Chiefs Blitz: The good, the bad and the ugly from Sunday’s win over the Raiders

Do tell the truth

1. What’s the most important thing about this win?

The Chiefs keep their playoff hopes alive. By winning out, they are a virtual certainty to make the playoffs, and Sunday’s convincing win is a nice start toward that goal. Pittsburgh and San Diego, both of which are also in the playoff hunt, will certainly be tougher than the hapless Raiders. But a loss would have been devastating for the Chiefs, and they avoided that scenario with a good win.

2. What’s the second-most important thing about this win?

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more miserable place on earth than the losing locker room of a football team, particularly one that started 7-3 and had lost four straight. That’s what the Chiefs would have been dealing with if they lost. Losing football games opens up everybody to criticism — coaches, players, management. Sunday’s win was important because it showed this team is still together, and still on a course to reach its goal, which is making the playoffs. Players and coaches alike should feel a sense of a relief

3. Why did the Chiefs use Jamaal Charles so little?

Because he’s been banged up all week. He’s dealing with knee and ankle injuries, and it probably doesn’t make much sense to run him into the ground against an overmatched opponent. He also absorbed a wicked blow during the third quarter and only carried the ball once afterward. Considering the way this game turned out, his 12 carries for 52 yards were plenty.

4. Were the Chiefs really throwing the ball downfield ?

Yes, your eyes were not deceiving you. Just like he did last week, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith took some shots downfield, most notably a gorgeous 48-yard throw to receiver Albert Wilson on a post route. Wilson has been a nice addition to the starting lineup; he has room to improve as a route runner and isn’t the biggest target in the world, but his speed and shakes after the catch make him a nice option.

5. Have the Chiefs found something with the Dwayne Bowe-Jason Avant-Wilson receiving corps?

Yes. Bowe has even seemed a little rejuvenated the last few weeks — his hurdle against the Cardinals was surprising, and he took a slant 37 yards on Sunday. Meanwhile, Avant is a professional receiver who runs good routes and blocks his tail off, while Wilson gives them an intriguing young player with some explosion. Though they could still use Donnie Avery’s downfield speed and professionalism, the duo of Avant and Wilson could be the best two-part receiving complement to Bowe that Smith has had since he’s been here.

The number

7,068: Bowe’s career receiving yardage total. He’s the third player in club history to surpass the 7,000-yard mark.

This story was originally published December 14, 2014 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Chiefs Blitz: The good, the bad and the ugly from Sunday’s win over the Raiders."