Blame this loss to Packers on Chiefs’ highly paid quarterback Alex Smith

[Hammock Parties]

Yay!

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...e36896085.html

GREEN BAY, Wisc.

Metaphorically speaking, the Chiefs showed up to a job interview drunk, lost, and wearing only jorts.

This was supposed to be a chance for them to see how they measured up against one of the NFL’s better teams, but instead it turned into a nationally televised embarrassment.

Alex Smith, who is being paid top-tier quarterback money and is bound to the Chiefs through at least next season, deserves every bit of criticism coming his way.

His team lost 38-28 to the Packers here at Lambeau Field on Monday, and that score is unnecessarily generous to the Chiefs.

This looked more like the Romeo Crennel years than anything up to the standards of Andy Reid, one of the game’s highest-paid and most experienced coaches.

The Chiefs fancy themselves Super Bowl contenders, but after blowing one game and being blown out in the next, they find themselves deservedly closer to the bottom of the league than the top.

This is awkward, but the Chiefs are below — among many other teams — the Raiders.

Smith can and should wear a lot of the blame. This is a quarterback’s league, and the juxtoposition with Aaron Rodgers on this night was almost cruel.

This was always going to be a critical season for Smith — he is playing with the best collection of talent and the most stability of his career — and he just played his worst consecutive games since joining the Chiefs.

The numbers against Green Bay weren’t bad. He completed 24 of 40 passes for 290 yards. Even threw a touchdown. To a wide receiver! But those numbers are very misleading, most of them picked up in a second half when the only drama was whether Derrick Johnson would break the franchise’s all-time tackles record (he did) and how many touchdowns Rodgers could throw (five).

In the first half, when the Chiefs allowed themselves to be buried, Smith completed two of seven passes for 39 yards.

Forget the numbers in the second half. One of the limitations of Smith is his inability to lead a team back from a deficit. During the game, an ESPN account Tweeted that Smith is 1-30-1 as a starting quarterback when his team trails by 14 or more at any point.

This played out like a power-point presentation of every fair criticism of Smith. Virtually every pass was short, or sideways, and even after three drives he actually had minus 1 yard passing. Serious. Less than zero. Fewer passing yards than you did, sitting at home, screaming at the TV before flipping over to the Royals.

The offensive line is a legitimate problem, of course, but Smith isn’t helping. At least once, he appeared to make the wrong decision on a package play that went for a loss. At another point, he threw a pass that two Packers defenders had a better chance of catching than the intended receiver.

In the second half, the man whose value rests largely in his ability to avoid mistakes scrambled left and threw across his body, poorly executing a terrible idea ended in an interception that gave the Packers the ball four yards from the end zone.

Not that he was alone in the disappointment. At one point, the Chiefs had been outgained 175-3. The Chiefs took over at midfield, and went backward. They were called for 12 men on the field. Twice. In the first half. Once, Allen Bailey made a terrific move to force an apparent fumble, but the play was wiped out by another Chiefs penalty.

All of this with 11 days to prepare.

Eleven days to prepare after an embarrassing loss to a division rival. Eleven days to prove they are more of the dominant team from week one than the bumbling team from week two. Eleven days to prepare to play one of the league’s marquee franchises in front of the football world.

This is a team going in the wrong direction. The Chiefs won convincingly in Houston, then should’ve beaten the Broncos, and now should not have wasted the Packers’ time.

You can find reasons to believe if you want. Sean Smith has been suspended for three games, a weakness fully exploited by two Hall of Fame quarterbacks. The offensive line is still working through some issues. Eric Berry may or may not be at full strength, and, hey, Jaye Howard and Marcus Peters and Travis Kelce and some others have had nice moments.

The Chiefs made the playoffs two years ago, and entered their final game last year with a chance to go back. The NFL is this country’s greatest incubator for overreaction. The Chiefs still have a lot of talent here. They can still save their season.

Many good teams will lose to the Broncos and Packers this year.

But there are just so many issues, none more glaring than Alex Smith.

His is the face of a team whose defining characteristic so far is the ability to drive fans mad — use either definition of that last word. These last two weeks have been infuriating to watch, and so much of it is tied to Smith — the short and sideways passes, the intermittent loss of place, the general inability to be what his coaches keep saying he is.

Sports are supposed to connect on a personal level, and the frustration means you care, but these last two weeks have brought an exceptional amount of frustration.

It’s not all Smith’s fault, of course. It’s rarely that simple. But he does play the most important position in American sports, and is the highest paid player (by average salary) on the team.

The Chiefs need to be beyond failures this sharp and overwhelming. So does their franchise quarterback.

In the three seasons since Smith came to Kansas City, it’s hard to think of a worse time for either team or player.

[AirForceChief]

I never post on this site, anymore. But this game, tonight, crushed me. I've been a non-Alex Smith Hater, but tonight was too much.This Dude blows big chunks.

[Chromatic]

Same old Chiefs

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

This loss had more to do with the fact that Aaron Rodgers sodomized our defense more than it had to do with our offense struggling.

We were out gained 175 to 3 at one point.

It was 17 to 7. We had a chance to make a game out of it. Believe it or not, some NFL teams rally from massive 10-point deficits every week.

What happened?

2-8, KC24 (5:33) Alex Smith rush to the right for 4 yards to the KC 28.

Typical bullshit Alex Smith play. He wasn't even pressured on this play.

3-4, KC28 (4:46) De'Anthony Thomas rush to the left for a loss of 7 yards to the KC 21. Tackled by Sam Shields.

A shit play call because our QB sucks and our HC is afraid to let him throw a real ****ing pass on third down.

And then the Packers scored again. GAME OVER. Because when the game was in doubt in the first half, Alex didn't even have FORTY ****ING YARDS PASSING.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Someone post the offense's first half drives and statistics for this dumbass, please.

Someone put up Aaron Rodgers' stats for the season and compare it to his efficiency in the first half of this game and rest of the game. Our defense was utter shit, don't fool yourself into thinking that Brady or Manning in their prime could even keep up with his play tonight. You are a damn fool if you think the NFL is about winning a shootout, it comes down to solid defense and a half-decent offense. Ask Baltimore, Pitt, Chicago Bears, New England and Dallas who have more titles to their names than Peyton, Young, Marino, Favre, Brees do combined in those respective eras.

You are a ****ing moron to even think any QB can win any shootout against Rodgers.

[Cmd'r&Chief]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

This loss had more to do with the fact that Aaron Rodgers sodomized our defense more than it had to do with our offense struggling. Our offense will be fine. Seahawks, Baltimore, Pitt won the SB with elite defenses...that's where our focus should be.

You must be Jamaal Charles Special

[okcchief]

I seriously think Cassel could do more with what we have now than Smith, and I can't stand Cassel. Smith is just so ****ing indecisive, and if Reid sticks with him all year he should be canned. I'm not sold on Daniel or Murray, but I've seen enough to tell me they can achieve more than Alex.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by Stop, Chiefs

We were out gained 175 to 3 at one point.

It was 17 to 7. We had a chance to make a game out of it. Believe it or not, some NFL teams rally from massive 10-point deficits every week.

What happened?



Typical bullshit Alex Smith play. He wasn't even pressured on this play.



A shit play call because our QB sucks and our HC is afraid to let him throw a real ****ing pass on third down.

And then the Packers scored again. GAME OVER. Because when the game was in doubt in the first half, Alex didn't even have FORTY ****ING YARDS PASSING.

- the fact that you think we had a chance to win against Rodgers in Lambeau with our secondary hinged on Alex Smith is a joke. It falls on the defense at the end of the day. Why do you think the Niners and Seahawks had punished Rodgers these last 3 years. It's defense, you half-minded idiot.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Someone put up Aaron Rodgers' stats for the season and compare it to his efficiency in the first half of this game and rest of the game. Our defense was utter shit, don't fool yourself into thinking that Brady or Manning in their prime could even keep up with his play tonight. You are a damn fool if you think the NFL is about winning a shootout, it comes down to solid defense and a half-decent offense. Ask Baltimore, Pitt, Chicago Bears, New England and Dallas who have more titles to their names than Peyton, Young, Marino, Favre, Brees do combined in those respective eras.



You are a ****ing moron to even think any QB can win any shootout against Rodgers.

Russell Wilson did it in the Championship game last year.

Suicide. Do it.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I seriously think Cassel could do more with what we have now than Smith, and I can't stand Cassel. Smith is just so ****ing indecisive, and if Reid sticks with him all year he should be canned. I'm not sold on Daniel or Murray, but I've seen enough to tell me they can achieve more than Alex.

I sadly agree with this Cassell at least pass the ball down the field with Gailey as the oc

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Why do you think the Niners and Seahawks had punished Rodgers these last 3 years. It's defense, you half-minded idiot.

Did you notice that our defense actually FORCED A STOP on the first drive?

What did Alex do with that gift?

HE SHIT HIMSELF

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

- the fact that you think we had a chance to win against Rodgers in Lambeau with our secondary hinged on Alex Smith is a joke. It falls on the defense at the end of the day. Why do you think the Niners and Seahawks had punished Rodgers these last 3 years. It's defense, you half-minded idiot.

I'm so gonna enjoy bumping this shit post when the packers get bumped out of the playoff's by the cards.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Stop, Chiefs

Did you notice that our defense actually FORCED A STOP on the first drive?

What did Alex do with that gift?

HE SHIT HIMSELF

So many 3 and outs........

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by MeatRock

Oh Jesus.

Do you even watch football? Niners and Seahawks owned the NFC because they had Top 3 defenses. Seahawks have had terrible offenses and look how much they have achieved the last 3 years. Rodgers lost to the Niners 3-4 straight times because of that nasty defense.

[Rausch]

Also to blame is a stupid as hell game plan that never tried to establish the run or milk clock to keep Robo-Rodgers off the field...

[tk13]

I actually think Reid and Dorsey will pull the trigger much faster than Pioli ever would, if need be... but we'll see.

My only disagreement is that this isn't anywhere near the best group of talent Smith has played with. Those last couple years he played in San Fran were better than this group. Charles is more dynamic, but the Niners had a top shelf offensive line, Mike Solari developing the running attack, and an all-universe defense that would rip your head off and spit down your neck.