Nick Foles is worth a million bucks. He threw for a touchdown Sunday each time he relieved injured starting quarterback Alex Smith as the Chiefs won their third straight game by beating the Colts 30-14.
Kansas State continued its overall inconsistent play and poor second-half execution but still managed to hold off Iowa State 31-26 in Ames. Oklahoma had plenty of offense but no defense in beating Texas Tech a week ago; however, last Saturday at home, the Sooners had control of both sides of the ball in routing Kansas 62-3.
After last weekend, there are no undefeated teams left in the Big 12 because Texas downed Baylor 35-34 in Austin and Oklahoma State handled West Virginia 37-20 in Stillwater. The Longhorns victory certainly kept Bubba placated for a little bit in going after on-the-hot-seat Coach Charlie Strong. Trent Domingue, who missed a field goal in the 24-21 loss the previous week at Kansas State, kicked a 39-yarder with 46 seconds remaining to help give the Longhorns the victory. The Mountaineers were a suspect team despite a 6-0 record going into the Oklahoma State game.
Oklahoma, 6-2 overall, is tops in the conference with a 5-0 record but it’s doubtful the Sooners can make the playoffs.
Chiefs fans, do you remember when the story broke early last August that free agent Foles had signed a one-year contract for $1.2 million with an option in 2017? Do you think that was a pretty good deal now?
The Chiefs had lost long-time back-up Chase Daniels to Philadelphia before the season and the remaining reserve quarterbacks had little experience.
Foles, 27, had asked his release from the Los Angeles Rams after they spent a first-round pick on Jared Goff in the 2016 NFL Draft. Foles signed a two-year contract extension with the Rams shortly after they acquired him in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in 11 games and completed just 56.4 percent of his passes for 2,052 yards. He was eventually benched in favor of Case Keenum.
In 2013 with the Eagles, he threw 27 touchdowns against just two total interceptions. He completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,891 yards. The next season, however, he threw 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games and the Eagles traded him to the Rams. Out of Arizona, Foles was a third-round pick by the Eagles in 2012.
Sunday, Smith left the Colts game twice after hits to the head. He was checked for a concussion in the first half but was cleared to return, which he did in the second quarter. He left again early in the third quarter after Clayton Geathers shoved Smith’s head to the turf. Smith had tried to slide underneath the tackle. After going to the dressing room, he was diagnosed with a concussion and did not return to the game.
According to wire service reports, the social media traffic on the hits came fast and furious. Some fans questioned whether Geathers intentionally drove Smith’s head into the turf. Former Colts linebacker Gary Brackett wrote on Twitter that whoever cleared Smith to return should be fired, while the television announcers questioned the play call because of Smith’s previous injury. Even Smith’s wife, Elizabeth, wrote, questioning how many hits it took to draw a flag. Smith sustained several hits to the head in last week’s 27-21 victory over New Orleans but no penalties were called.
Foles certainly did his duty. His 14-yard TD pass to tight end Travis Kelce early in the second quarter made it 10-0. Smith helped push it 17-7 at halftime with a 13-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin. After Smith’s second departure, Foles hooked up with rookie Tyreek Hill on a 34-yard scoring pass for a 24-7 lead. Hill caught five passes for 98 yards.
The Colts have struggled covering tight ends and Kelce made them pay again, matching his season high with six receptions in the first half and finishing with seven catches for 101 yards, both season highs.
Foles was 16 of 22 for 223 yards with no interceptions and two TDs. Smith was 9 of 19 for 127 yards, no interceptions and a TD.
The last time Kansas City and Indianapolis met in an NFL game, the Colts overcame a 28-point deficit in the second half to win 45-44. That was an AFC Wild Card game in 2014. This time, the Chiefs prevented Andrew Luck from pulling off a comeback. He finished 19 of 35 with 210 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a lost fumble. The Chiefs played soft on defense early on but stepped up the pressure and that proved to be effective.
“I struggled,” Luck told reporters after the game.
It was a tough game for the Chiefs. In addition to Smith, starting running back Spencer Ware missed the second half with a concussion. Ware started in place of Jamaal Charles, who was inactive because of swelling in his surgically repaired knee. Another running back, Charcandrick West, seemed to be favoring his left hip. Who will be the next running back?
The Chiefs will take on Jacksonville Sunday at Arrowhead.
What is it with Kansas State? Yeah, one more victory and the Wildcats become bowl eligible — they’re 5-3. But, geez, they’re playing to a funky beat. The play-calling is, well, let’s be nice, questionable.
Let’s get into some of that. With 4:01 left in the first half with a 17-3 lead, the Cats had first down at their 41. Instead of pushing to get into at least field-goal range with short, crisp passes or quick-opening runs, quarterback Jesse Ertz — with a sore shoulder, mind you — attempted three straight long passes. All of them were incomplete. Instead of a 20-3 or 24-3 lead at the half, they maintained the 17-3 advantage.
Then, leading 31-17 midway in the fourth quarter, the Cats couldn’t take advantage of Iowa State’s inability to score with a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Three runs netted nothing and quarterback Jacob Park overthrew wide-open David Montgomery on a rollout. So the Cats took over. On the first play, they lined up in a deep tailback formation with Charles Jones. What! Yes. A sprint draw, for crying out loud. That meant Jones had to run six or seven yards in the end zone before getting past the goal line. Well, he didn’t as the Cyclones defense filled the gaps and forced a safety.
Fortunately for the Cats, the defense held after the kick. They had the ball with first down at their 31 with 4:55 left in the game. And the lead. Ah, comfort zone. However, instead of moving along with a nice mixture, the Cats conservatively ran the ball and had to punt with just under 3 minutes left in the game.
The TV announcers had said earlier that they had seldom mentioned the front four of K-State’s defense, adding that the Cyclones didn’t have to fend against a lot of pressure. They also had said that in previous games against talented teams, the Cyclones had worn down in the fourth quarter. That wasn’t happening with the Cats as the opponents.
Anyway, Iowa State had the ball and began driving. K-State remained soft, giving lots of cushion in the secondary. The Cyclones moved right down the field and scored with 51 seconds left to make it 31-26. That allowed them to cover the betting spread, getting 6½ points.
See what happens when you play conservative. The players lose that aggressiveness. Other teams seize the moment.
Well, Iowa State started the second half by recovering an on-side kick that resulted in a touchdown and a 17-10 score. However, K-State responded with two long drives to build the lead 31-10 lead.
But could the Cyclones do it again, an on-side kick and drive for the winning score? Nope. K-State covered this time.
Iowa State outscored K-State 16-0 in the fourth quarter but that just wasn’t good enough.
The Cyclones are now 1-7 and you can count up all the mistakes and you see why losing teams lose. The Cyclones made lots of them. For one, they allowed Ertz to escape for a first down on third-and-14 to keep a scoring drive alive. Trevor Ryen dropped a pass when he was wide open and a straight line to the end zone. Yep, that’s what losers do.
Park had 301 yards passing and two touchdowns. Allen Lazard caught 8 passes for 134 yards. No wonder defensive back DJ Reed led the Cats in tackles with 14 tackles.
The Cyclones outgained the Cats 493 yards to 398.
Ertz had 151 yards passing on 18 of 28 attempts. He also ran 9 times for 106 yards.
Hmm, this Alex Barnes, a redshirt freshman from Pittsburg, looks darn good running the ball. He had 37 yards but just carried it five times.
Keys in the victory for the Wildcats: They converted eight of 12 third downs and scored on all five of their trips to the red zone.
They will be at home Saturday to take on Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma’s offense did its usual thing on offense. They rolled up 538 yards against KU. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 236 yards and four touchdowns and receiver Dede Westbrook scored on a 71-yard punt return and a 41-yard reception.
But the Sooners’ defense — much maligned after allowing 854 yards a week earlier in a 66-59 win over Texas Tech — also did its part this time, limiting Kansas (1-7, 0-5) to 170 yards.
And an embarrassing item for KU: The Sooners covered the 40-point spread.
Kansas has lost 17 straight Big 12 games and 39 straight road games overall.
The Jayhawks will travel to West Virginia next week.