We came into this game knowing the caliber of team we were facing. The Chiefs are a formidable squad, but today’s game showed that we can compete with anyone in this league. However, it also highlighted critical areas where we need significant improvement—particularly, our performance in the red zone and our handling of the ball at key junctures.
Shedeur Sanders had a solid game statistically, throwing for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, the 3 interceptions he threw were critical. These weren’t just turnovers; they were massive swings in momentum that we can’t afford against high-caliber teams. Each of these interceptions occurred at pivotal moments, particularly in the red zone, which could have otherwise led to scoring opportunities. We need to clean up these errors moving forward. While I am confident in Shedeur’s abilities and leadership, it is clear we need to refine our approach to pressure situations to minimize these costly mistakes.
Our offense, with George Kittle’s impressive performance catching 5 passes for 107 yards and scoring twice, shows that we have the tools needed to build successful drives. However, converting these drives into points is something that we will be focusing heavily on in the coming weeks.
Defensively, we’re seeing some positive strides, especially with players like Mory Bamba who managed a forced fumble and a pass deflection. However, our young secondary is a concern. We are not forcing enough turnovers, and in today’s NFL, turning the ball over is crucial for gaining extra possessions and controlling the pace of the game. Developing our young secondary into a more aggressive and ball-hungry group will be a priority in our defensive meetings and practices.
Looking ahead, our focus has to be on stringing wins together. This season has shown that while we can compete, we have yet to demonstrate the consistency needed to be a playoff contender. It’s about building momentum now. Each practice, each game has to be approached with the mentality of ironing out our weaknesses and leveraging our strengths.
We are a team with the potential and talent to go far, but potential alone doesn’t win games—execution does. Our job now is to harness that potential and turn it into consistent, winning performances. We’ll be taking a hard look at our strategies and preparation to ensure our players are put in the best positions to succeed.
