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Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Smith Has Golden Opportunity

By Alec Tilson

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The KC Chiefs and Alex Smith enter Monday night versus the Green Bay Packers with something to prove.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith looked like a different person in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos.

A week after a 22-for-33, three-touchdown win to begin the regular season (on the road, no less), Smith posted one of his worst statistical games since joining the Chiefs.

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For the Chiefs to streak together wins – something every Super Bowl winner has done – Alex Smith must be the same quarterback each week. Jekyll and Hyde quarterback play will not get it done.

Let’s just be honest, Smith has a golden opportunity this season, and he’s worked hard to earn it.

The defense is bordering on elite. The coaching, special teams and home field are all great. The talent level across the team is the strongest it’s been in many years, and there’s likely no AFC West opponent that’s going to win 13 games.

There’s something about the great quarterbacks (Rodgers, Manning, Brady) that when the breaks aren’t going their way and the script is completely lost, they find a way to steal a game.

Now, to be fair, Smith has made a living as a remarkably consistent quarterback. He’s prepared and he plays within himself. He minimizes mistakes and that will always give you a chance to win games more often than a 4,000-yard passer who throws 18 interceptions (looking at you guys, Cutler and Stafford).

Not fantasy football games, real football games.

But Smith still has those games where nothing is working for him and he appears helpless to change it; and it happened last week against Denver.

He threw two interceptions (one probably wasn’t his fault) and he completed just 16 passes. (The Chiefs are 3-3 in Smith’s career when he completes 16 passes or fewer.) With every opportunity to lead the Chiefs to victory, the game slipped away.  (via ESPN.com)

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Smith is in the cellar compared to the rest of the league after that poor showing:

It’s not a big deal after two games, but it’s still something you don’t want to see from your quarterback.

There’s something about the great quarterbacks (Rodgers, Manning, Brady) that when the breaks aren’t going their way and the script is completely lost, they find a way to grab steal a game. That ability you can’t teach and you can’t give to someone.

Not the ability to throw for 400 yards and five touchdowns, if you’re waiting for that don’t hold your breath. We’re talking about the ability to win a game when nothing is going right. Like a pitcher who finds a way to go six innings allowing three runs without his best stuff.

Smith needs to prove he has that ability.

The window is open for the KC Chiefs, and Smith has the opportunity to lead this team right through it.

It starts with a better showing against the best the NFC North has to offer. Go win a game you’re not expected to win. Go beat a quarterback you’re not supposed to beat.

That’s what good quarterbacks do, and that’s what the Chiefs will need in order to achieve the ultimate goal this season.

Next: KC Chiefs: Game Against Packers Is A Must Win

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