CHIEFS PLAY BEST GAME OF THE YEAR
I've been tough on the Chiefs this season, justifiably so I believe, but I have to give them their due this evening. Going into Denver, where the Chiefs hadn't won since 2000 & smoking a division foe that needed the game for their playoff hopes is impressive. Especially for a very disappointing 3-12 team that had little to play for except for themselves. I told you last night Jamaal Charles had a shot at 1,000 yards if he could run for 139-yards this afternoon. Charles didn't stop at a thousand yards, he got 1,120 with a franchise record breaking total of 259-yards(LJ had the record). Charles also scored 2 touchdowns, one on a 56-yard cutback run that he broke several tackles, maintained his balance & accelerated to the endzone. Considering Charles didn't start until Larry Johnson was suspended, his season total is even more impressive. It is imperative the Chiefs get a bigger back to spell Charles from time to time & carry the load in short yardage, hopefully keeping Charles' total touches under 30.
The other big story in this blowout was LB Derrick Johnson who picked off 2 Kyle Orton passes & returned both for touchdowns, one from 45 yards out, the other a 60-yard return. He also had a 70-yard return on opening day against Baltimore. For a guy Todd Haley has no use for, Johnson made some big plays for the Chiefs, primarily on passing downs. He was thrown on the scrap heap by Haley & it's thought he won't be resigned as a restricted free agent. After watching Knowshon Moreno bust several Corey Mays tackles, I can't see how Johnson goes & Mays would stay.
Once again Chiefs' kickers were superb. Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Succop, was 3 of 3, giving him a rookie year of 25 for 29. The Chiefs have their placekicker. Dustin Colquitt kicked 3 times for a 53.3 average, downing 2 inside the 20-yardline. We always knew we had a fine punter.
Tamba Hali played well again, an impressive feat considering he was mostly matched up with all-pro tackle Ryan Clady. He only had 1 tackle & 1 sack but his effort drew 2 holding calls on Clady. Honestly there should have been 2 more. Glenn Dorsey got the 1st sack of his career. Brandon Flowers also picked one off, giving him 5 for the season. Brandon Carr was just plain awful all day. He gave up about a dozen receptions, got a pass interference penalty,missed an easy tackle in the run game. For as good as his teammates played, Carr was terrible.
Matt Cassel was hot & cold, suffered thru a few more dropped passes,threw an interception but what I was happy with was zero sacks & zero hits on Cassel. That's the line playing their best game of the season & Cassel getting the ball out on time. No sacks & 317-yards rushing, that's quite an improvement.
I have to add that the Chiefs looked so much more into the game & the longer they stayed ahead, the less motivated the Broncos appeared. For a team that needed a win to get into the playoffs(with help) & playing on their home field, their effort had to be very disappointing to those in the Mile-High City.
With all the miserable play Chiefs' fans have had to swallow this season, this is exactly what we needed to get some of that crappy taste out of mouths. Please don't take this win for more than it is, our team still has a very long uphill climb to get back to being playoff competitive. I'll have a position-by-position analysis by mid-week, don't miss it.
The other big story in this blowout was LB Derrick Johnson who picked off 2 Kyle Orton passes & returned both for touchdowns, one from 45 yards out, the other a 60-yard return. He also had a 70-yard return on opening day against Baltimore. For a guy Todd Haley has no use for, Johnson made some big plays for the Chiefs, primarily on passing downs. He was thrown on the scrap heap by Haley & it's thought he won't be resigned as a restricted free agent. After watching Knowshon Moreno bust several Corey Mays tackles, I can't see how Johnson goes & Mays would stay.
Once again Chiefs' kickers were superb. Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Succop, was 3 of 3, giving him a rookie year of 25 for 29. The Chiefs have their placekicker. Dustin Colquitt kicked 3 times for a 53.3 average, downing 2 inside the 20-yardline. We always knew we had a fine punter.
Tamba Hali played well again, an impressive feat considering he was mostly matched up with all-pro tackle Ryan Clady. He only had 1 tackle & 1 sack but his effort drew 2 holding calls on Clady. Honestly there should have been 2 more. Glenn Dorsey got the 1st sack of his career. Brandon Flowers also picked one off, giving him 5 for the season. Brandon Carr was just plain awful all day. He gave up about a dozen receptions, got a pass interference penalty,missed an easy tackle in the run game. For as good as his teammates played, Carr was terrible.
Matt Cassel was hot & cold, suffered thru a few more dropped passes,threw an interception but what I was happy with was zero sacks & zero hits on Cassel. That's the line playing their best game of the season & Cassel getting the ball out on time. No sacks & 317-yards rushing, that's quite an improvement.
I have to add that the Chiefs looked so much more into the game & the longer they stayed ahead, the less motivated the Broncos appeared. For a team that needed a win to get into the playoffs(with help) & playing on their home field, their effort had to be very disappointing to those in the Mile-High City.
With all the miserable play Chiefs' fans have had to swallow this season, this is exactly what we needed to get some of that crappy taste out of mouths. Please don't take this win for more than it is, our team still has a very long uphill climb to get back to being playoff competitive. I'll have a position-by-position analysis by mid-week, don't miss it.
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