91Èȱ¬

Uh, Neil, Patriots fan here. I'm guessing you skipped over the roles of Scott Pioli, Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel in reviving the Chiefs because you're a grumpy Dolphins supporter?!?

The Chiefs do look a decent team this year, but the significant Parcells-Belichick influence in Kansas now means we perhaps should have expected it. Don't see them winning on Sunday however, the Colts are going to be pretty angry themselves after last week's loss, but will be interesting to see if the Chiefs can live with the Chargers for the duration of the season - probably depends on Cassel's form, but he's got the talent.

Wonder what you think about the main Patriots news from this week - I was not hugely shocked that Moss got traded, I felt he was on borrowed time after that Week 1 tirade, but we only got a 3rd round draft pick in return? I though the Vikes were desperate for a receiver, the way it played out looks like we were ready to to get rid of Moss at almost any price.

The Chiefs may be undefeated after 3 games but this needs to be looked at in more detail before proclaiming a massive turn around in Kansas City. They have beaten two very poor sides in the 49ers (0-4) and the Browns (1-3) as well as the traditionally slow starting San Diego Chargers. Against the Chargers they rode their luck as the Chargers offense misfired. Matt Cassel only threw 68yards in the game compared to 298yards from Rivers so lets wait until he faces a good side before proclaiming him as being worth $40 million. Prediction: When the playoffs start Kansas City will be nowhere in sight.

Hi Neil...a frustrated Raiders fan here. One thing that needs mentioning is how another 4 or 5 wins could be good enough for Kansas to make the play-offs. As much as it hurts me to say it with the Silver & Black in there, the AFC West is poor...and has been poor for a good few years. Normally, an 8-8 season has been good enough to get out of the division, but because of the Chargers dropping in class, the Bronco's (despite Orton throwing 400+ each game) unable to stop points being scored and my Raiders inability to stop any sort of run what-so-ever...the Chiefs may only need to win 7 games to get into the play-offs...then anything can happen.

Cassel has stepped up this year, no doubt, he showed what he can do with some weapons in that one year with the Pats when Brady was out, I for one was a little disappointed that the Raiders never looked at him when it was clear as day that JaMarcus 'has a strong arm, but stronger appetite' Russell was just not going to cut it...mind you, its Al Davis after all...he would have been more concerned on getting an injury prone speedster wide receiver to add to the collection.

I think Kansas will go places over the next few years...and I tip them to get into the post-season this year...with ease...then who knows...

Whats your opinion on the Raiders? Its frustrating for me knowing that we do have some quality on the Defence (Seymour, Wimbley and the new boys McClain and Houston) but we just do not know how to stop a RB!! We are not far off being a good football team, are we? Or am I just looking through Silver and Black tinted glasses?

Eddie-George, to quote Neil: 'For a start, Haley did what he should have done from day one and surrounded himself with trusted veteran coaches in the form of Charlie Weis (offensive coordinator) and Romeo Crennel (defensive coordinator). That pair were vital members of Bill Belichick's backroom staff when the New England Patriots were taking the NFL by storm at the start of the new century.

As well as bringing tremendous technical knowledge to the Chiefs, Weis and Crennel bring head coaching experience at Notre Dame University and the Cleveland Browns respectively and have been able to impart some of their wisdom on the much younger Haley.'

Anyone else remember when the Chiefs went 6-0 in 2003? That didn't end up so well, but I agree that they are the most improved team in the NFL.

Hi Neil....a Chiefs fan glad that they are currently ahead of sched...... expect to feel the Colts backlash this weekend mind you, but realistically a good performance against the Colts even in defeat and the only tough road games are in Houston and San Diego, as the rest are more than capable of being won. The running game came together last season, but it is the influence of Weis and especially Crennel that shines through so far this season. Last few seasons they've been playing like the CHEFS not the CHIEFS. As I predicted on 606 board at the start of the season,we will win the division - I think but would see that as a good stepping stone. However watch out for next year...

In the meantime, what about a Chiefs game on NFL on five? Eh? We hear enough of the Cowboys, Dolphins, Giants etc....share the love out a bit...!!!

Great coverage as always. Looking forward to the rest of this season. I see Jets, Ravens, Texans & Chiefs as div champs in AFC with Pats & Steelers wild cards and Redskins, Packers, Saints & Seahawks in NFC with Bears and Falcons w/c.

Ravens & Packers in Superbowl....

Great to see the Chiefs doing well.. I think they're the ultimate football romantic's team.. Peyton Manning's Colts will win though as they'll be hungry to get back to winning ways after stumbling to their divisional rivals for the 2nd time this season.. On the Randy Moss move, I don't think we should be surprised or shocked at this move. Belichick has always been one to think about the future.. He has dared to trade the likes of Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison, etc. in the past, players who have gained reputations at the Patriots just so he can play the system he wants to play.. It was a very good deal for the Patriots and Vikings too who badly need a wide receiver that Brett Favre can pass to as they're currently a one man Adrian Peterson show..

As a charger fan I feel I have to respond to the comment by essexbat about the Chargers dropping in class.
How can there be a drop in class when you've got the number one ranked offence and the number two ranked defence...?
Yes we lost to the cheif's but that was because of our very poor speical teams who also cost us the game in Settle. If we had a good speical teams outfit we'd be 4-0. I do agree that the cheifs are a much better
team than the last few years but also think there going to struggle if they
take a couple of heavy defeats. I think the colts will have to much for them this weekend and there coming of an early bye weekend so I can see them going down in this game but I also think it will be close.

Uk Charger – I only say they have dropped in class based on their transactions…releasing LT and trading away a superb corner in Antonio Cromartie will mean a dip in class for any team. Whilst I do not know just how well these guys were playing towards the end of their time in San Diego….the are getting it done for the Jets…especially LT. Even though you say that they are ranked in the top 3 for both offense and defence (and I cannot dispute that)….it needs to be put into a bit of perspective…before the Houston game last week the Raiders were ranked number 3 defence in the league…the Raiders!! Also, you would hope to put points on the board when you play teams like the Jags and Seattle. Philip Rivers through over 450 yards in the Seattle game…and they still got beaten.

I agree with your comment about your special teams costing you but the same could be said for our run defence…we stop half the yards we are leaking and we are the top ranked team in the league! Only Arian Foster and Adrian Peterson have taken games away from us.
Im not saying the Chargers are a bad team, far from it (I fully expect a whoopin’ when we meet at the weekend)…but I can’t see them make a sustained impact…but it is early days.

Watching Ryan Matthews run for 150+ yards and at least 2TD’s against our defence this weekend may help in getting the season going properly and change my mind about the Chargers!

Yep, Neil, I'm a subliterate Pats-supporting idiot, sorry that was pretty stupid. Will try better next time.

Moss isn't a model citizen, that goes without saying, but I think when you add up the sulks, tantrums etc, over a 12 year career, he's not as routinely disruptive an influence as someone like T.O. Perhaps his age was an issue as well, although Belichick has been known to get a lot of his guys playing well into their 30s, I just thought Belichick would have driven a hard bargain. A third-round pick would for me have been the bare minimum you could demand for Moss.

Neil,whats with the dimensions of Cassel being given in Metres and Kilograms. Most people in Britain think in Feet for height and Stones and Pounds for Weight. Have you been instructed to do this or is this your own decision?

'Give the Colts a run for their money'? Then why are they more than a touchdown underdog in the spread? The Bears were 3-0 but showed their true colors against a mediocre NY Giants team allowing 9 sacks in the 1st half last week, having their hats handed to them. A lot of NFL teams don't show their true colors until weeks 10-12.

Otherwise, applying the same logic to the Premier League, I suppose we can safely assume West Brom, who are even on points with Arsenal, will eventually make up that goal differential and have a Champions League spot locked up for next year with Liverpool getting the drop as well? Please...

The Chiefs play in arguably (aside from the NFC West) the weakest division in the NFL and have beaten teams with a combined record thus far of 3-9. I had to check the url to make sure I wasn't on the Mirror when I saw the article's headline. Giving credit where it's due is one thing, but save the sensationalist teasers for the tabloids and the bin.

Indianapolis will be the first big test as to whether the Chiefs are a legitimate threat in a season where nobody has really come sprinting out the blocks, and laid down a marker or the 2010 edition of last years Broncos who started 6-0 and proceeded to end the year 2-8.

Looking at the Chiefs schedule 10 wins looks achieveable, but you can't shake the feelings that the Chargers will shake off another early season hangover and storm to the AFC West crown again.

Sorry to be that guy but the Chiefs are not Kansans. They are from Kansas City, Missouri which is the central city of a bi-state metropolitan area. But still, pretty cool to be a local reading about the Chiefs on 91Èȱ¬. Their schedule isn't the strongest though I think they have a good chance to make the playoffs but due to the AFC's weakness.

Great blog. I think we should watch out for The Chicago Bears, the only weak spot in the team (I suppose its a huge weak spot) is the quarterback, if they could get a decent QB they would be my personal favs for the Super Bowl this season. I do believe its very open this year.

I think it says a lot that the Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the NFL so far, all of the other teams are struggling or misfiring or just not clicking as they should. And yes, I agree that it is more of a marathon than a sprint and we won't see the true colours (colors) until the end of the regular season.
Schedules also mean a lot - last year, the Vikes had a relatively easy opening schedule and did well. This year, they've come up against relatively tougher opponents and have not done quite so well. We hope that as the season progresses (and the toughness of the schedule evens out), their record should improve :-)
The arrival of Moss back here in MN has been very well received, there are high expectations of #84 and all of the past incidents seem to have been forgiven if not forgotten. Or at least will be if he lives up to his previous playing/scoring standards.

Yes the Chiefs have improved but it´s early days yet. The Texans and the Patriots are also on the up and up. Personally I haven´t seem a team that has been totally convincing yet, looks like being a tight season, maybe time for a surprise in the Super Bowl? Oh and in reply to "Graham" another weak spot for the Bears, possibly the O-line that allowed 9 sacks in the first 2 quarters against the Giants last week ?

If they do build a patriots style foundation,it will be scary for the AFC for a few years !

Chiefs fan here. Thank you for the cool little piece on the team, I think irrespective of the media love so far this season, we have definitely over achieved and there are some reasons to believe we'll come crashing down to earth again soon, potentially in Indy.

Cassel has not been anything like the top 3 QB his salary would suggest he would be and in all three wins has picked up where he left off last season, routinely overthrowing WR's or failing to spot the open man. For his size he does not throw the long ball well.

The good news is the one-two rushing attack, and in particular Jamaal Charles, who most NFL fans are still sleeping on, he picked up 1000 yards playing just half a season last year and tears up 7 or 8 yards per carry with home run threat every time - best YPC in the league.

If Chiefs can sustain this form then it's the young defense who look most like becoming a legitimate league-leading unit, six years of first round picks in so many positions (Jackson and Dorsey in the front three, Hali and Derrick Johnson at LB and Berry in the Secondary with Flowers, a shoe in already for the Pro Bowl, who always should have been a first rounder)

Whatever happens I'll just enjoy it while it lasts - and I have tickets to go see the next two consecutive home games against the Bills and the Jaguars - just the 3 connecting flights from Bristol via Amsterdam and Minnesota!

Neil,

A perceptive blog, as usual. The fact that the Chiefs are the only unbeaten team at this early stage points to an interesting season ahead.

I'm glad you answered Realgolf's point about the metric descriptors as I was thinking exactly the same myself and expected the answer you gave. If it was a young editor then perhaps s/he should realise that your blog is most likely to be of interest in the UK, obviously, and the US both of which use the imperial system. Or is the 91Èȱ¬ still pushing its pro Euro agenda so prevalent throughout the site? Hasn't anyone realised that there's been a change of Government?!

That said, keep up the good work.