In all but one of the previous games this season the Chiefs held the game close into the fourth quarter, only to find a way to lose. Against the hated Raiders, we watched as Matt Cassel threw two interceptions and Savage failed to get out of bounds as halftime ended the drive. When it counted, our defense made JaMarcus Russell look like JaMarcus Elway, as he drove the Raiders down the field in the fourth quarter to take a lead the Chiefs would not take back. We’ve seen multiple penalties and some confusing play calling. Just last week I had to cover my eyes as our second-year corner Maurice Leggett twice missed tackles and our veteran safety was not in a position to stop game changing – and game ending – pass plays.

Regardless of how it looked, the talented (and well paid) Redskins, along with coach Jim Zorn, were playing a must-win game. Perhaps, this past Sunday, our players learned the first rule of winning NFL games – “First, do no harm”. Against the ‘Skins, the Chiefs were penalized only four times, we had previously averaged more than seven. Kansas City did not turn the ball over while winning the time of possession by a large margin on the road. Further, we did it without the help of our starting left tackle.

This is not to say it we sat back and let the Redskins lose it. On perhaps the biggest non-Succop play of the day, Cassel passed to Bowe on a slant for a 32 yard gain with 1:47 left. An aggressive play call given the situation (and our prior history). If it fell incomplete, we would have given the Redskins more time to attempt the comeback that many expected. Instead, Bowe snagged the pass and headed down the sideline, eventually going out of bounds at the Washington 9 yard line. Of course, if he would have simply stayed in to keep the clock running, we would have been lining up in the victory formation. I don’t fault Bowe, how many times has he been in that situation before? It is a great example of how far we still have to go.

Today, the Chiefs made sure they controlled the final minutes, instead of putting the other team in a position to steal away our first win. Hali’s safety slammed the door shut instead of letting Washington’s best QB attempt a game winning drive. I believe today the Chiefs demonstrated significant, albeit small, progress. Frankly, I’ve waited the better part of a year for these young players to get out of their own way. It’s great to finally see it.

The tone has been doom and gloom as of late. I hear stories of Brian Waters not caring about his charity and Mike Vrabel not excited to be a Chief. I listen to everyone talk about how Devard Darling shouldn’t be running with the first team offense, and Jackie Battle playing at cornerback. We just can’t seem to grasp the simple fact that this team is being worked into the ground right now. Players are being held accountable. New schemes are being installed to fit the players we have, and some of these players are starting to sense this thing turning around.

Sure, Tony isn’t here anymore. I still have a hard time with it too. But have you noticed the small flatbed of receivers the Chiefs have to choose from this August? Do you know how well Zach Thomas has already taken to his role in the huddle on defense? Nobody speaks. Nobody.

We have a head coach that has no problem calling out a player when the occasion calls for it either. This week we heard about Brandon Albert reporting to OTAs 30 pounds overweight. We hear Dwayne Bowe has been taking it easy too. We have also heard about the 300 plus pounds this squad has already lost, and we’re seeing signs that this new quarterback Matt Cassel is really excited to be a Kansas City Chief right now. No Waters or Vrabel story is going to break my stride. I just laugh, and hope to encourage smiles. Now get your glass.

Bernard Pollard goes a mile a minute, folks. He’s also not afraid to knock the shorts off a running back. I never get mad when I see him overpursue on a play. I just think to myself, “I know why he did that.” This year he gets to play in the box, my friends! North and south. There is no doubt that Bernard Pollard is one of my favorite players on this Kansas City Chiefs roster. He has been since the day Herman drafted him out of Purdue. He had the nickname “The Bone Crusher”. I’ve always felt he lived up to that nickname. He’s a pure hitter. I never worry about him making the play. I just worry about him getting there too soon. I used to Youtube his highlight reels for my friends every time they came over for Sunday football. That was his rookie season. When Soren Petro asked him, “do you, or does somebody ever have to tell you, ‘Bernard…. slow down’?” Bernard’s response (laughing) was, “I get yelled at by Haley at every practice.”

Bernard Pollard has such a great opportunity this year in this new defense. He spoke about last season and how they never “got good at one thing” in the Cover Two. He’s done talking about it. He doesn’t want to go through 2009 again, and listening to him talk about this new defense gets this Koolaid drinker stocking the mini fridge with Jammers. I’m serious, I took a picture.

Bernard is calling 25 sacks this season, and 40 turnovers. Either somebody feels good about this defense, or they have been reading Barry’ s Koolaid. I didn’t even have this 2009 version with 40 turnovers. I had 38. I will, however, be happy to send a copy of this blog to his Facebook page. He can thank me later.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the greatest football team in all of the land, and no tough schedule is gonna change that. You can write that down.