The last Kansas City sports team to lose a game was...the Kansas City Royals.
The Mets beat the Royals in New York in Game 3 on October 30. Since that day, the Chiefs are 8-0. The Chiefs are 9-0 since the Royals won the ALCS. They're 7-0 since the Royals won the World Series.
Since October 12th, the day the Royals were down 4 in the 8th, the Royals went 10-3 and won the World Series. The Chiefs have gone 9-1.
This is the first year ever that both teams made the playoffs.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
Christmas Break, Reviewed
My goals for Christmas break were:
Go sledding. Check.
Review winter beers. Check.
See Hateful Eight in 70mm. Check.
Plus, the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot and I got sausage and crackers from Hickory Farms. So yeah, it's been a good break.
Go sledding. Check.
Review winter beers. Check.
See Hateful Eight in 70mm. Check.
Plus, the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot and I got sausage and crackers from Hickory Farms. So yeah, it's been a good break.
Tarantino's Films, Ranked
I just saw Hateful Eight in 70mm. (There's an overture and intermission! They give you a program!) If I wanted to do this right, I'd have to rewatch everything. But here's my ranking based on the memory of watching.
1. Pulp Fiction
2. Inglorious Basterds
3. Reservoir Dogs
4. Kill Bill
5. Django Unchained
6. Hateful Eight
7. Jackie Brown
nr Death Proof (haven't seen it)
It's a weird list for a couple reasons. I liked Hateful Eight. I'm surprised it's this low, to be honest. I just checked some other lists to see if I was off base and they all had Kill Bill vol2 ranked way above vol1. I totally disagree. I think vol1 is up there in my top three and vol2 is toward the bottom. But I'm ranking it as one film since all the posters for H8 call it his 8th film. I saw Jackie Brown in the theater in 97, so you should just disregard that ranking entirely. I mean, I didn't know diddly. It's probably a lot better than I remember. Also, I liked Django a lot. It's just hard, they're all good.
1. Pulp Fiction
2. Inglorious Basterds
3. Reservoir Dogs
4. Kill Bill
5. Django Unchained
6. Hateful Eight
7. Jackie Brown
nr Death Proof (haven't seen it)
It's a weird list for a couple reasons. I liked Hateful Eight. I'm surprised it's this low, to be honest. I just checked some other lists to see if I was off base and they all had Kill Bill vol2 ranked way above vol1. I totally disagree. I think vol1 is up there in my top three and vol2 is toward the bottom. But I'm ranking it as one film since all the posters for H8 call it his 8th film. I saw Jackie Brown in the theater in 97, so you should just disregard that ranking entirely. I mean, I didn't know diddly. It's probably a lot better than I remember. Also, I liked Django a lot. It's just hard, they're all good.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Best Restaurants in Denver
The inspiration for this post was the calzone I ate on the 23rd. I went to Parry's pizza to try and get a Pliny the Elder on tap (it had just sold out) but I still stayed for a beer and calzone. I'd already known they had great pizza and buffalo wings. But it hit me trying this calzone, that this is a really great restaurant. Which got me thinking about all the other places I love around here. It's too hard to do a true ranking, so I'm breaking them down by categories.
Sandwich: Snarf's
Burger: Crave
Hot Dogs: Mile High Vienna Stand & Biker Jim's
Mexican: Hacienda
Indian: Little India
Frozen Yogurt: Yogurtland
Breakfast: Snooze & Toast
Thin Crust Pizza/Beer: Parry's & Hops and Pie
Deep Dish Pizza: Patxi's
Fine Dining: Linger
Everything is good and since it's small plates you get to try at least 5 different dishes but it's not that expensive either. (Honorable Mentions: Vesta Dipping Grill, Rioja, Stoic & Genuine, Root Down)
Barbecue: Roaming Buffalo
I tried 12 barbecue restaurants before discovering something great. But when I did, it rivals the best I've had in Kansas City. It's pretty remarkable. This is my favorite restaurant in Colorado.
Sandwich: Snarf's
Burger: Crave
Mexican: Hacienda
Indian: Little India
Breakfast: Snooze & Toast
Thin Crust Pizza/Beer: Parry's & Hops and Pie
Deep Dish Pizza: Patxi's
Fine Dining: Linger
Everything is good and since it's small plates you get to try at least 5 different dishes but it's not that expensive either. (Honorable Mentions: Vesta Dipping Grill, Rioja, Stoic & Genuine, Root Down)
Barbecue: Roaming Buffalo
I tried 12 barbecue restaurants before discovering something great. But when I did, it rivals the best I've had in Kansas City. It's pretty remarkable. This is my favorite restaurant in Colorado.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Work League: Fantasy Super Bowl
What a week for Odell to get suspended! Also, I traded her Dalton for Cooper and then Dalton got hurt. Everything's coming up Fymbo!
So the whole story is that there are 3 10-team leagues in our agency. The three champions will be awarded $200, $150 and $100 based upon point totals in week 16. So it's not just about winning my week but getting the most points possible.
Here are the other two leagues:
League 2
League 3
There's also a 4th place for the runner-up who scores the most this week, but let's not go there.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
A Path to the AFC Championship in Arrowhead
The Chiefs haven't clinched anything. Their last two games are at home against the Browns and Raiders.
A win over the Browns and a Jets loss to the Patriots clinches at least the 6th seed.
Two wins clinches at least the 5th seed.
Two wins and a Broncos loss (to Bengals or Chargers) clinches the division and the 3rd seed.
If the Chiefs win the division, they would likely be hosting the Broncos at Arrowhead in the wild-card round. A win there would advance them to play the Dalton-less Bengals.
Or...
If the Chiefs get the 5th seed, they start on the road in Houston against a 4th-string quarterback. A win there would advance them to play at Denver.
In either case, the Steelers could be looming as the 6th seed (or 5th if Chiefs take the division). And the Steelers are just the team to knock out the Patriots in Foxboro. Which means the Steelers and Chiefs would be playing in the AFC Championship...in Arrowhead.
A win over the Browns and a Jets loss to the Patriots clinches at least the 6th seed.
Two wins clinches at least the 5th seed.
Two wins and a Broncos loss (to Bengals or Chargers) clinches the division and the 3rd seed.
If the Chiefs win the division, they would likely be hosting the Broncos at Arrowhead in the wild-card round. A win there would advance them to play the Dalton-less Bengals.
Or...
If the Chiefs get the 5th seed, they start on the road in Houston against a 4th-string quarterback. A win there would advance them to play at Denver.
In either case, the Steelers could be looming as the 6th seed (or 5th if Chiefs take the division). And the Steelers are just the team to knock out the Patriots in Foxboro. Which means the Steelers and Chiefs would be playing in the AFC Championship...in Arrowhead.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Rooting For The Broncos
With 3 games to go, if the Chiefs can make up 2 games on the Broncos (Chiefs winning out and Broncos only winning one--or Chiefs winning two and Broncos losing out) then the Chiefs would grab the division, the #3 seed and a home playoff game.
So you'd think I'd be all over that. But this is not a normal year.
If you're the 5th seed you'll be playing Houston or Indy or Jax.
If you're the 3rd seed you'll be playing Denver or Pittsburgh or New York.
So I'd rather take the 5th seed and play on the road. Which means I'd rather the Steelers and Jets lose as much as possible. Which means I have to root for the Broncos.
Hold on, I just barfed.
Okay, I'm back. Maybe I'll just watch silently and be happy either way at the end, with the playoff help or a Broncos loss.
So you'd think I'd be all over that. But this is not a normal year.
If you're the 5th seed you'll be playing Houston or Indy or Jax.
If you're the 3rd seed you'll be playing Denver or Pittsburgh or New York.
So I'd rather take the 5th seed and play on the road. Which means I'd rather the Steelers and Jets lose as much as possible. Which means I have to root for the Broncos.
Hold on, I just barfed.
Okay, I'm back. Maybe I'll just watch silently and be happy either way at the end, with the playoff help or a Broncos loss.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Madden Highlight
Running Commentary:
0:00 This is a specific scenario using my custom team Fro-Yo. I started using the Chiefs uniforms but since I was playing them in Franchise, I got burnt out and switched to using Saints/Lions.
0:28 Nantz says, "Another touchdown to increase the lead" when the Rams took the lead for the first time.
1:00 Boy, this guy's butt is really close to landing out of bounds, eh?
1:52 I've never returned a kickoff for a touchdown so I was thinking try and return it to the 30, get one play to the other 30 and kick a field goal.
2:00 I have to keep an eye on the clock because the last thing you want is to get tackled before the goal line with no time left.
2:08 The Rams players really seem to be celebrating my touchdown.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Three for Dee!
Three sacks for Dee Ford on the Kansas City Chiefs.
In this one, you think that he must be coming unblocked. Well, he had a blocker lined up against him. He just blew past him.
In this one, you think that he must be coming unblocked. Well, he had a blocker lined up against him. He just blew past him.
Monday, December 07, 2015
Raiders - Chiefs Win Probability
I wanted to get my Chiefs post up yesterday and this chart wasn't ready at the time. But now that's it up, I think my post did a pretty good job of covering the game.
The big spike for the Raiders at the end of the first half was the Kelce fumble. The fumble and return play increased the Raiders chances of winning by 21.8%. Interestingly, actually scoring a touchdown from the 25 yard line only increased their chances by 10.4%.
When Janikowski misses the extra point at 20-14, their chances dropped 4.5%.
Their peak chance of winning was 91.9%. That's when I said I was feeling pretty low. Right before the Mauga pick that dropped them down to a 41.2% chance of winning.
When Santos didn't get to kick the XP at 20-20, Raiders chances went from 46.2% to 53%.
You can even see in the chart the three "here we go again" waves where the Raiders had chances to win in the 4th.
The big spike for the Raiders at the end of the first half was the Kelce fumble. The fumble and return play increased the Raiders chances of winning by 21.8%. Interestingly, actually scoring a touchdown from the 25 yard line only increased their chances by 10.4%.
When Janikowski misses the extra point at 20-14, their chances dropped 4.5%.
Their peak chance of winning was 91.9%. That's when I said I was feeling pretty low. Right before the Mauga pick that dropped them down to a 41.2% chance of winning.
When Santos didn't get to kick the XP at 20-20, Raiders chances went from 46.2% to 53%.
You can even see in the chart the three "here we go again" waves where the Raiders had chances to win in the 4th.
Sunday, December 06, 2015
Chiefs Win 6th in a Row
This game gave me heart palpitations.
The second quarter of this game featured seven punts in a row. Tied 7-7 with 4:16 to go in the first half, KC started on their own 4. They got the ball out to the 31 and punted, pinning the Raiders on their own 14. Then the Chiefs defense forced a three and out and got a return to the Oakland 42. So those two possessions ended in punts but was a shift in field position of 54 yards for the Chiefs.
With just over a minute to go, Kelce catches the ball and picks up the first down. The Chiefs have two timeouts and he's crossing the 30. I'm thinking "get out of bounds" to preserve the clock. Instead he cuts it back for more yardage. Here's the play. He does pick up a few more yards. But in the process, Woodson rips the ball out, and returns it the other way. A few plays later, Carr to Crabtree from 25 yards out and it's 14-7 Raiders at the half. If Kelce holds on to that ball, it was looking like 10-7 Chiefs conservatively. So that's a 10-point swing on one fumble.
Chiefs get the ball after halftime. They go 80 yards in 6 minutes to tie the game. Kelce had the biggest Chiefs play of the game at that point, a 26-yard catch on 3rd down.
Ensuing drive, the Raiders have a 3rd and 6 on the KC 12. Incomplete. But there's a flag. Roughing the passer for touching his helmet. Two plays later, Raider touchdown. So the Raiders second touchdown happened because of a fumble and the Raiders third touchdown happened because of a dumb penalty. The silver lining: Janikowski hits the extra point off the upright. So it's 20-14 with 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd.
Chiefs go 3 and out.
With 12 minutes to go, the Raiders have the ball at the KC 33. They're up 6 points. They're basically already in field goal range and can make it a two-possession game. I'm feeling pretty low at this point.
And then this happens.
Carr dances in the pocket for 7 seconds (!) but then gets hit and Mauga catches out of the air, returning it 66 yards to the one. Maclin converts a 1-yard screen pass and it's 20-20 pending the extra point. Just like the Kelce fumble earlier, that pick is a 10-point swing. Except...Santos doesn't get a chance to kick the extra point. It's a bad snap/hold and we're still tied at 20. I can't believe of all the times to not get the extra point, it's when it would take the lead.
So here we go again. 20-20 and the Raiders have the ball at midfield.
And then Peters joins the pick party.
He returns it down to the Oakland 13. It's his 5th pick of his rookie season. The Chiefs as a team only had 6 last year.
Maclin gets another screen pass for a TD and it's 26-20. And I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it, but Santos misses the extra point. So after all of that, two incredible interception returns to set up scores...it's only a 6-point lead with 7 minutes to go.
Here we go again. The Raiders drive down the field to the KC 24. Chiefs come up with a sack and then an incomplete pass on 3rd down brings up a field goal attempt. Janikowksi hits the upright again.
The Chiefs just need a field goal to make it a two score game with under 5 to play, but they can't get it. They punt it away.
Raiders last chance. 4 minutes and a touchdown will win it.
But instead it's Tyson Branch with the pick six to seal the game.
So the Raiders 2nd and 3rd touchdowns were because of Chiefs preventable mistakes (fumble and penalty). But the Chiefs 3rd, 4th and 5th touchdowns were because of Raiders preventable mistakes (interceptions).
- - -
From 1-5 to 7-5. Joined by the Jets and the Steelers. One of these teams isn't making it.
- - -
But it's not really enough to just make it in. And here's why:
You take a look at those top 3 teams all 10-2. If you're the 6th seed, you're getting one of those teams in their house. And then you look at the AFC South. The 6-6 Colts or the 6-6 Texans. Yes, please.
How tasty is that 5th seed? If the Chiefs win out, it's theirs. Based on how good the Steelers look, I wouldn't put it past them to win out. But if the Steelers lose a game, that's the cushion the Chiefs have. At this point, the plan is simple. Keep winning and don't stop once you make the playoffs.
The second quarter of this game featured seven punts in a row. Tied 7-7 with 4:16 to go in the first half, KC started on their own 4. They got the ball out to the 31 and punted, pinning the Raiders on their own 14. Then the Chiefs defense forced a three and out and got a return to the Oakland 42. So those two possessions ended in punts but was a shift in field position of 54 yards for the Chiefs.
With just over a minute to go, Kelce catches the ball and picks up the first down. The Chiefs have two timeouts and he's crossing the 30. I'm thinking "get out of bounds" to preserve the clock. Instead he cuts it back for more yardage. Here's the play. He does pick up a few more yards. But in the process, Woodson rips the ball out, and returns it the other way. A few plays later, Carr to Crabtree from 25 yards out and it's 14-7 Raiders at the half. If Kelce holds on to that ball, it was looking like 10-7 Chiefs conservatively. So that's a 10-point swing on one fumble.
Chiefs get the ball after halftime. They go 80 yards in 6 minutes to tie the game. Kelce had the biggest Chiefs play of the game at that point, a 26-yard catch on 3rd down.
Ensuing drive, the Raiders have a 3rd and 6 on the KC 12. Incomplete. But there's a flag. Roughing the passer for touching his helmet. Two plays later, Raider touchdown. So the Raiders second touchdown happened because of a fumble and the Raiders third touchdown happened because of a dumb penalty. The silver lining: Janikowski hits the extra point off the upright. So it's 20-14 with 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd.
Chiefs go 3 and out.
With 12 minutes to go, the Raiders have the ball at the KC 33. They're up 6 points. They're basically already in field goal range and can make it a two-possession game. I'm feeling pretty low at this point.
And then this happens.
Carr dances in the pocket for 7 seconds (!) but then gets hit and Mauga catches out of the air, returning it 66 yards to the one. Maclin converts a 1-yard screen pass and it's 20-20 pending the extra point. Just like the Kelce fumble earlier, that pick is a 10-point swing. Except...Santos doesn't get a chance to kick the extra point. It's a bad snap/hold and we're still tied at 20. I can't believe of all the times to not get the extra point, it's when it would take the lead.
So here we go again. 20-20 and the Raiders have the ball at midfield.
And then Peters joins the pick party.
He returns it down to the Oakland 13. It's his 5th pick of his rookie season. The Chiefs as a team only had 6 last year.
Maclin gets another screen pass for a TD and it's 26-20. And I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it, but Santos misses the extra point. So after all of that, two incredible interception returns to set up scores...it's only a 6-point lead with 7 minutes to go.
Here we go again. The Raiders drive down the field to the KC 24. Chiefs come up with a sack and then an incomplete pass on 3rd down brings up a field goal attempt. Janikowksi hits the upright again.
The Chiefs just need a field goal to make it a two score game with under 5 to play, but they can't get it. They punt it away.
Raiders last chance. 4 minutes and a touchdown will win it.
But instead it's Tyson Branch with the pick six to seal the game.
So the Raiders 2nd and 3rd touchdowns were because of Chiefs preventable mistakes (fumble and penalty). But the Chiefs 3rd, 4th and 5th touchdowns were because of Raiders preventable mistakes (interceptions).
- - -
From 1-5 to 7-5. Joined by the Jets and the Steelers. One of these teams isn't making it.
- - -
But it's not really enough to just make it in. And here's why:
You take a look at those top 3 teams all 10-2. If you're the 6th seed, you're getting one of those teams in their house. And then you look at the AFC South. The 6-6 Colts or the 6-6 Texans. Yes, please.
How tasty is that 5th seed? If the Chiefs win out, it's theirs. Based on how good the Steelers look, I wouldn't put it past them to win out. But if the Steelers lose a game, that's the cushion the Chiefs have. At this point, the plan is simple. Keep winning and don't stop once you make the playoffs.
College Football Playoffs
After 13 games, it's come down to this:
Thursday, December 31
Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami, 2pm MT
#1 Clemson vs #4 Oklahoma
Goodyear Cotton Bowl in Dallas, 6pm MT
#2 Alabama vs #3 Michigan State
- - -
Clemson is the only undefeated team in the country so they get the #1 ranking. I think that's right. But I do find it humorous when the committee says "Clemson is clearly the #1 team in the country" and then Oklahoma opens as a 2.5 point favorite.
- - -
This is really a perfect year for a 4-team playoff. If we were left with Clemson vs Alabama it would be pretty disappointing. I think Oklahoma and Michigan State earned a shot at the title by winning good conferences with only one loss, same as Alabama. And there's not really another team that's deserving. I think Ohio State at 11-1 is a great team, but they couldn't win their division. I don't feel bad about 11-2 Stanford or 10-2 Notre Dame not having a chance. 4 teams worked out great this year.
- - -
It's kind of funny. Ohio State loses by 3 to a playoff-worthy MSU. MSU loses by 1 to a crap Nebraska. If we were looking at it like a March Madness committee, you'd say that MSU had a worse loss. But because Ohio State's one loss was to MSU, they didn't even get to the conference title game.
Also, really funny that MSU is in the playoffs considering how Michigan fumbled away that game.
- - -
Last year Alabama was a higher seed against the Big Ten conference winner. That didn't work out so well for them.
- - -
A little over a month ago, I thought Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and TCU would be in the playoff. At that time there were three undefeated teams in the Big 12 and Oklahoma wasn't one of them.
Thursday, December 31
Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami, 2pm MT
#1 Clemson vs #4 Oklahoma
Goodyear Cotton Bowl in Dallas, 6pm MT
#2 Alabama vs #3 Michigan State
- - -
Clemson is the only undefeated team in the country so they get the #1 ranking. I think that's right. But I do find it humorous when the committee says "Clemson is clearly the #1 team in the country" and then Oklahoma opens as a 2.5 point favorite.
- - -
This is really a perfect year for a 4-team playoff. If we were left with Clemson vs Alabama it would be pretty disappointing. I think Oklahoma and Michigan State earned a shot at the title by winning good conferences with only one loss, same as Alabama. And there's not really another team that's deserving. I think Ohio State at 11-1 is a great team, but they couldn't win their division. I don't feel bad about 11-2 Stanford or 10-2 Notre Dame not having a chance. 4 teams worked out great this year.
- - -
It's kind of funny. Ohio State loses by 3 to a playoff-worthy MSU. MSU loses by 1 to a crap Nebraska. If we were looking at it like a March Madness committee, you'd say that MSU had a worse loss. But because Ohio State's one loss was to MSU, they didn't even get to the conference title game.
Also, really funny that MSU is in the playoffs considering how Michigan fumbled away that game.
- - -
Last year Alabama was a higher seed against the Big Ten conference winner. That didn't work out so well for them.
- - -
A little over a month ago, I thought Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and TCU would be in the playoff. At that time there were three undefeated teams in the Big 12 and Oklahoma wasn't one of them.
Saturday, December 05, 2015
Tuesday, December 01, 2015
Rocket League Highlights
Grant likes to play but doesn't know how to use the accelerator. Instead he uses boost to go, so I had to turn on unlimited boost. After over three minutes he not only touched the ball for the first time in the game but scored a goal. It was his own net, but still.
Regulation is over when the clock strikes zero and then the ball touches the ground. I got lucky in this game as it barely touched the ground right in front of the goal.
The assist is at 1:35. I also got a buzzer beater later.
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