The question marks are piling up for the Chiefs.
Has Andy Reid lost his ability to coach a football team? Does John Dorsey have the acumen to pick talent in the NFL draft and free agency? What is going on with the continual flux of the offensive line? When will they admit they made a mistake with offensive tackle Eric Fisher? Is it offensive line coach Andy Heck’s fault for the miserable play of the offensive line? Does Alex Smith have a strong enough arm to go up field, or for that matter, throw an out-pattern? Is the team psyche so fragile that it can’t bounce back from adversity?
Surely you can add to the list. Most anyone can. For every positive, you can point to two negatives.
Already outlets are discounting Chiefs apparel. If they continue to play like this, you might strike a heckuva bargain.
KC is 1-5 and will face 4-2 Pittsburgh Sunday at Arrowhead.
The Steelers have been playing without Ben Roethlisberger, who is entering the fourth week of rehab on the sprained MCL and a bone bruise. According to reports from the Steeler camp, they’re practicing as if Landry Jones will be the starting quarterback Sunday because he’s the one who’s healthy. Michael Vick has a hamstring injury.
Geez, has it been this long! Todd Haley is in his fourth season as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, after being hired in 2012 and fired by the Chiefs in 2011.
After a rough start in dealing with Roethlisberger, Haley has developed a strong offense — the Steelers had a record-setting season in 2014, establishing new franchise single-season records in points (436), total net yards (6,577), passing yards per game (301.6), total first downs (379) and individual 100-yard receiving games (12).
The Chiefs are on a record-setting pace of a sort — in mistakes, missteps and misplays. They are wallowing in the ways of finding new avenues for losing.
Obviously, Jamaal Charles meant a lot to the Chiefs. But do they fold up and lay down because he suffered an injury in the Chicago Bears game and is lost for the season? See, another question. Look, Pittsburgh lost Big Ben and they kept on ticking.
Charcandrick West, who is the closest thing to Charles that the Chiefs have, had only 33 yards on nine carries in the Week 6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Rusher Knile Davis didn’t help out, either, with just 13 yards on five attempts. West’s fumble near the end of the fourth quarter killed any hope of a comeback by the Chiefs.
So, the Chiefs are getting only 2 points by the odds makers. You probably want to jump all over the Steelers. Problems! The Steelers are going with a quarterback, Landry, who has never started an NFL game. And remember this: The Chiefs have been playing the Steelers tough; KC has lost the last three meetings by scores of 20-12, 16-13 and 13-9; the last victory for the Chiefs was in 2009, 27-24.
You bet the game if you want; I won’t. I do pick the Steelers to win and cover, however.
Kansas State also has numerous question marks and can the Kansas Jayhawks sustain their effort on the road?
Is there big trouble in Purpleville? Outsiders are beginning to ask questions. Is the coaching staff getting too long of tooth? Is Coach Bill Snyder still controlling the play-calling, which has been problematic the last couple of weeks? Is the old plan of bringing in two-star players and walk-ons finally catching up to the program? Are blue-chippers staying away because they don’t like the K-State way of getting playing time: you earn it?
Well, the Cats are headed to Austin for Saturday’s game and the odds makers like the Longhorns, putting them a 4-point favorite. After losing three straight, they Longhorns scored a huge victory over rival Oklahoma, 24-17, and had a bye week to enjoy the victory. Meanwhile, the Cats were getting shellacked by OU, 55-0. In the fallacious comparing-the-scores handicapping, that makes Texas a 62-point favorite.
The Cats own a 9-6 edge in the series and won 23-0 last season. But too many questions this year. I don’t like the game to bet despite all the negatives building for the Cats. I’ll not wager but will pick Texas.
After losing 66-7 to Baylor, the Jayhawks played Texas Tech tough last week before losing 30-20. That was at home and Saturday they will go to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks are winless in six starts and the smart money says they won’t win a game this season. The Cowboys are giving a whopping 33½ points but no matter, I’ll take them for $11.
Baylor is laying 37 points at home vs. Iowa State. I think the Bears will roar but I just can’t handle that many points. Will Oklahoma continue its solid play established against K-State? Good question, huh. The Sooners are at home vs. Texas Tech and laying just 14½. Based on last week’s results that sure doesn’t seem like a lot. I don’t think so either so I will go with OU for $22.
I was talking to an NFL insider the other day and he was disgusted with the state of the league’s performance. No fundamentals, boastful stars, predictable offenses, all the injuries. Still, the pros remain so popular with so many. The bettors are still into the action. So who do you like this week?
Well, here’s who I like.
NFL $33 bet: Carolina -3 vs. Philadelphia.
NFL $22 bets: Seattle -6 at San Francisco, St. Louis -5½ vs. Cleveland, Miami -4½ vs. Houston, Atlanta -4 at Tennessee, San Diego -4 vs. Oakland, Baltimore +7½ at Arizona.
NFL $11 bets: NY Jets +9 at New England, NY Giants -3½ vs. Dallas.
NFL picks: Buffalo -5½ at Jacksonville, Minnesota -2½ at Detroit, Washington -3½ vs. Tampa, New Orleans +4½ at Indianapolis.
College $22 bet: Ole Miss -5½ vs. Texas A&M.
College $11 bets: Memphis -10½ at Tulsa, Utah state -5 at San Diego State, Central Michigan -7½ at Ball State, Ohio -3 at Buffalo, Western Michigan -25½ vs. Miami O., Tennessee +15½ at Alabama, LSU -17 vs. Western Kentucky.
I’m minus-$10 in the NFL and minus-74 in the colleges.
THE NEXT BLOG IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 26.