Post-game antics fuel Reid's fire
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost just one game in the 18 they have played over the past calendar year, and on Sunday night they're squaring up with the team that beat them.
They shouldn't need any extra motivation in facing the Las Vegas Raiders, right?
But Andy Reid, obviously determined to improve his career record following a bye week to 19-3, has provided it nonetheless.
On Monday, when the Chiefs' head coach was asked about the victory lap around Arrowhead Stadium that the Raiders took in their team bus following a 40-32 victory over the champs on Oct. 11, he could have laughed it off. But he didn't.
“They won the game, so they can do anything they want,” said Reid. “That's not our style.”
Asked if he thought the Chiefs held an advantage in the rematch, he said no, adding that he thinks the Raiders believe they do. “Or they wouldn't have driven the bus around the stadium,” said Reid.
Naturally, Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was later asked about the incident. Is it bulletin board material for the Chiefs?
“Not really,” said Gruden, clearly unimpressed.
“I mean, you can find the smart aleck bus driver in Kansas City who made some snide comments when we got on the bus. Maybe that's why we drove around the stadium. Just to tick him off. This is ridiculous. Next question.”
Week 11 features two great matches as bookends. The Arizona Cardinals (6-3) visit the Seattle Seahawks (6-3) for first place in the NFC West on Thursday night, while on Monday the Los Angeles Rams (6-3) try to join the winner atop the division when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3), who are trying to catch the New Orleans Saints (7-2) in the NFC South.
But the Chiefs (8-1) versus the Raiders (6-3), with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth calling the action on Sunday night, that has a special allure. Especially when a Raiders win could pull them to within a game of the Chiefs for the AFC West lead.
“It's two good football teams playing each other,” said Reid. “I don't think either team likes the other that much.”
The biggest difference-maker among the two teams, Patrick Mahomes, just happens to be running toward his second MVP award in his three years as a starting quarterback. He has 25 TD passes against one interception. Nobody in league history has owned a ratio like that through nine games.
While picking up the hardware the first time, Mahomes lost twice in the same season to the New England Patriots.
He wasn't fond of the feeling. “Any time you lose to anyone, the next time you play them you want to win the football game,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “We'll be ready to go, I promise you that.”