The Kansas City Chiefs preseason results aren’t about wins or losses. Instead, they’re in the evaluation process to judge the roster’s depth and give the starters enough reps to prepare for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
Preseason games are generally meaningless, and in the case of the Kansas City Chiefs, who head into the regular season opener in two weeks, they put minimal effort into trying to win their preseason games. Though the starters got some valuable time on the field, August football was to evaluate the younger players.
In doing so in three preseason games, the Chiefs learned Running Back Carson Steele, Wide Receiver Xavier Worthy, and Safety Jaden Hicks were the stars of the rookie class, so much so each rose the depth chart and will undoubtedly make an impact this season.
Head Coach Andy Reid, who is already working on the game plan for their battle with the Baltimore Ravens, so I’m not sure what he learned from the games, he didn’t see in practice. Yet, it’s important the young guys are ready for the real games.
Kansas City will reduce its roster to 53 players on Tuesday afternoon, and for the most part Reid knows who has already made the team. Yet, I would think he has to be disappointed with the effort of some of his players in the preseason.
In the opener against Jacksonville, the first-team offense and defense seemed flat. A week later, against the Detroit Lions, the offense came to life, but the defense had a difficult time stopping the run for the second week in a row.
Against the Chicago Bears the Chiefs starters didn’t play, but the back-ups didn’t fair much better than the starters, though Ian Book did direct a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives, so it wasn’t all that bad.
I know I shouldn’t be upset they lost all three preseason games, and I’m not. However, with the team chasing greatness this season, I had thought the effort would be better.
Then again, when you’ve won three of the last five Super Bowls, this team deserves slack. Maybe the pessimism is that we’re all just spoiled, me included, and we expect this team to play at a high level even in August.
Reid and General Manager Brett Veach will finalize the roster in the coming days. On paper, this should be the best team in the Reid era, but does the fact they went winless in the preseason change that perception.
Only the men in charge can answer that question. For the fans, the regular season opener is in two weeks, and they know the Baltimore Ravens will have revenge on their minds. They also know the Chiefs starters will play, and outside Hollywood Brown, the playmakers will be ready for the opener.
So, I feel mixed regarding what we saw this preseason. Reid and the champion pedigree will likely change the conflict as they get ready to chase NFL immortality.
