Mixed feelings at the breakfast table this morning. Guys are pumped with the baseball playoffs finally getting underway. Despite the Royals coming on the last couple of years this is still largely Cardinals country around here and the locals are hopingagainst hope the Cubs and Arrieta can go into Pittsburgh and take out the Pirates. Nothing against the Buc's but a Cardinals and Cubs playoff would be a beautiful thing. Cubs have been the Cardinals primary arch rival for years but let's face it, the Cubs have not played a helluva lot of post season games, let alone straight up against St Louis. As for the Royals, they await the winner of the Astros and Yankees and frankly the Astros scare most of the fans around here to death. All agree the key to the Cards success is simply generating the offense to do it. This club has the pitching and defense, but can go to sleep scoring runs for extended periods of time and well, now aint the time. As for the Royals, just have to see how the starting pitchers do. Cueto has not been who they thought he was to the point. Ventura has amazing stuff and some post season experience but is also still just a kid and can come unhinged easier than most if things get tough.
Obviously some real grumbling over the Chiefs and their record seven field goals yesterday, a sentiment I could share for sure. There are a lot of locals that have more than the usual interest in the Chiefs fortunes. Andy Reid was a Mizzou coach as was his special teams coach Dave Toub, toss in the fact Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Mitch Morse all are ex Tigers and it adds to it all. I personally said the biggest problem I could see with the team was the offensive line. Eric Fisher was a waste of a number one pick. All up and down the line they were getting beat consistently and badly. We all know Alex Smith is marginal at best and if you have post season aspirations with him under center you had damn well better get stellar play from the line. I told the guys I thought two plays in the game sunday were pivotal. The first being the beginning of the second half. The Chiefs had had some success moving the chains to end the first half and the game was clearly up in the air, they returned the kickoff to the second half well into Bengals territory and the energy level surged. But, of course there was a flag for a close call on a block in the back and it totally flipped the field position and momentum to begin the second half. Second play I thought was huge was a 3rd and long and Dalton got flushed and launched a deep pass down the field that Brandon Tate just made an amazing play on, all pro caliber stuff. Instead of a punt it was another Bengals score. Chiefs fought hard but it is just so tough when your QB is running for his life all day long. The Chiefs early season schedule has been a death march but hopefully they can regroup some this sunday at Arrowhead against the Bears. Their season depends on it. If they stumble against Chicago their season is cooked. And you cannot take anyone for granted in the NFL.
Also local interest hold firm for our guy Carl Edwards who had a tough weekend but is still in the chase. Only other thing that got any talk was the flag happy referees in the NFL. I think the Bills had 17 flags sunday. It is making the games tough to watch. I personally do not want to watch all star wrestling out there but I do wish the officials would let the guys play more. We pay to watch them play, not watch some zebra toss flags all afternoon. Gets old fast. We all know you can call holding every damn play should you choose.
That was it for today. If anyone has a opinion to share please feel free to step in. Good luck guys.