Bill Grigsby

Since Herm and Carl had their press conference last week I thought it might be time to put my thoughts on record as we prepare for the season ahead. As for good, bad and ugly I think we had our fair share in 2007. Fooled me – I predicted before it began that we would win ten or eleven games. That was as far off base as the newsman who predicted Germany would win World War II. The Chiefs have a tendency to come roaring back after a losing season so look for good things to begin in September. They better be good because the schedule looks like the north sea filled with ice mountains. Our defense will be much improved and that will help the offense by keeping the bad people out of our end zone. Pay attention to ol’ Grigs – 2008 will be the start of something big – if that sounds like a song title – it is. I’m ready right now but it’s best to let them play the Super Bowl. I sorta like New England. And by the way we play the Patriots next year. Write if you get work.

The Chiefs will end a season to remember this weekend in The Big Apple. It has been one to forget too; it has been a number of seasons since the team played so poorly after getting a four and three start. The Chiefs need two cornerbacks and a couple of offensive linemen who can protect the quarterback and level the opposing tacklers. I really feel that Brodie Croyle can do the job at quarterback; but he will need the help I am talking about.

Have a beautiful New Year and let’s all get ready for what lies ahead; a new stadium and a renewal of attitude and spirit-plus of course a few good men.

Now that the Chiefs have completed the worst home record in thirty years it’s time to get real serious or match the 4 – 12 record of the Chiefs in 1987 and ‘88 when Frank Ganz was coach. Carl Peterson came to town and brought Marty Schottenheimer who quickly changed the game plan at Arrowhead. Herm Edwards has called this a rebuilding year but little was done to make this team competitive. Detroit comes this week in the Motor City and the Lions are good at home – then it will be off to New York and the Jets for the finale. About the only good thing to emerge from the 2007 debacle is the fact that the Chiefs will get a high draft choice. One man does not make a winner; but maybe there are some free agents lurking out there to help this gang along. Let’s hope it’s a happy new year for all concerned.

It's that final home game of a remarkable season. A season that began in rather dismal fashion, went through a slight correction process, and then frittered away dismally. Crowd reaction became rather hostile and the scoring drought was scary. In fact, one stretch featured the scoring machine of one defensive star, Jared Allen, who scored the only TD in six quarters of play.

This week's game with Tennessee is the Chiefs' final home encounter and will be seen by the smallest Arrowhead crowd in many years -- but it's like I tell our fans -- it's our entry in the NFL. It's necessary that we give the gang our support, or else what would we be doing on Sundays? We will get better, starting next year -- count on it.

And folks, pay no attention to Jason of the star who asks you to stay away from this game. It would be like us saying not to get or read the paper. I don't like boycotts, especially when it comes to my teams.

I got to mulling over the state of affairs at Arrowhead and have come to the conclusion that things will get better – starting this week in the game with San Diego. The Chiefs beat them on their own turf earlier and now have the benefit of friendly fans and home cooking. Brodie is getting his chance and he looked like a quick-learner last week. He’s our man for the future. The Chiefs will benefit from a bad weather weekend which should help. If the west coast boys could play in a fire it might help us if we get cold, wet weather for the game. The Division race isn’t over yet; so let’s hang in there.

Oakland comes to Arrowhead this week and the game brings together two teams that are struggling. Herm Edwards said at his press conference the team must make some big improvements in the offense area – too much burden has been shifted to the defense. The fact that the Chiefs cannot score touchdowns is obviously the reason the team is going in the wrong direction. When your offensive output hovers in the bottom of the league standings you’ve got problems. I personally think that if Brodie is going to be given the reins, let him loose – if the Chiefs have a shot at the playoffs it appears that the opportunity is rapidly going down the tube. It looks as if a break-even season is the best we can expect. Playing conservative football is alright if you have a team that can stay in the game ‘til the end – that is not happening. So, let it all hang out – look at the overall Team picture – play the guys who are in the future plans and hope for the best.

It was not pretty. In fact it was a total disaster at Arrowhead and the third loss the Chiefs have suffered at home this season. Sorry but I missed the boat on my prediction that our boys would make the big show. Unless there is a total turn around this may be a season we will want to forget. Huard looked pretty helpless working behind a porous front line. On top of that he got hurt and there is some question as to his availability as a back-up for the Indianapolis game. The Colts, meanwhile, lost to San Diego when their usually reliable place-kicker missed the winning field goal on the last play. It would take a super human effort for the Chiefs to win this week; so instead we will just look to our next home game which will be against Oakland.

Denver has been in the cat-bird-seat the past few years when they journey into Arrowhead – not so this time since the Chiefs have the edge in the West. The edge comes from Kansas City’s win over San Diego. It appears that the west will be a real battle in the trenches with everybody but Oakland getting in on the act. The Chiefs offense is still ugly at times; but a charged up defense keeps them in the game and somehow, someway they score and win. Huard seems to gain more confidence with the play calling of Mike Solari – so we just hope that trend continues. It doesn’t get any easier next week with the Chiefs packing for a trip to Indianapolis.

Forty years ago Green Bay met Kansas City in the very first game between the upstart American Football League and the well established National Football League. It was called the World Championship and would evolve into the Super Bowl as we know it today. Green Bay would win that initial contest 35 to 10 but the game was a battle through the first half with the Packers leading just 14 to 10.

Now here we are forty years later and these two teams are leading their divisions. The Packers are an offensive powerhouse led by Brett Favre. The Chiefs are still looking for an offense but defensively, led by Jared Allen, they are a tough nut to crack. The game has all the glitter of a championship encounter but the Chiefs have their local crowd that could mean the difference. Favre, however, is a veteran of the wars and the crowds so it will take a lot to rattle the old pro. Expect a great game – a low score - and a Chiefs win.

Five of the Chiefs next seven games will be played at Arrowhead. This is the bye week so its time for the injured to get well and the offensive coordinator to dream up new game ending plots to keep the home folks in suspense. Green Bay comes to town on November 4th and there is no reason to believe that this encounter will be any different than replays of the Raider game last week – which was another nail-biter down to the final gun. And it doesn’t get any easier down the road with Denver coming here and then the Chiefs take a side trip to Indianapolis.

Kansas City needs to develop a more aggressive mode of attack – since the L.J. up the middles and swing passes for two or three yards are easy prey for good defensive gurus. The red zone has turned into no man’s land and threes are often the best we can muster – someday our luck will run out. One long run by Larry and one long pass to Bowe was about the size of it in Oakland – fortunately the Chiefs had the likes of Jared Allen and his defensive buddies there to bail out a lackluster offensive program. I marvel at winning four of the last five – so let’s take ‘ em anyway we can – a win is a win is a win.