49ers GET THEIR PANTS PULLED DOWN AT ARROWHEAD
Yeah, that's what it was, a really embarrassing whipping at the hands of the "new look" Chiefs in their remodeled Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs pulled their pants down in public. Other than a slow start by Matt Cassel, 4 for 10 & an interception & a missed 38-yard field goal by Ryan Succop, I can't say anything remotely bad about Kansas City's performance on Sunday. I can't say anything positive to you 49er fans, your team was outplayed, out-hustled & definitely out-coached. Frisco didn't have an answer on either side of the ball for anything Kansas City was calling.
If this game was the model of Todd Haley's vision of a "balanced running attack" I'm totally on board. Jamaal Charles had 97 yards on 12 carries & Thomas Jones carried 19 times for 95 yards & a touchdown. The Chiefs totaled 200 yards on the ground against one of the league's stingiest run defenses.
The passing game began to click in the second quarter. The Chiefs constantly got big YAC(yards after catch) by throwing the ball outside the hash marks to their speed guys & letting them work their magic. Dexter McCluster caught an 8-yard pass & turned it into a 31-yard touchdown. He caught three for 69 yards. Jamaal Charles snagged three for 57 yards. Dwayne Bowe made a 16-yard reception & then in the 3rd quarter, was on the receiving end of a 45-yard touchdown pass from Cassel, who caught a pitchout from McCluster who had taken a handoff from Jones in the wildcat formation. "Trickeration" worked to perfection.
Haley took chances, after the McCluster touchdown, the Chiefs tried an onside kick, which they recovered, but all for naught, Eric Berry was offsides. He went for a 4th & 1 at their 49-yardline in the 1st half, which they converted out of the wildcat formation. The offensive game Haley & offensive coordinator Charlie Weis called was brilliant. The confidence they both showed in their troops was rewarded with their best performance in years. It's nice to "go for" things because you want to take advantage of something your opponent is giving you, not because you're behind & you have to take chances.
Now let's talk defense, a defense that held San Francisco to 251 total yards. A defense that truly stuffed the run to the tune of 43 total yards on 16 carries. Frank Gore was held to 16 yards on 8 carries in the first half. Let's talk 5 sacks. Tamba Hali recorded three of them plus two other tackles for loss. Jovan Belcher led the Chiefs with 10 tackles & Shaun Smith, subbing for Tyson Jackson, got 7 of his own. Hali & Smith wore out Niners 1st round draft pick Anthony Davis. He claimed Smith "was grabbing his genitalia." That's two claims against Smith in two weeks. He was never flagged for any infractions but Davis wasn't so lucky. He got two false start penalties & a personal foul for punching Smith for allegedly grabbing his junk.He was beaten for two sacks as well.
The defense also recorded 6 total tackles for loss & 9 other hits on Niner QB Alex Smith, who looked out of synch all day long. The only touchdown they could manage came on the game's last play & it might have been costly, WR Josh Morgan appeared to have injured his knee on the play. I wondered aloud if Mike Singletary kept calling his timeouts, when they were down 31-3, to punish his team.
Anyone who watched San Francisco's inspired effort on Monday night against New Orleans would be hard pressed to understand what happened on Sunday. I think a lot of it was the Chiefs, Haley & Weis called the game with a little swagger, they gambled & won. Romeo Crennell's defense played with great intensity & purpose. They look nothing like the defense we've watched for the past decade, even tho many of the players are the same. The schemes are fresh & his gang has bought in completely. Like I said in my preview, look for the Chiefs to spread the Niners out & use their speed advantage. Well that's what happened, Kansas City has two very dangerous guys on offense, which should loosen up the WR's & the rookie tight end, Tony Moeaki. I couldn't give a proper wrap up without including the sensational one-handed grab for a touchdown by Moeaki. If this kid can stay healthy, we might have another great tight end in the making.
Please, let's not get ahead of ourselves, the Chiefs haven't won the division, they haven't locked up a wildcard spot three weeks into the season. Do they have a shot at either, honestly they do, especially after watching the Chargers self-destruct for the 2nd time in three games. Their special teams have given up 3 return touchdowns already. I said before the season I thought the Chiefs would win 7 games, possibly 8. Remember, nearly every team in the league will win a game that will surprise you as well as lose one or two that will shock or surprise. Let's wait & see how they come out of the bye week health-wise. Trips to Indianapolis & Houston follow the bye. Win one of those games & they might very well be a playoff team.
Sure was fun to relive an Arrowhead Chiefs' Sunday like we saw many times during the 90's. Maybe they have turned the corner, I sincerely hope so, I'd love for my doubts about this team to be proven wrong.
If this game was the model of Todd Haley's vision of a "balanced running attack" I'm totally on board. Jamaal Charles had 97 yards on 12 carries & Thomas Jones carried 19 times for 95 yards & a touchdown. The Chiefs totaled 200 yards on the ground against one of the league's stingiest run defenses.
The passing game began to click in the second quarter. The Chiefs constantly got big YAC(yards after catch) by throwing the ball outside the hash marks to their speed guys & letting them work their magic. Dexter McCluster caught an 8-yard pass & turned it into a 31-yard touchdown. He caught three for 69 yards. Jamaal Charles snagged three for 57 yards. Dwayne Bowe made a 16-yard reception & then in the 3rd quarter, was on the receiving end of a 45-yard touchdown pass from Cassel, who caught a pitchout from McCluster who had taken a handoff from Jones in the wildcat formation. "Trickeration" worked to perfection.
Haley took chances, after the McCluster touchdown, the Chiefs tried an onside kick, which they recovered, but all for naught, Eric Berry was offsides. He went for a 4th & 1 at their 49-yardline in the 1st half, which they converted out of the wildcat formation. The offensive game Haley & offensive coordinator Charlie Weis called was brilliant. The confidence they both showed in their troops was rewarded with their best performance in years. It's nice to "go for" things because you want to take advantage of something your opponent is giving you, not because you're behind & you have to take chances.
Now let's talk defense, a defense that held San Francisco to 251 total yards. A defense that truly stuffed the run to the tune of 43 total yards on 16 carries. Frank Gore was held to 16 yards on 8 carries in the first half. Let's talk 5 sacks. Tamba Hali recorded three of them plus two other tackles for loss. Jovan Belcher led the Chiefs with 10 tackles & Shaun Smith, subbing for Tyson Jackson, got 7 of his own. Hali & Smith wore out Niners 1st round draft pick Anthony Davis. He claimed Smith "was grabbing his genitalia." That's two claims against Smith in two weeks. He was never flagged for any infractions but Davis wasn't so lucky. He got two false start penalties & a personal foul for punching Smith for allegedly grabbing his junk.He was beaten for two sacks as well.
The defense also recorded 6 total tackles for loss & 9 other hits on Niner QB Alex Smith, who looked out of synch all day long. The only touchdown they could manage came on the game's last play & it might have been costly, WR Josh Morgan appeared to have injured his knee on the play. I wondered aloud if Mike Singletary kept calling his timeouts, when they were down 31-3, to punish his team.
Anyone who watched San Francisco's inspired effort on Monday night against New Orleans would be hard pressed to understand what happened on Sunday. I think a lot of it was the Chiefs, Haley & Weis called the game with a little swagger, they gambled & won. Romeo Crennell's defense played with great intensity & purpose. They look nothing like the defense we've watched for the past decade, even tho many of the players are the same. The schemes are fresh & his gang has bought in completely. Like I said in my preview, look for the Chiefs to spread the Niners out & use their speed advantage. Well that's what happened, Kansas City has two very dangerous guys on offense, which should loosen up the WR's & the rookie tight end, Tony Moeaki. I couldn't give a proper wrap up without including the sensational one-handed grab for a touchdown by Moeaki. If this kid can stay healthy, we might have another great tight end in the making.
Please, let's not get ahead of ourselves, the Chiefs haven't won the division, they haven't locked up a wildcard spot three weeks into the season. Do they have a shot at either, honestly they do, especially after watching the Chargers self-destruct for the 2nd time in three games. Their special teams have given up 3 return touchdowns already. I said before the season I thought the Chiefs would win 7 games, possibly 8. Remember, nearly every team in the league will win a game that will surprise you as well as lose one or two that will shock or surprise. Let's wait & see how they come out of the bye week health-wise. Trips to Indianapolis & Houston follow the bye. Win one of those games & they might very well be a playoff team.
Sure was fun to relive an Arrowhead Chiefs' Sunday like we saw many times during the 90's. Maybe they have turned the corner, I sincerely hope so, I'd love for my doubts about this team to be proven wrong.
Comments