The Chargers still had a timeout so the Chiefs couldn't have kneeled it out completely.

I think they could have though.

Even with the time out

**** that. You score and get back on defense.

They could have.

If he goes down, the Chiefs have 1st and 10 from the one and the Chargers have to use their last timeout with 1:50 left.

1st down: The Chiefs snap it at 1:50, go down at 1:49 and the clock ticks...
2nd down: The Chiefs snap it at 1:10, go down at 1:09 and the clock continues to tick
3rd down: The Chiefs snap it at 29 seconds - game over.

Reid was right and he's actually had a RB do that in the past (I believe it was Westbrook). But he also wasn't 'upset' about it; he used almost that grandpa voice where he was proud of the kid but hey, he has something to remember if that situation pops up again.

The right answer was to go down. Sure, they could've flubbed a snap, but given that they just flubbed an onside kick the week before after allowing an easy 'prevent' TD, I'd say the odds favored taking the knee.

Why?

You're almost certainly talking 6 in one hand, half dozen in another. And the snap is literally the most practiced thing in all of pro football. How many fumbled exchanges do you see anymore?

Now if there's a wrinkle in this instance it's that Fulton is the backup C and the Chiefs do a lot from shotgun. Moreover, we saw the Chargers botch a simple snap/re-align a few years ago. But even that was to set up for FG and they were trying to do more than simply take a knee.

The victory formation has gone awry one time in the history of pro football and it's one of the most iconic moments ever BECAUSE of how unlikely it was. Granted, giving up 2 scores in 1:50 was damn unlikely as well.

I have a hard time giving him any static over it; young kid saw the endzone and the 'go score!' mentality is hardwired into these guys. But that being said, taking the knee was the safer play, IMO.

Shit. I spaced that the clock would have still been running if Hunt had taken a knee. Definitely could have run the clock out with almost no risk. Probably would have been the right move.

The TD is more fun though. :D

http://m.chiefs.com/s/30852/VideoAudio

You can find it in 2 different videos. The Andy Reid one and then they ask Kareem Hunt about it when they interviewed him and he said that coach got after him about it.

Hunt not kneeling there cost us what .01% win equity? He probably has a greater chance of getting injured trying to do some awkward move at the goal line (see Giants Superbowl) or losing the ball somehow for a touchback. And there's definitely a higher % chance we screw up the FG somehow.

Just let him score, get the stats, let the fans cheer. It's worth the tiny tiny extra risk of losing the game imo. Maybe if it's a playoff game - then yeah, sit down on the 1.

Yes.

Let's not give the ball to an elite weapon much because he might get hurt. We need to lean on West so that we don't have to rely on West!
Sensible.

:rolleyes:

He's not even getting 20 touches a game, what do you want to cut him down to? 10? 7?

He's on pace for 250 carries. Is that now considered too much for an NFL RB?

This isn't the first time I've seen the 'don't use our good players too much, they might get hurt' positon on this forum, and it's the silliest position I've ever heard. Can you IMAGINE saying that to a coach?

"Hey coach, I know you have this RB tearing up the NFL, but 17 carries is WAY too much for a game. Can you cut that down to 12?"

Sure.

But he's also a rookie who's never played 16+ games in the league and runs with a very physical style. Dude took some shots on Sunday and those add up.

Just like every other rookie in the history of the NFL.

The way folks are talking here you'd think he was on pace for 350+ carries and 60+ catches.

The guy is on pace for less than 300 total touches rushing and receiving. That's not over working a starting RB.

He's actually on pace to touch the ball less in 16 games as a pro than he did in 13 games at Toledo. He can handle it. Injuries happen.

:clap:

Andy drafted him because they saw him getting stronger the more carries he got. The guy is a stallion- let him run!

We definitely need to get the running game in high gear this week vs. the Skins.

For a normal rb I'd agree. Rookies are always a question on when or if they hit the wall.

I'd also imagine the hits he's taking in the NFL are a bit different than at Toledo

But he's a difference maker and needs the touches for the offense to be effective so it's a balancing act.

What I'm saying is that he's being used properly.

Not too much, or not enough. The porridge is just right.

I don't have a problem with it as is, moreso that I wish our other backs were doing more