evolution

In last week’s Chiefs report, I said this:

The Colts are much like the Chiefs — they feature a potent offense and had questions about their defense to start the season. Both teams should light up the Arrowhead Stadium scoreboard next week.

That prediction came true today, as the Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 45-35. The game featured non-stop offensive action. Neither defense was particularly horrible; rather, both offenses operated quite efficiently, and the Chiefs made just enough defensive plays to win. The two teams together combined for 1098 yards of offense (Chiefs: 590, Colts: 508) and 11 touchdowns. There were a total of six punts in the entire game (Chiefs: 2, Colts: 4).

One turning point was the fake punt the Colts ran in the first quarter after having been backed up on fourth down by a penalty. Colts P Hunter Smith ran around right end; the fake was sniffed out by CB Eric Warfield, who drilled Smith at the line of scrimmage. The Chiefs went from there to run up 31 first-half points.

In the third quarter, radio broadcasters Mitch Holthaus and Len Dawson had a special guest: Kansas City native, K-State graduate, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Air Force Gen. Richard Meyers. Gen. Meyers sat with Mitch and Len through most of the third quarter, talking about his football experiences as a youngster and his Kansas roots.

Players of the game:

• Offensive: TE Tony Gonzalez — 8 catches, 125 yards, 2 TD; including a TD with 2:17 remaning that featured an ankle-breaking double move on Colts CB Jason David and a leaping catch. Honorable mention: QB Trent Green — 27/34, 389 yards, 3 TD passes, no turnovers.
• Defensive: SS Greg Wesley — made the INT when it mattered, in the last two minutes.
• Special teams: WR Dante Hall — 168 return yards, for an average return of 21 yards. He nearly broke one on a punt, taking it to the Colt 13-yard line.

In week nine, the Chiefs will travel to Tampa to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have this week off. The Buccaneers are down this year, but they still feature a tough defense. They don’t have nearly enough offense to keep up with the Chiefs though; I expect the Chiefs to run away with this one.