Jaguars at Chiefs Week 9: 3 things we learned
By Brad Weiss
The Kansas City Chiefs took care of business at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Here are three things we learned.
Arrowhead Stadium is one of the hardest places to play for a road team, and the crowd was certainly a factor in the Chiefs win on Sunday. The young Jacksonville Jaguars went into Kansas City skidding this season, and left with another loss. The Chiefs were playing without a bunch of weapons on Sunday, but that did not matter, as the defense and the kicker were able to get the job done.
As the Chiefs move to 6-2 on the season, it is clear that there may be three playoff teams residing in the AFC West. The Jags are currently in the cellar of the AFC South, which is widely regarded as the worst in football. After Sunday’s 19-14 Chiefs win, here are three things we learned.
1. Alex Smith is more valuable than people think
When Nick Foles entered the Chiefs’ Week 8 game against the Indianapolis Colts, he looked like the player who set the NFL on fire as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles a couple of years back. On Sunday, he looked like the player who could not earn the starting job in Los Angeles, as he played bad enough to be bench against the Jaguars. The Chiefs have the talent on both sides of the ball to make a deep run in the playoffs, but they need their quarterback back.
Alex Smith is going to start next week, and Foles’ performance on Sunday showed why the team has him as their No. 1 QB. It is so easy for fans to fall in love with the backup, especially when the starter does not put up fantasy football numbers. The bottom line is Smith is perfect for this team, and they need him healthy if they want to challenge for a Super Bowl this season.
2. Greg Olsen was not the issue
The Jacksonville Jaguars fired offensive coordinator Greg Olsen last week, as he became the fall guy for the team’s struggles this season. On Sunday, the Jaguars were just as inept without him, so maybe Olsen was not the problem in Jacksonville. Head coach Gus Bradley has gotten a very long leash during his time with Jags, and it may be time for the team to go in another direction.
There is not doubting that the Jaguars are loaded on offense with talent. Blake Bortles has all the tools to be an elite quarterback in the league, and Allen Robinson may be a top-5 receiver in the AFC. Running back T.J. Yeldon is very young, and Julius Thomas was once one of the best young tight ends in football. Olsen definitely had the weapons to succeed, but the result was the same on Sunday with him watching from home.
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3. Marcus Peters is headed to the Hall of Fame
With 8:23 left in the game, the Jacksonville Jaguars were knocking on the door. Down 19-7, the Jags had the ball on the one-yard line, and appeared destined to punch it in to bring the game to within a score. Bortles handed it off to Chris Ivory on second down, and the ball came loose, ending up in Marcus Peters hands. It was just another huge play in the already stellar career of Peters, who is destined for Canton.
Peters is an interception machines, racking up 13 picks in 23 career games. Ever since coming into the league last season, he has been the best defensive back in the AFC, taking the title away from New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. At only 23-years old, Peters has already become the leader of a Chiefs defense that has the potential to lead the team to a Super Bowl. He seems to be in the right spot at the right time every week, and he is only going to get better.