February 5, 2025 • 11 mins
We welcome on The Athletic's Kansas City Chiefs beat writer Nate Taylor on the A-Team. He talks about just how far the gap is between the Texans and Chiefs. Plus, that narrative about referees and the team he covers. Also, Nate thinks that Sunday's game is going to look a lot like the ones Kansas City has played this season.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Take a trip to New Orleans and catch up with
Nate Taylor, who covers the Chiefs for The Athletic. We
certainly appreciate you spending a little time with us. By
the way, The Athletic is set to debut it's new
daily game, Connections Sports Edition, coming up on February ninth.
I imagine most of our listeners familiar with Connections, well
Connections through this game of long run. For people who've
(00:21):
covered the Chiefs, this is kind of part of your
annual schedule. I know how many more games we're going
to need, but we'll take you to the only story
that anyone's allowed to talk about, Nate, the narrative, the
striped shirts. It does seem like we finally hit the
pushback on it, both from the Chiefs and even from media,
(00:42):
some outside Kansas City, but many inside Kansas City. We
experienced it because the players brought it up during the
week preceding the game. Buffalo experienced it because their head
coach mentioned that they had discussed it before their game.
How do you feel like that plays into what we're
gonna watch on Sunday?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
You know, you hope it doesn't play into it. A
ton and obviously, thank you guys for having me on.
I just I get the sense that even Roger Goodell
on Monday saying, you know, hey, it's come on, we
we you know, obviously everybody knows that the rest of
human beings. Of Roger Goodell's point was we raid everybody,
like we know who's the best and the worst ref
(01:23):
Like it's you know, it's almost a fool to air
because uh, you know, yes, the trend does that Chiefs
continue to win. They win a lot of close games,
they don't win the games sort of in blowout, which
obviously kind of removes the the refs from like, you know,
the equation. But even Roger Goodell said, look like there
are bag holes for every team in every game because
(01:46):
you know, we we we have the human element. I
want to remind the audience that, hey man, if you've
never been down not on the field, but just down
that field.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Level of an NFL game, you you would miss so
much stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
And these are referees who are older than the athletes,
who are obviously faster, stronger, bigger than they used to be.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
And of course, you know.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
These are pressurized moments, especially when everybody's watching, so the
Chiefs played more prime time standalone games than anybody in
the league, so I think that has a part of
this as well, So you know, for the Chiefs benefit.
And you know, I think one of the reasons why
this has sort of started to take a turn, probably
for the better, is, Hey, the Bills had a lot
(02:32):
of opportunities to beat the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
They couldn't do it. And you know, one quarterback.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Thrives in lke game situations, whereas some quarterbacks don't, even
the best ones. So it helps out the Chiefs have,
you know, a Hall of Fame coach and Andy Reid
and a future Hall of Fame quarterback and Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Well, let me take you to that statement to a
different team that they played twice this year, the Houston Texans.
In either of those games or in both of those games,
did you feel like what you just said would have applied,
as in, the Texans had their opportunities to win both
of those games, but mistakes were made or their quarterback
play since you brought up, wasn't.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Quite to the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
How did you view those matchups as to say, where
do you think the Texans might be as in the
way of the Chiefs in the near future.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I don't know how close the Texans are. You know,
they just replaced Bobby Slow at the offensive coordinator. You know,
I'll be honest, guys, the Texas are beating the Chiefs
this season. It doesn't matter if that game was in December,
the you know, the first matchup, and obviously you know
last month during the division round. Yes, the game was
technically close, but I just remind people that, you know,
(03:46):
you know, their kicker missed two field goals and an
extra point or had an extra point blocked. See didn't
turn the ball over, but he did turn the ball
over twice in the first matchup. The Texas had a
number of errors on special teams. They under the longest
hickoff return of the season. I remember, I just looked
this up with Nico Rimihio because I wrote about him
today here in New Orleans. You know, patri Mahomes never
(04:10):
turned the ball over. The Chiefs didn't turn the ball
over in eight quarters against the Texans. I mean, if
you want to get close, you gotta change some of
that math. And so I think for Houston it's like, hey,
it sucks if Tank Dale got hurt.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
They have to have, you know, maybe another receiver or
two to help c J. Stroud, who you know is
going to continue to get better over the course of
the season.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And I do like Tomiko Ryans, but I mean it's
not the you know, a lot of people say this.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I'm not the first, but it's not.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
It's not the res'ts fault that as good as Demiko
o Rans is, his linebackers and safeties forgot who Travis
Kelsey was for the large majority of that game. And
it's why Travis Kelsey had his most yards this season
in at that time, the most.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Important game of it.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
We know, we know, you stop telling us how bad
and dumb and mistake for on the Texas are and Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Mahomes did turn the ball over against the Texans until
the refs turned it over. I just wanted to put
that out there since we're being honest about everything. But no,
I mean, you do have to basically play a perfect
game to beat those guys. And as someone who is
sitting here in Houston, Texas and knows all about what
it's like to cover a team that is affectionately referred
(05:21):
to as rival fan bases as the Evil Empire and
the Astros. I'm assuming that that's just kind of outside
noise for the fan base and even for people like
you that cover the team, because when you're in the
middle of that bubble of excellence, it's just it's hard
not to And I'm not even saying that we've done this.
(05:42):
It's not like condescending, but it just comes off as
like it's easy to say that's a loser mentality, to
blame the refs, And yet it's like there's questions being
asked about that before they've ever even played the game.
The week leading up to the Super Bowl, this is
just a fascinating subplot to me.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, and so you know, I don't I don't think
either team is gonna get blown out. You know, I
think we've seen enough Super Bowl games where if it's
two evenly.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Match teams, hey man, the rest might be involved. Now,
it's not not my fault, it's not really the Chiefs fault.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
That the way the last game played up before these
two teams, you know it was it was Bradbury, the
cornerback for the Eagles, who had the holding call on
Jujus Smith Schuster, who ran a whip route which essentially
gave the Chiefs the ability to run all of the
clock down in the last two minutes to set up
Harrison Bucker's game when he field goal. Hey, if you're
(06:37):
the Eagles, get up by ten, find a way to
get the ball to Saquon Barkley and just see a
Saquon can take you home because he's had obviously one
of the most historic modern seasons for a running back
in NFL history. If you give the issue is if
you give the Chiefs a chance in the fourth quarter,
because just by the numbers, they've been in those situations
(06:59):
more than you. It's it's one of the reasons why
they're still the champions. You know, if you give them
a chance to beat you in the fourth quarter, the
odds are not in your favor because of the experience
that you know, Steve Spagnolo has a defensive coordinator in
terms of finding the right blitz, like you know, that
comes down to Christians maybe getting a sack or pressure
(07:19):
on a quarterback to you know, make the quarterback make
a mistake and then usually Mahomes finds Kelsey because Andy
Reid has a way of sort of manipulating the opposing defense.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
It's it's really a situation of if the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Win dominant on Sunday, then I don't know what any
of us are supposed to say other than well they've
they've done it again and they're champions, and it just
pushes it should you know, concede to motivate a lot
of the AFC because you know.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
The Chiefs are a three point victory in regulation from.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Beating the Eagles, and I want to remind people they
are a three point win in overtime in beating the
forty nine ers.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So this isn't like a cake walk by any stretch
of the means.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Though, because they played in so many close games, they've
always found a way to sort of deliver. But someone's
gotta like do that to them at some point for
I think the narrative or the discussion around you know,
the sports highest you know level to sort of change.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Talking with Nate Taylor from the athletic at by Nate
Taylor's where you find him on the socials. Uh, you
have to pick one of them, which former Houston Texans
player for the Chiefs will make a memorable play on
Sunday Justin Reid, DeAndre Hopkins or Charles Amenaho.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Mm I want to weirdly say Justin Reid, He's gonna
be on the field a ton because you know, he's
one of the Chief's best safeties. So who knows, maybe
he makes an interception or has a you know, obviously
he can blitz you know, Jalen hurts it and maybe
create a negative play that way.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Charles A.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Minnie has had really a phenomenal return from the That
was one of the biggest question marks this season for
the Chiefs. And you know, he had an impressive strip
sack of CJ. Stroud in the Division round game, and
he's been actually more productive as a run stopper in
some senses than even you know, generating consistent pressure. The
biggest question for me is what's gonna happen with DeAndre Hopkins.
(09:19):
DeAndre Hopkins is an amazing player, but we are now,
in my opinion, officially in the twilight and so it's
just how long can he maintain the toilet of his career,
whether he wants to come back next season, that's kind
of been a question. You know, he's he's thirty four,
you know, receivers and I looked this up with my
editor earlier this week. Fell I was like, how many
(09:41):
like the oldest receiver last year I think in the
NFL was like thirty five thirty six. So you know,
DeAndre may never get on the stage. And at least
he's had two weeks to sort of manage his knee injury.
That's kind of been, you know, nagging at him all year.
But I'm not sure with again, all the options the
Chiefs have, xavier' Worthy, Hollywood Brown obviously, Kareem Hunt, Isaiah
(10:05):
Pteco w and of course Travis Kelsey. If you're just
going to get as many opportunities, you know, to make
a play as maybe CHARLESO Minihewe or I think at
a higher percentage, maybe Justin Reid.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Well sixteen snaps against the Texans twelve in their most
recent win over the Bills for Hopkins, probably a good
way to look at it, Nate, before we let you go,
you got ten seconds in a one score game. Because
that's all that they play. The Chiefs will beat the
Eagles by what score.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Four twenty four? I don't know, something like that. Twenty
seven twenty ten sounds entertaining. We'll take it. That's all
they that's all they play.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Entertaining one scare games where we might have conspiracies about
the rest.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Well that will definitely do it. Nate.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We certainly appreciate the time, appreciate your work with The
Athletic where they will once again debut their new Daily
Game Connections Sports edition coming up off February ninth.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
To joy the game, Nate, Yes, thank you Fellas, you
got it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Good stuff, entertaining, laughable darn Texans.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Get it together,
Take a trip to New Orleans and catch up with
Nate Taylor, who covers the Chiefs for The Athletic. We
certainly appreciate you spending a little time with us. By
the way, The Athletic is set to debut it's new
daily game, Connections Sports Edition, coming up on February ninth.
I imagine most of our listeners familiar with Connections, well
Connections through this game of long run. For people who've
(00:21):
covered the Chiefs, this is kind of part of your
annual schedule. I know how many more games we're going
to need, but we'll take you to the only story
that anyone's allowed to talk about, Nate, the narrative, the
striped shirts. It does seem like we finally hit the
pushback on it, both from the Chiefs and even from media,
(00:42):
some outside Kansas City, but many inside Kansas City. We
experienced it because the players brought it up during the
week preceding the game. Buffalo experienced it because their head
coach mentioned that they had discussed it before their game.
How do you feel like that plays into what we're
gonna watch on Sunday?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
You know, you hope it doesn't play into it. A
ton and obviously, thank you guys for having me on.
I just I get the sense that even Roger Goodell
on Monday saying, you know, hey, it's come on, we
we you know, obviously everybody knows that the rest of
human beings. Of Roger Goodell's point was we raid everybody,
like we know who's the best and the worst ref
(01:23):
Like it's you know, it's almost a fool to air
because uh, you know, yes, the trend does that Chiefs
continue to win. They win a lot of close games,
they don't win the games sort of in blowout, which
obviously kind of removes the the refs from like, you know,
the equation. But even Roger Goodell said, look like there
are bag holes for every team in every game because
(01:46):
you know, we we we have the human element. I
want to remind the audience that, hey man, if you've
never been down not on the field, but just down
that field.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Level of an NFL game, you you would miss so
much stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
And these are referees who are older than the athletes,
who are obviously faster, stronger, bigger than they used to be.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
And of course, you know.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
These are pressurized moments, especially when everybody's watching, so the
Chiefs played more prime time standalone games than anybody in
the league, so I think that has a part of
this as well, So you know, for the Chiefs benefit.
And you know, I think one of the reasons why
this has sort of started to take a turn, probably
for the better, is, Hey, the Bills had a lot
(02:32):
of opportunities to beat the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
They couldn't do it. And you know, one quarterback.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Thrives in lke game situations, whereas some quarterbacks don't, even
the best ones. So it helps out the Chiefs have,
you know, a Hall of Fame coach and Andy Reid
and a future Hall of Fame quarterback and Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Well, let me take you to that statement to a
different team that they played twice this year, the Houston Texans.
In either of those games or in both of those games,
did you feel like what you just said would have applied,
as in, the Texans had their opportunities to win both
of those games, but mistakes were made or their quarterback
play since you brought up, wasn't.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Quite to the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
How did you view those matchups as to say, where
do you think the Texans might be as in the
way of the Chiefs in the near future.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I don't know how close the Texans are. You know,
they just replaced Bobby Slow at the offensive coordinator. You know,
I'll be honest, guys, the Texas are beating the Chiefs
this season. It doesn't matter if that game was in December,
the you know, the first matchup, and obviously you know
last month during the division round. Yes, the game was
technically close, but I just remind people that, you know,
(03:46):
you know, their kicker missed two field goals and an
extra point or had an extra point blocked. See didn't
turn the ball over, but he did turn the ball
over twice in the first matchup. The Texas had a
number of errors on special teams. They under the longest
hickoff return of the season. I remember, I just looked
this up with Nico Rimihio because I wrote about him
today here in New Orleans. You know, patri Mahomes never
(04:10):
turned the ball over. The Chiefs didn't turn the ball
over in eight quarters against the Texans. I mean, if
you want to get close, you gotta change some of
that math. And so I think for Houston it's like, hey,
it sucks if Tank Dale got hurt.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
They have to have, you know, maybe another receiver or
two to help c J. Stroud, who you know is
going to continue to get better over the course of
the season.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And I do like Tomiko Ryans, but I mean it's
not the you know, a lot of people say this.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I'm not the first, but it's not.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
It's not the res'ts fault that as good as Demiko
o Rans is, his linebackers and safeties forgot who Travis
Kelsey was for the large majority of that game. And
it's why Travis Kelsey had his most yards this season
in at that time, the most.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Important game of it.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
We know, we know, you stop telling us how bad
and dumb and mistake for on the Texas are and Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Mahomes did turn the ball over against the Texans until
the refs turned it over. I just wanted to put
that out there since we're being honest about everything. But no,
I mean, you do have to basically play a perfect
game to beat those guys. And as someone who is
sitting here in Houston, Texas and knows all about what
it's like to cover a team that is affectionately referred
(05:21):
to as rival fan bases as the Evil Empire and
the Astros. I'm assuming that that's just kind of outside
noise for the fan base and even for people like
you that cover the team, because when you're in the
middle of that bubble of excellence, it's just it's hard
not to And I'm not even saying that we've done this.
(05:42):
It's not like condescending, but it just comes off as
like it's easy to say that's a loser mentality, to
blame the refs, And yet it's like there's questions being
asked about that before they've ever even played the game.
The week leading up to the Super Bowl, this is
just a fascinating subplot to me.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, and so you know, I don't I don't think
either team is gonna get blown out. You know, I
think we've seen enough Super Bowl games where if it's
two evenly.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Match teams, hey man, the rest might be involved. Now,
it's not not my fault, it's not really the Chiefs fault.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
That the way the last game played up before these
two teams, you know it was it was Bradbury, the
cornerback for the Eagles, who had the holding call on
Jujus Smith Schuster, who ran a whip route which essentially
gave the Chiefs the ability to run all of the
clock down in the last two minutes to set up
Harrison Bucker's game when he field goal. Hey, if you're
(06:37):
the Eagles, get up by ten, find a way to
get the ball to Saquon Barkley and just see a
Saquon can take you home because he's had obviously one
of the most historic modern seasons for a running back
in NFL history. If you give the issue is if
you give the Chiefs a chance in the fourth quarter,
because just by the numbers, they've been in those situations
(06:59):
more than you. It's it's one of the reasons why
they're still the champions. You know, if you give them
a chance to beat you in the fourth quarter, the
odds are not in your favor because of the experience
that you know, Steve Spagnolo has a defensive coordinator in
terms of finding the right blitz, like you know, that
comes down to Christians maybe getting a sack or pressure
(07:19):
on a quarterback to you know, make the quarterback make
a mistake and then usually Mahomes finds Kelsey because Andy
Reid has a way of sort of manipulating the opposing defense.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
It's it's really a situation of if the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Win dominant on Sunday, then I don't know what any
of us are supposed to say other than well they've
they've done it again and they're champions, and it just
pushes it should you know, concede to motivate a lot
of the AFC because you know.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
The Chiefs are a three point victory in regulation from.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Beating the Eagles, and I want to remind people they
are a three point win in overtime in beating the
forty nine ers.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So this isn't like a cake walk by any stretch
of the means.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Though, because they played in so many close games, they've
always found a way to sort of deliver. But someone's
gotta like do that to them at some point for
I think the narrative or the discussion around you know,
the sports highest you know level to sort of change.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Talking with Nate Taylor from the athletic at by Nate
Taylor's where you find him on the socials. Uh, you
have to pick one of them, which former Houston Texans
player for the Chiefs will make a memorable play on
Sunday Justin Reid, DeAndre Hopkins or Charles Amenaho.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Mm I want to weirdly say Justin Reid, He's gonna
be on the field a ton because you know, he's
one of the Chief's best safeties. So who knows, maybe
he makes an interception or has a you know, obviously
he can blitz you know, Jalen hurts it and maybe
create a negative play that way.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Charles A.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Minnie has had really a phenomenal return from the That
was one of the biggest question marks this season for
the Chiefs. And you know, he had an impressive strip
sack of CJ. Stroud in the Division round game, and
he's been actually more productive as a run stopper in
some senses than even you know, generating consistent pressure. The
biggest question for me is what's gonna happen with DeAndre Hopkins.
(09:19):
DeAndre Hopkins is an amazing player, but we are now,
in my opinion, officially in the twilight and so it's
just how long can he maintain the toilet of his career,
whether he wants to come back next season, that's kind
of been a question. You know, he's he's thirty four,
you know, receivers and I looked this up with my
editor earlier this week. Fell I was like, how many
(09:41):
like the oldest receiver last year I think in the
NFL was like thirty five thirty six. So you know,
DeAndre may never get on the stage. And at least
he's had two weeks to sort of manage his knee injury.
That's kind of been, you know, nagging at him all year.
But I'm not sure with again, all the options the
Chiefs have, xavier' Worthy, Hollywood Brown obviously, Kareem Hunt, Isaiah
(10:05):
Pteco w and of course Travis Kelsey. If you're just
going to get as many opportunities, you know, to make
a play as maybe CHARLESO Minihewe or I think at
a higher percentage, maybe Justin Reid.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Well sixteen snaps against the Texans twelve in their most
recent win over the Bills for Hopkins, probably a good
way to look at it, Nate, before we let you go,
you got ten seconds in a one score game. Because
that's all that they play. The Chiefs will beat the
Eagles by what score.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Four twenty four? I don't know, something like that. Twenty
seven twenty ten sounds entertaining. We'll take it. That's all
they that's all they play.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Entertaining one scare games where we might have conspiracies about
the rest.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Well that will definitely do it. Nate.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We certainly appreciate the time, appreciate your work with The
Athletic where they will once again debut their new Daily
Game Connections Sports edition coming up off February ninth.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
To joy the game, Nate, Yes, thank you Fellas, you
got it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Good stuff, entertaining, laughable darn Texans.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Get it together,
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