of the good list. He epitomized everything that Quinn espoused in the area of desired play style. He really stepped up and exhibited the characteristics that we want to see.

Agree completely, he was definitely a bright spot last night. He’s been a great special teams guy for years, and last night he provided some of the best safety play we’ve seen, flying to the ball, good tackling. Reaves is great, I’ll add his name to my list of positives.

 

[NoCalSkins]

On that virtual spot that ruled Ertz short of the first down. I was talking to some fans about it last night and according to them the flaw in the virtual measurement is that it is only based on where the officials decide to spot the ball versus an actual full-on replay where they determine if the ball should have been spotted elsewhere in the first place before they measure, so the virtual spot is not a replay, it is just for show, and the offense was screwed on that based on the spot, not the virtual measurement. Not being allowed to challenge the spot in those situations seems wrong.

EDIT: My bad, I mean to post the above reply more as a question than a definitive statement, because I am curious if this is true or not?

 

[Dlts20]

DQ just said that he doesn't have a medical update until tomorrow because guys are still getting MRIs but he did said that Jayden looked good in his workout on Sunday and they plan for him to practice tomorrow. If we get him and Terry back Sunday then I still say that we will beat Seattle and go on a run. I'm worried that Terry restrained himself again though

 

[Discobob]

On that virtual spot that ruled Ertz short of the first down. I was talking to some fans about it last night and according to them the flaw in the virtual measurement is that it is only based on where the officials decide to spot the ball versus an actual full-on replay where they determine if the ball should have been spotted elsewhere in the first place before they measure, so the virtual spot is not a replay, it is just for show, and the offense was screwed on that based on the spot, not the virtual measurement. Not being allowed to challenge the spot in those situations seems wrong.

EDIT: My bad, I mean to post the above reply more as a question than a definitive statement, because I am curious if this is true or not?

I'm assuming they've put tracking chips in the ball to do the virtual measurement? Assuming that's true, I don't understand why they can't time tag the ball location to the video.... basically, time tag the runner being down using the video.... use the positioning chips to locate the ball.

It's not a challenging problem given current tech.

 

[method man]

Here’s a truth: Ownership needs to be willing to spend more in cash on FA. The Eagles are around 150% cash:cap ratio. We were around 120% I believe. The consequence of the cash budget is fewer multiyear deals and more 1 year deals for guys like Wise and Jones.

 

[Chris 44]

Listening to Logan Paulson who said yeah you always have to have the next man up mindset but the Commanders have more starters on IR currently than any other team. It has an impact. Referenced when Reed went down and he had to play...tried his best but there was a reason Reed was the starter.