Behind Enemy Lines: 5 Questions with KC Kingdom’s Ben Nielsen
By Evan Reller
Dec 22, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) carries the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
3. Is the offense more than just Jamaal Charles? His success seems to be directly tied to the the offense. If he’s limited, who needs to step up the most?
Jamaal Charles should be the league MVP. Charles was 20 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown short of totaling 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns for the season. The number of running backs to do that in NFL history? Nine. And Charles only missed those numbers because Andy Reid chose to rest him against San Diego.
He won’t be MVP because PEYTON MANNING! and QUARTERBACKS! but Charles has had the more valuable season. I know that is a crazy thing to say when Manning just set about every single-season passing record, but when you compare the supporting casts and look at Charles’ numbers, it is hard not to look at him and think he shouldn’t get serious MVP consideration.
And the supporting cast for Charles (and Alex Smith, too) really isn’t very good. Dwayne Bowe is disappears sometimes because he is double or triple-teamed on most passing downs. Avery and McCluster have speed but inconsistent hands. A guy named “Sean McGrath has been our primary tight end this season because of injuries. Backup running back Knile Davis has a lot of potential, but, as you saw a few weeks ago, has fumbling issues that he hasn’t quite figured out yet.
Jamaal Charles is the offense, there are no second options.