***AFCC - Buffalo 15-4 at Kansas City 16-2*** (-2, 47.5) 6:30 (1 Viewer)

[ChiefD]

Thank you refs again.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

Statistically the Chiefs are more like an 11 or 12 win team. Two teams in THEIR OWN DIVISION had a higher point differential. Almost every other playoff team did (Steelers, Texans and Rams didn't, Commanders at 12-5 at only a few points better). Their offensive and defensive rankings are decent, but not good or great. They're a very good team, but not a typical 15-2 great team. They've had a horseshoe up their tookus all year, pulling out one improbable comeback win after another.

KC total offense: 16th (14th pass, 22nd run, 15th points)
KC total Defense: 9th (18th pass, 8th run, 4th points)

These are VERY atypical rankings for a #1 seed, historic even. It is not unfair to call them one of the worst #1 seed in a long long time, if not ever. They DO have one of the NFLs best coaches and one of the NFLs best ever QBs, which is obviously why they're accomplished what they have and certainly gives them a great chance to win at home, but I think the horseshoe falls out today .


Buffalo 34 Chiefs 27

this post especially about them being "one of the worst #1 seeds in a long time.......if not ever"....might be one of the worst takes in FBG of all time....

seriously Rene....how can you REALLY justify that take....sounds bitter...

 

[Ray_T]

Statistically the Chiefs are more like an 11 or 12 win team. Two teams in THEIR OWN DIVISION had a higher point differential. Almost every other playoff team did (Steelers, Texans and Rams didn't, Commanders at 12-5 at only a few points better). Their offensive and defensive rankings are decent, but not good or great. They're a very good team, but not a typical 15-2 great team. They've had a horseshoe up their tookus all year, pulling out one improbable comeback win after another.

KC total offense: 16th (14th pass, 22nd run, 15th points)
KC total Defense: 9th (18th pass, 8th run, 4th points)

These are VERY atypical rankings for a #1 seed, historic even. It is not unfair to call them one of the worst #1 seed in a long long time, if not ever. They DO have one of the NFLs best coaches and one of the NFLs best ever QBs, which is obviously why they're accomplished what they have and certainly gives them a great chance to win at home, but I think the horseshoe falls out today .


Buffalo 34 Chiefs 27

you are right. Chiefs have played to the level of competitition for 3 quarters. (sometimes 3 and a half quarters) and then light it up at the end..... just enough to get the win.

and not enough for scouts to really see them at their best and get a feel for how to defend them. if you look at the games..... most of their closest games were the ones against the weak teams and most of their bigger wins were against better teams. its like they just dont take the lesser teams seriously and the team is still good enough that they can flick a switch and suddenly the offense comes alive for that game winning drive at the end of the game.

for the record most teams when they beat a contender win by a small margin and they win by a large margin against the weaker teams. Chiefs for the most part did the opposite this year. I dont think we have actually seen many complete games from the chiefs but bad for them is still better than nearly every team they have faced this year. That is a little scary.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

 

[Stinkin Ref]

at least the refs deciding this one wasn't an issue...

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I can't root for either team. Guess I'm skipping another SB.

Root for the meteorite?

If cosmic destruction is off the bingo card, then I'm looking at it thusly: I asked myself "Which fan base is likely to be more insufferable if they win?" That's Philly's, pretty much hands down, right? Then I asked myself "Which fan base is likely to be more insufferable if they lose?" Hmmm...that's almost certainly also Philly's by a lot. I'm back to square one here.

Guess I'll have to go with this then:

- Pretty chill town
- Pretty chill fans
- Has legit BBQ

vs.

- Not a very chill town.
- Antithesis of chill fans
- "Claim to fame" cuisine has something referred to as "wit" or "witout" as a condiment.


"Go get 'em, Patty!", I guess.

 

[Chemical X]

KC now has 7 consecutive years of conf. championship appearances and this will be the 5th SB in that span. patriots had an
8 year similar run. really amazing in the sal cap era. KC doesn’t have an 800 yard rusher nor a 900 yard receiver this year.
as a ny jest fan, i just can’t fathom this success.

 

[zamboni]

This may not have been one of the more dominating Chiefs teams this year despite their record, as both teams were pretty evenly matched. But in the end, as it always seems to do, it came down to execution and coaching/scheme (as it often has in the Reid era). Reid, Spags, etc. just know how to manage a game no matter who the opponent is, and are always prepared to make adjustments. Clearly that's been a big advantage over McDermott, Brady, and even before with Daboll/Dorsey on the Bills side. You're only talking about a relatively small number of plays that decide everything (68 plays for Buffalo last night, 63 for KC). Can't even point to home field advantage in this one - maybe the Bills crowd might have made a difference, but we'll never know. Plus, the KC defense should be getting a large share of the credit - they disrupted Allen all night.

 

[popeye]

at least the refs deciding this one wasn't an issue...

user name checks out

 

[JohnnyU]

at least the refs deciding this one wasn't an issue...

Oh I don't know, taking away that first down on the Allen run on a drive inside the KC 50 and that no-call on the push in the back by #84 on that long kick return was bad for Buffalo.

 

[pecorino]

I feel awful for Allen and Buffalo. Knew this was about a coin flip, and it was home field that seemed to do it.

Not really

Field goal difference? You're telling me Bills aren't kicking for the win if that game is in Buffalo? They already beat KC in Buffalo this year. What makes you think home field isn't worth about that margin?

It wasn’t home field at all. It was coaching — Reid and Spags outcoached moron McDermott and dipstick Joe Brady

I think that’s right. The QB sneak / Tush push calls killed the Bills. They could have played it straight with running plays to convert those short ones with Cook. Plus Allen took a beating.

Give Allen the ball in the shotgun and he finds a hole with a head of steam instead of piling up with 20 bodies blocking his way, let Allen play fake and run around the end like Mahomes does all day. Give Allen pass/run option. Tush push was not working at all why keep trying? This loss is on the Bills play caller.

The Bills were 77% on the season converting those. They’ve been really really good at those for years with Josh. I do tend to agree that they should have moved away from it when it wasn’t working, but I also get why they thought they could stick with it and make it work.

Sometimes you just have to credit the other team for making really good plays. Chris Jones is really really good.

Chris Jones is a game-changer, for sure. I recall one play when he was out on the sidelines and I told the wife, they’ll throw on this down because Jones is out. Nope. No audible, it was a typical rush for four yards or whatever. Bills seemed tentative to me and definitively out coached.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

 

[Da Guru]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

 

[zamboni]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

Get Elon on it pronto…

 

[zamboni]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

With the advent of technology, I imagine a lot could be determined. Doubt it happens though given the politics of the league.

 

[Da Guru]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Marking the ball and measuring with chains is not an exact science. The line official's are 20 yards away on both sides, they come running into a pile of humanity, bodies everywhere and have really no idea where the ball is at the time of forward progress. The mark of the ball can`t possible be 100% correct either way.

We always hear the announcers "Well he got a generous spot, or he got a bad spot"

 

[Stinkin Ref]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

a chip could show how far the ball advanced but not where it was when the player is actually down....

 

[zamboni]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

a chip could show how far the ball advanced but not where it was when the player is actually down....

Perhaps, but at least would bring a bit more precision to it than a bunch of out of shape guys running from way across the field to just take a guess.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

I guess if you are going to run the QB sneak/shove and you and everybody in the stadium knows its coming.....execute it well enough that if you need a yard make sure you can get two....or else you really can't complain.....

 

[renesauz]

Statistically the Chiefs are more like an 11 or 12 win team. Two teams in THEIR OWN DIVISION had a higher point differential. Almost every other playoff team did (Steelers, Texans and Rams didn't, Commanders at 12-5 at only a few points better). Their offensive and defensive rankings are decent, but not good or great. They're a very good team, but not a typical 15-2 great team. They've had a horseshoe up their tookus all year, pulling out one improbable comeback win after another.

KC total offense: 16th (14th pass, 22nd run, 15th points)
KC total Defense: 9th (18th pass, 8th run, 4th points)

These are VERY atypical rankings for a #1 seed, historic even. It is not unfair to call them one of the worst #1 seed in a long long time, if not ever. They DO have one of the NFLs best coaches and one of the NFLs best ever QBs, which is obviously why they're accomplished what they have and certainly gives them a great chance to win at home, but I think the horseshoe falls out today .


Buffalo 34 Chiefs 27

this post especially about them being "one of the worst #1 seeds in a long time.......if not ever"....might be one of the worst takes in FBG of all time....

seriously Rene....how can you REALLY justify that take....sounds bitter...

No bitterness. I've backed up the statement with statistics. If you don't accept those stats as enough, that's fine, we can disagree. But the stats don't lie.
I LIKE the chiefs. I love Reid, and I respect the coaching there. I've soured a bit on Mahomes because he's a bit of a whiner, but his talent is not in doubt.

The Kansas City Chiefs had the lowest point differential for a number one seed in NFL history with a +54 in 2024 NUMBER ONE LOWEST EVER. No matter how you spin it that's a telling statistic. I don't know how anyone can say they're a normal, let alone above average top seed.

One other nugget: In the 53 years since the merger, there have been only eight Super Bowl winners to be ranked an average of 10th or worse for offense and defense combined, seven of them came during this 10-year era of mediocrity (from the article this was in an era of mediocrity from 2006-2015), and only one occurred during the other 43 years. KC's average this year? 12th

I don't understand why you take this personally.

 

[Insein]

I guess if you are going to run the QB sneak/shove and you and everybody in the stadium knows its coming.....execute it well enough that if you need a yard make sure you can get two....or else you really can't complain.....

Eagles won't have this problem

 

[renesauz]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

I have NEVER understood this suggestion. What good is a chip in the ball without a hundred more chips in every player? Knowing where the ball is is useless without knowing WHEN the players knee/elbow/butt/calf/knee or whatever touches down. A chip is USELESS.

Now what is stupid is the chains at all. Do we need an exact 10 yards measured when EVERYTHING (including setting those chains to begin with!) is done by eyeball, often from 30 or 40 yards away? Start a series of down on an exact yardage marker. On every first down, move the ball to the nearest full yardage marker. THEN maybe use a chip in the ball to determine (after it's spotted) if it's unclear (well away from visible lines on the field)

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

Chip every relevant body part of every player, too.

Easy.

Follow me for more science tips

 

[renesauz]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

Chip every relevant body part of every player, too.

Easy.

Follow me for more science tips

that would be both expensive and too easily messed with, even unintentionally. Chips in elbows would go off because of where the defensive player went ot tackle. A hit around the knees would set off those sensors too. Hips and buttocks? Firing on most routine tackle long before the player is actually down. Chipping the players is simply untenable. See my above suggestion. All first downs start on a full yard marker.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

Statistically the Chiefs are more like an 11 or 12 win team. Two teams in THEIR OWN DIVISION had a higher point differential. Almost every other playoff team did (Steelers, Texans and Rams didn't, Commanders at 12-5 at only a few points better). Their offensive and defensive rankings are decent, but not good or great. They're a very good team, but not a typical 15-2 great team. They've had a horseshoe up their tookus all year, pulling out one improbable comeback win after another.

KC total offense: 16th (14th pass, 22nd run, 15th points)
KC total Defense: 9th (18th pass, 8th run, 4th points)

These are VERY atypical rankings for a #1 seed, historic even. It is not unfair to call them one of the worst #1 seed in a long long time, if not ever. They DO have one of the NFLs best coaches and one of the NFLs best ever QBs, which is obviously why they're accomplished what they have and certainly gives them a great chance to win at home, but I think the horseshoe falls out today .


Buffalo 34 Chiefs 27

this post especially about them being "one of the worst #1 seeds in a long time.......if not ever"....might be one of the worst takes in FBG of all time....

seriously Rene....how can you REALLY justify that take....sounds bitter...

No bitterness. I've backed up the statement with statistics. If you don't accept those stats as enough, that's fine, we can disagree. But the stats don't lie.
I LIKE the chiefs. I love Reid, and I respect the coaching there. I've soured a bit on Mahomes because he's a bit of a whiner, but his talent is not in doubt.

The Kansas City Chiefs had the lowest point differential for a number one seed in NFL history with a +54 in 2024 NUMBER ONE LOWEST EVER. No matter how you spin it that's a telling statistic. I don't know how anyone can say they're a normal, let alone above average top seed.

One other nugget: In the 53 years since the merger, there have been only eight Super Bowl winners to be ranked an average of 10th or worse for offense and defense combined, seven of them came during this 10-year era of mediocrity (from the article this was in an era of mediocrity from 2006-2015), and only one occurred during the other 43 years. KC's average this year? 12th

I don't understand why you take this personally.

nothing personal....stats are cute....but at the end of the day the only one that matters.... are the dubs.....

 

[efactor]

Interesting that in the biggest game of the year so far, Kareem Hunt got 17 carries to Pacheco's 5 and looked way better. I know he will be 30 going into 2025, but unless the Chiefs spend a fairly high pick on a RB, I can't see a situation where he doesn't return next year.

 

[travdogg]

Flip side of that is the Chiefs haven't played a defense anywhere near as good as the Eagles, because there isn't one. The drop off from the Eagles D, to #2 (KC in my opinion) is bigger than the drop off from KC to league average.

Stafford and Daniels had good games versus the Eagle defense. Turnovers hurt both teams.

I don't understand that argument. The Eagles defense (and special teams) created those turnovers.

Turnovers are somewhat random, especially fumbles.

Ertz had 11 catches for 104, mostly versus DeJean. Kelce should have a big game. Hollywood has given their offense a boost, Worthy has improved as the season progressed. If Mahomes can avoid Carter & Company, I think he has a very good game.

Ertz has 1 catch for 10 yards against DeJean (who had another great game overall, and might already be the best slot CB in the NFL)

Ertz's catches came against the following:
3 against Blankenship
3 against Baun
1 against DeJean
1 against Mitchell
1 against Rodgers
1 against Slay
1 against CJGJ

Most of those were in garbage time against prevent defense. I don't think they point to Kelce having a big game at all, unless KC spends a large chunk of the game being down big.

 

[cheese]

Kelce is usually a zone beater and I would think the Eagles have the dudes (including Slay and Dejean) to line up and play a lot of man. The only issue is you have to spy Mahomes in man like he's Lamar Jackson or every 3rd and 7 will turn into a 7.5 yard scramble.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

Chip every relevant body part of every player, too.

Easy.

Follow me for more science tips

that would be both expensive and too easily messed with, even unintentionally. Chips in elbows would go off because of where the defensive player went ot tackle. A hit around the knees would set off those sensors too. Hips and buttocks? Firing on most routine tackle long before the player is actually down. Chipping the players is simply untenable. See my above suggestion. All first downs start on a full yard marker.

Look pal, I’m an idea man. It’s up to the tech nerds to make it feasible. I get inspired and I share my brilliance with the world. That’s what I do.

You’re welcome.

 

[Andrew74]

The 4 and 1 sneak play - everyone says the far judge who marked it a first down had the better view since ball was facing him. But when they showed the replay from that side, when Allen’s forward progress was stopped, you couldn’t see anything cause Jones was standing in the way. Did the ref have a different view than the camera on the sideline? The still people post on Twitter where you see the ball, he’s not past the first down line.

This is a legit question, not a troll. Every post on Twitter about it shows Allen’s back, which leads to ball location arguments/guessing.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Kelce is usually a zone beater and I would think the Eagles have the dudes (including Slay and Dejean) to line up and play a lot of man. The only issue is you have to spy Mahomes in man like he's Lamar Jackson or every 3rd and 7 will turn into a 7.5 yard scramble.

Jayden Daniels presented the same problem, Eagle's defense did fine.

 

[Anarchy99]

KC now has 7 consecutive years of conf. championship appearances and this will be the 5th SB in that span. patriots had an
8 year similar run. really amazing in the sal cap era. KC doesn’t have an 800 yard rusher nor a 900 yard receiver this year.
as a ny jest fan, i just can’t fathom this success.

Some of the Patriots championships teams were really odd. The 2014 team had Jonas Gray lead the team in rushing at 412 yards . . . and he had over 200 in one game. The 2003 team had a leading rusher with 642 yards and their top receiver had 803. In 3 of their 6 championship seasons, they didn't have anyone with 900 receiving yards (803, 850, and 874). KC is following a similar model and mindset . . . HOF QB, HOF head coach, and a strong defensive unit.

 

[UncleZen]

Bills D need to change their approach vs Mahomes

0-4 in the playoffs is telling

It’s so incredibly frustrating to keep losing to them. Especially in close games. But let’s be real, it’s not like a whole lot of other teams are beating KC in the playoffs either. If anyone can identify a coach that has figured out how to stop Mahomes when it truly matters, I’m all for Buffalo hiring him.

What’s crazy is that every freaking time Buffalo ends up missing crucial defensive pieces against KC. Buffalo’s secondary was thin, but good enough. Not having Rapp and then losing Benford early (and him clearly not being 100%) was devastating.

Todd Bowles and you can have him!

 

[elguapo07]

GOAT doing GOAT things!

I still hate Brady, but he had to win 6 to quiet the Joe Montana talk. Can we chill with the Mahomes is the GOAT talk?

Think it’s more likely that Reid will eventually end up with more W’s than Belichick but not sure he gets to 6 rings.

 

[Mr.Pack]

Statistically the Chiefs are more like an 11 or 12 win team. Two teams in THEIR OWN DIVISION had a higher point differential. Almost every other playoff team did (Steelers, Texans and Rams didn't, Commanders at 12-5 at only a few points better). Their offensive and defensive rankings are decent, but not good or great. They're a very good team, but not a typical 15-2 great team. They've had a horseshoe up their tookus all year, pulling out one improbable comeback win after another.

KC total offense: 16th (14th pass, 22nd run, 15th points)
KC total Defense: 9th (18th pass, 8th run, 4th points)

These are VERY atypical rankings for a #1 seed, historic even. It is not unfair to call them one of the worst #1 seed in a long long time, if not ever. They DO have one of the NFLs best coaches and one of the NFLs best ever QBs, which is obviously why they're accomplished what they have and certainly gives them a great chance to win at home, but I think the horseshoe falls out today .


Buffalo 34 Chiefs 27

this post especially about them being "one of the worst #1 seeds in a long time.......if not ever"....might be one of the worst takes in FBG of all time....

seriously Rene....how can you REALLY justify that take....sounds bitter...

No bitterness. I've backed up the statement with statistics. If you don't accept those stats as enough, that's fine, we can disagree. But the stats don't lie.
I LIKE the chiefs. I love Reid, and I respect the coaching there. I've soured a bit on Mahomes because he's a bit of a whiner, but his talent is not in doubt.

The Kansas City Chiefs had the lowest point differential for a number one seed in NFL history with a +54 in 2024 NUMBER ONE LOWEST EVER. No matter how you spin it that's a telling statistic. I don't know how anyone can say they're a normal, let alone above average top seed.

One other nugget: In the 53 years since the merger, there have been only eight Super Bowl winners to be ranked an average of 10th or worse for offense and defense combined, seven of them came during this 10-year era of mediocrity (from the article this was in an era of mediocrity from 2006-2015), and only one occurred during the other 43 years. KC's average this year? 12th

I don't understand why you take this personally.

Those stats coupled with them being a 15-2 team and going to yet another Super Bowl, doesn’t that scream “ Great team”?
I’m not a fan of theirs but you cannot argue their success, you just can’t.

 

[Da Guru]

GOAT doing GOAT things!

I still hate Brady, but he had to win 6 to quiet the Joe Montana talk. Can we chill with the Mahomes is the GOAT talk?

Think it’s more likely that Reid will eventually end up with more W’s than Belichick but not sure he gets to 6 rings.

6 Rings will be tough. Andy will have to die before he stops coaching so he should end up with more Ws than BB.

 

[Anarchy99]

Think it’s more likely that Reid will eventually end up with more W’s than Belichick but not sure he gets to 6 rings.

Reid currently has 301 total wins. BB has 333. Since Mahomes took over as starter, the Chiefs have averaged 15.5 wins a year . . . more like 16 since they went to a 17-game schedule. At that rate, after 2 more years, it's conceivable Reid could potentially match or eclipse BB (KC would probably need to beat the Eagles next week to have a better chance). Shula has 347 total wins . . . meaning that Reid could ascend to the top of the wins list in 3 more seasons . . . which is pretty crazy when you think about it. He's going to turn 67 in the off season . . . as long as he wants to continue to coach that many years, the wins total should be all but automatic.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

The 4 and 1 sneak play - everyone says the far judge who marked it a first down had the better view since ball was facing him. But when they showed the replay from that side, when Allen’s forward progress was stopped, you couldn’t see anything cause Jones was standing in the way. Did the ref have a different view than the camera on the sideline? The still people post on Twitter where you see the ball, he’s not past the first down line.

This is a legit question, not a troll. Every post on Twitter about it shows Allen’s back, which leads to ball location arguments/guessing.

i noticed on the replay that Jones was directly in his line of view.....that ref probably did not have a real great look so they deferred to the other guy who at least had somewhat of a look...

 

[renesauz]

Statistically the Chiefs are more like an 11 or 12 win team. Two teams in THEIR OWN DIVISION had a higher point differential. Almost every other playoff team did (Steelers, Texans and Rams didn't, Commanders at 12-5 at only a few points better). Their offensive and defensive rankings are decent, but not good or great. They're a very good team, but not a typical 15-2 great team. They've had a horseshoe up their tookus all year, pulling out one improbable comeback win after another.

KC total offense: 16th (14th pass, 22nd run, 15th points)
KC total Defense: 9th (18th pass, 8th run, 4th points)

These are VERY atypical rankings for a #1 seed, historic even. It is not unfair to call them one of the worst #1 seed in a long long time, if not ever. They DO have one of the NFLs best coaches and one of the NFLs best ever QBs, which is obviously why they're accomplished what they have and certainly gives them a great chance to win at home, but I think the horseshoe falls out today .


Buffalo 34 Chiefs 27

this post especially about them being "one of the worst #1 seeds in a long time.......if not ever"....might be one of the worst takes in FBG of all time....

seriously Rene....how can you REALLY justify that take....sounds bitter...

No bitterness. I've backed up the statement with statistics. If you don't accept those stats as enough, that's fine, we can disagree. But the stats don't lie.
I LIKE the chiefs. I love Reid, and I respect the coaching there. I've soured a bit on Mahomes because he's a bit of a whiner, but his talent is not in doubt.

The Kansas City Chiefs had the lowest point differential for a number one seed in NFL history with a +54 in 2024 NUMBER ONE LOWEST EVER. No matter how you spin it that's a telling statistic. I don't know how anyone can say they're a normal, let alone above average top seed.

One other nugget: In the 53 years since the merger, there have been only eight Super Bowl winners to be ranked an average of 10th or worse for offense and defense combined, seven of them came during this 10-year era of mediocrity (from the article this was in an era of mediocrity from 2006-2015), and only one occurred during the other 43 years. KC's average this year? 12th

I don't understand why you take this personally.

Those stats coupled with them being a 15-2 team and going to yet another Super Bowl, doesn’t that scream “ Great team”?
I’m not a fan of theirs but you cannot argue their success, you just can’t.

I mean, I guess it depends on how you define great team. The Ravens and Bills were great teams this year and didn't get a 1 seed. The Eagles also. Are the Eagles a lesser team because of three losses? Keep in mind that two of those losses happened early in the year. One of those was a dropped gimme pass to Saquon from being over with a W. The Tampa game was also early season and Philly was down both AJ and Smith. The late season Washington game was also an easy dropped pass (Smith that time) from being over in Eagles favor....with Hurts missing most of it with a concussion. The Eagles had the #1 defense and the top rushing game.

Last year the Eagles were 10-1 and were considered the best in football, but a lot of folks were pointing out that they had a not so great point differential and had won several games against marginal teams by slim margins and had beaten a couple of good teams with last second heroics. Turned out the doubters were right. This Chiefs team has a better QB and a better coach so that kind of collapse isn't gonna happen, but it's extraordinary that they compiled the record they did with the production they've had. They've also won several games over marginal teams by slim margins and late heroics. Doesn't make them BAD, but it does lead to questions and a very real reason to believe that as a "consensus #1" they're almost certainly a bit over-rated.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

Chip every relevant body part of every player, too.

Easy.

Follow me for more science tips

that would be both expensive and too easily messed with, even unintentionally. Chips in elbows would go off because of where the defensive player went ot tackle. A hit around the knees would set off those sensors too. Hips and buttocks? Firing on most routine tackle long before the player is actually down. Chipping the players is simply untenable. See my above suggestion. All first downs start on a full yard marker.

Look pal, I’m an idea man. It’s up to the tech nerds to make it feasible. I get inspired and I share my brilliance with the world. That’s what I do.

You’re welcome.

"Chips" in different pieces of gear could absolutely be calibrated to capture location data at the precise second required/desired...if that's what the league wanted to do.

Yes, it would be quite expensive, but money is one thing the league does not lack.

What it does lack, seemingly, is the desire to do so.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

Chip every relevant body part of every player, too.

Easy.

Follow me for more science tips

that would be both expensive and too easily messed with, even unintentionally. Chips in elbows would go off because of where the defensive player went ot tackle. A hit around the knees would set off those sensors too. Hips and buttocks? Firing on most routine tackle long before the player is actually down. Chipping the players is simply untenable. See my above suggestion. All first downs start on a full yard marker.

Look pal, I’m an idea man. It’s up to the tech nerds to make it feasible. I get inspired and I share my brilliance with the world. That’s what I do.

You’re welcome.

"Chips" in different pieces of gear could absolutely be calibrated to capture location data at the precise second required/desired...if that's what the league wanted to do.

Yes, it would be quite expensive, but money is one thing the league does not lack.

What it does lack, seemingly, is the desire to do so.

I did some work with RFID back in my TPM days in healthcare. It was feasible 20 year ago - I can't imagine the technology has become worse over that span of time.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Turning point was the shady spot on the 4th down by Buffalo where both refs had vastly different (within a yard of each other) spots.

having officiated more games then I can count as a sideline official....QB sneak type plays are almost impossible to officiate 100% correctly with all the bodies in your line of vision...its really a guessing game....the play should defer to the guy who has the best look at the ball...this side or that side ....what hand is it in.....the guys coming in from the sides could VERY EASILY have different looks in terms of progress, etc....this is nothing new....often the sky above is the best view of "progress" but not a goo indicator of a knee down.....

it is was it is.....make it so it's not even debatable if you and everybody in the stadium knows you are getting ready to do it....

The near side official comes walking to spot that ball like a 100 lb chick leaving the bar at 2 am, and the guy with view of the ball came in straight line with a first down. Terribly weak.

What is troubling is they always say "The call on the field carries weight" Who cares what the call on the field is if it is wrong?

A buddy of mine with whom I was watching the game brought up a good suggestion: why not have some sort of chip in the ball to determine where it actually should be situated? This whole marking of first downs based on where officials think the ball should be placed, while well away from the ball and among a scrum of 300+ pound guys, is as arbitrary as it gets.

Would the chip be able to tell when the player’s body (eg his knee or forearm) first hit the ground too?

Chip every relevant body part of every player, too.

Easy.

Follow me for more science tips

that would be both expensive and too easily messed with, even unintentionally. Chips in elbows would go off because of where the defensive player went ot tackle. A hit around the knees would set off those sensors too. Hips and buttocks? Firing on most routine tackle long before the player is actually down. Chipping the players is simply untenable. See my above suggestion. All first downs start on a full yard marker.

Look pal, I’m an idea man. It’s up to the tech nerds to make it feasible. I get inspired and I share my brilliance with the world. That’s what I do.

You’re welcome.

"Chips" in different pieces of gear could absolutely be calibrated to capture location data at the precise second required/desired...if that's what the league wanted to do.

Yes, it would be quite expensive, but money is one thing the league does not lack.

What it does lack, seemingly, is the desire to do so.

I did some work with RFID back in my TPM days in healthcare. It was feasible 20 year ago - I can't imagine the technology has become worse over that span of time.

I can't speak to the radio frequency stuff, but Ive been tangentially/directly invloved with motion capture and collision data a number of times on various projects over the past 20 years. That has certainly not gotten worse, and could absolutely be leveraged in a way to get pretty reliable 3D positional data.

The set up for something the size of a football field with that many bodies would be nuts, and certainly would require bespoke software & physical engineering...but it'd be possible.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

The set up for something the size of a football field with that many bodies would be nuts, and certainly would require bespoke software & physical engineering...but it'd be possible.

If anyone has the resources to install this, it would be the NFL. It would cost them .0001% of their collective profits.

The biggest challenge might be that it would diminish the job duties of referees, and they're unionized.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I can't speak to the radio frequency stuff

Just to be more clear, I wasn’t suggesting doing it with RFID. By “it’” I meant tracking technology.

I can find my dogs within a few feet of their location any hour of the day.

NFL got the money for military level ****. They could do this if they wanted to, and I’ll die on that hill despite being neither an engineer nor someone who will take the time to do 1 second of research on it. It’s the American way.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

are we searching for a solution to a problem that really doesn't exist...?....the NFL has been around for a long time and while spotting of the ball has maybe had a few blips on the radar in the past.....it feels like all this talk of chips and stuff would not be an issue if it didn't involve the Chiefs.....these things happen in every game every season.....but since "it went the Chiefs way" the NFL just HAS to do something....lol

 

[Stinkin Ref]

I think if you search hard enough there was some experimentation in a league using some of the things that many are asking about here.....and I think at the time the results basically were summarized by things like "it takes too long to confirm" and it just really didn't work very well because of all the moving pieces that were involved...

 

[Anarchy99]

are we searching for a solution to a problem that really doesn't exist...?....the NFL has been around for a long time and while spotting of the ball has maybe had a few blips on the radar in the past.....it feels like all this talk of chips and stuff would not be an issue if it didn't involve the Chiefs.....these things happen in every game every season.....but since "it went the Chiefs way" the NFL just HAS to do something....lol

Let's just say they have a chip in the ball. This opens up a world of other questions . . . is the chip in the center off the ball (meaning the spot the ball is placed could still be off a few inches)? But beyond that, how could they know if the runner was already down and then moved the ball forward? If his forward progress was stopped? Where the ball was at the point the whistle blew? How about if the ball was constantly moving at the time the runner was getting tackled? There could easily be no good way to determine all that, especially if there is a giant scrum in the middle of the field. So, I agree with you . . . having a chip in the ball really wouldn't make spotting the ball much more accurate, and how many times a game would that even come into play (likely not very often)?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

are we searching for a solution to a problem that really doesn't exist...?

Its not that the problem doesn't exist, its that the "problem" only exists on social media and internet message boards. Across the internet every single day fans of losing sports teams across all sports worldwide are bitterly complaining about referees, claiming bias and corruption and suggesting these sports are in some sort of crisis situation due to poor officiating. It makes for fun banter during a two week break with no football, but there's no need to take any of this seriously.