The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

It Has Been 207 Days …

Posted on | September 7, 2023 | Comments Off on It Has Been 207 Days …

Labor Day is fading in the rearview mirror. The leaves on the poplar tree down at the corner are already turning yellow, and the cornfields nearby have turned from green to gold, which can only mean . . .

FOOTBALL TIME! Nearly 30 weeks have elapsed since Kansas City Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, and NFL fans have had to make do with draft talk, free agency speculation, trades and other roster moves, spring OTAs, mandatory minicamp, training camp, preseason exhibitions, but . . . No real football has been played for the past 207 days, and we are desperately craving tonight’s season kickoff between the Chiefs and the Detroit Lions.

Every commentator and analyst expects Kansas City to win this one, and who can argue? Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is a wizard, capable of eluding rushers, escaping the blitz, completing passes while throwing underhanded with a linebacker breathing down his neck. Nobody wants to bet against Mahomes, but there is just a wee bit of doubt about this game because (a) KC’s star defensive tackle Chris Jones has been holding out over a contract dispute, and (b) the Chiefs’ All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce suffered a knee injury in practice Tuesday.

Here’s a fact: Mahomes has never won an NFL game without Kelce in the lineup. Having the reliable tight end as a sure-thing pass-catcher on crucial third down plays has been an ace-in-the-hole that Mahomes has been able to rely on ever since he became the starter in Kansas City in 2018. The Chiefs say Kelce may be able to play tonight despite the injury — a bone bruise, it’s reported — but if he’s not able to make it, the absence could throw Mahomes off his game just enough to give the Detroit Lions a chance to upset the defending Super Bowl champions.

Well, enough talk — it’s REAL FOOTBALL time!



 

Category: Football

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