A frustrating game for sure.

1. It would seem like the defense played well enough that the offense was going to bail them out in the second half and that never really happened. Once Kansas State went up by 10 with about 6 minutes left, it felt like church, largely because I’m still not comfortable in the defense thinking that they can stop Kansas State’s offense when it matters (even though they did, I just lack confidence). I don’t have the stats handy, but the second half was darn near nonexistent.
2. The failure to go for it on 4th and 1. Fortune favors the bold, but if you don’t give yourself enough time to make up two scores or go for it when you have the opportunity to do something then it’s all sorta pointless.
3. On a key 3rd and 2, with about 4 minutes left in the game and the ball is given to Justin Stockton and he loses 9. That’s the dagger.
4. The pick-6 touchdown and the kickoff return for the touchdown was the difference in the game. Again, the defense played well enough.
5. Without question, the game next week becomes vital. Incredibly important. I’m not sure what happened with the play-calling in the second half, but it was uninspiring and I’m still trying to wrap my head around why it changed so dramatically. I’m still trying to figure out how and why. Some of it can be Patrick Mahomes’ injury, which may have worsened in the second half. When Kingsbury said that Mahomes would decide if Mahomes would play and I scoffed at the notion. Now, I know, because Kingsbury lived through so many of those second halves in his career, where he was beaten and battered and he never tapped out. I’m guessing that Kingsbury gave Mahomes that latitude to make that decision and that’s what you saw.