Catching The Chiefs Early May Be Good
May 16th, 2022
Needing an edge.
Joe saw in the comments here where someone went off on the NFL, thinking it is trying to screw with the Bucs by giving them a tough schedule in hopes they collapse.
The notion that the NFL tried to hose the Bucs in order for the Bucs to lose is dead wrong. The NFL makes insane amounts cash off Tom Brady. There is zero financial benefit to not have Brady lead the Bucs deep into the playoffs if not the Super Bowl.
Then there is the fact the bulk of the 2022 Bucs’ opponents were set years ago, before Brady came to the Bucs. The NFL has a rotating schedule for divisions to play all teams in another division. For example, when the Bucs were originally scheduled to play the Raiders on the road for the 2020 season, this was known before the Raiders even announced they were moving to Las Vegas.
So this year’s slate was mostly known before Brady even signed with the Bucs. Years ago the Bucs were scheduled to play the NFC West, the AFC North and their division opponents this fall.
And since the Bucs won the NFC South, they were given two additional opponents who also won their division, standard practice for the NFL, two from the NFC (Dallas and Green Bay) and one from the AFC (Kansas City).
With the Chiefs, the Bucs may have lucked out hosting them in Week 4, if last year is an accurate gauge. It seems the Chiefs’ defense struggled to get on track last season but was pretty good later the year.
The Bucs will need all the help they can get on offense, if foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski doesn’t return and Chris Godwin’s knee rehab is longer than expected. That would Brady will be down his two favorite receivers from the past two seasons.
Chiefs Defense in 2021
Rankings Pre/Post Melvin IngramWeeks 1-8 Weeks 9-18
PPG Allowed 25th 3rd
Takeaways t-19th 1st
TO differential t-31st 1st pic.twitter.com/wRKnylbsxu— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) May 16, 2022
May 16th, 2022 at 9:09 am
You could look at this another way…..the Chiefs fixed their defense at the end of last year and we will face it early.
I would say this……these other teams having to face the Bucs early is no cakewalk.
May 16th, 2022 at 9:48 am
They’ll also still be in adjustment mode from losing Cheetah
May 16th, 2022 at 9:58 am
It’s really not that bad compared to the 2019 schedule when the team went something like 6-7 weeks w/o a home game, that was ridiculous
May 16th, 2022 at 10:03 am
The Chiefs defense when last seen, could not stop Joe Burrow & Company, getting beat again in the AFC Championship in Arrowhead.
Throw out the stats on this. They sound great, but all those stats equal is a big letdown in the last 2 season ending games for KC. The Brady led beatdown in the Super Bowl, and last years AFC Championship. Paper Tiger in hindsight.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
May 16th, 2022 at 10:06 am
Bucs should’ve signed Ingram.
Bowles and the defense will be our Achilles heel again
May 16th, 2022 at 10:08 am
With Cheetah gone, we should be able to not have to constantly play 2 deep safeties, like before.
Cheetah took the money, but he will miss Mahommes arm strength down in Miami.
I don’t think he will be the threat he once was with the Dolphins.
May 16th, 2022 at 10:20 am
I get the point and it is legit.
BUT, aren’t the Bucs in the same boat? 2 new starters on the Oline, a rookie and 2nd year player filling in on the Dline with NO depth, No Godwin, new (temp) #2 WR in Gage, even if Gronk comes back, he is not making it thru 17 games and who is our #2 TE? Which of our draft picks will make a big contribution this year? Heck, the kicker everyone moans about may be the most player ready of the bunch.
Like our first 4 opponents, it is going to take the Bucs time to gel. And that is ok, as long as they have a strong finish to the season. That is when it matters
May 16th, 2022 at 10:31 am
The greediest players are always going to be stuck on the crappiest teams in the future. A top reciever can now command 15% of a teams cap.
May 16th, 2022 at 10:53 am
Yep – Chiefs not have Cheetah is going to hurt. He is one of the quickest WR in the league and almost impossible to stop underneath or on short slants.
May 16th, 2022 at 11:25 am
Saints, Packers and Chiefs early with no Godwin. I wouldn’t be worrying about the late games too much.