LAST SUNDAY WAS ALMOST TOLERABLE, TODAY WAS NOT
I thought the endless negative campaign ads were the worst thing currently on television. I was wrong, watching the 4th quarter of the Chiefs game this afternoon was really painful. Yes, there were plenty of positives one could take from the 35-31 last-minute defeat in Houston's Reliant Stadium, but seeing the Chiefs' defense implode in the 4th quarter was painful. After holding four consecutive opponents under 20-points, watching the Texans shred Kansas City's defense was something many of us weren't expecting. Surrendering three 4th quarter TD's doomed the Chiefs to a 3-2 start this season.
Sadly, the Texans' winning touchdown drive was greatly aided by a phantom pass interference penalty on cornerback Brandon Flowers. He was in fact, pushed by WR Andre Johnson, Flowers never laid a hand on him while the ball was in the air. Johnson caught the pass inbounds, but if anyone was going to be penalized on this play, it certainly wasn't Flowers. The call should have gone against Houston, creating a 46-yard swing in field position. It was a huge break for the Texans.
The lack of any pass rush was obvious all day long, Tamba Hali was totally stymied. This has been an issue for three years & still remains near the top of the "To Do List" for next season. Matt Schaub's winning touchdown pass was a perfect example, 9-seconds to throw the ball. Even the best secondary can't blanket every receiver that long.
The play call on third & two with under 3-minutes left was puzzling. The Chiefs had run the ball for a staggering 228-yards up to that moment, but Charlie Weis called a pass instead. it should be noted Thomas Jones ran for 100-yards on 19-carries, Jamaal Charles totaled 93-yards on only 8 carries & Dexter McCluster chipped in with 28 on just 2 carries. Throwing that incomplete pass also stopped the clock, something the Chiefs didn't need at that point in the game.
Matt Cassel threw with more success today, but he also missed two wide-open receivers in their last possession. Cassel wasn't sacked until the last play of the game, he didn't throw an interception, he didn't fumble, he threw 3 touchdown passes & had a passer rating of 123.9, his highest as a Chiefs' starting QB. As last season wound down, I thought Cassel would be better this year. Until today, I wasn't confident he was ever going to get any better. I see signs of improvement, but missing two very open receivers in crunch time was very disappointing.
Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe began his comeback tour in Houston catching 6 passes for 108-yards & two scores. He's a long way from being all the way back, his history has shown erratic results, Dropping a go-ahead touchdown pass one week & then catching everything thrown his way today is what I'm talking about. Chris Chambers couldn't play because of a ring-finger injury sustained on Thursday. There wasn't sufficient backup for Chambers.
The offensive line, with the exception of right tackle Barry Richardson, played well. Richardson is good one play, beaten the next. Let's hope Ryan O'Callaghan is back tomorrow. I bitched about Charlie Weis' playcalling on 3rd & 2, but calling the pass to Mike Vrabel, long a staple of the New England Patriots, was brilliant on 4th & goal as were the running plays on third & long yardage. Vrabel has 10-lifetime receptions, everyone of them for touchdowns.
I guess what bothered me more than anything was I thought they had control of this game midway thru the third quarter only to see Houston run wild in the 4th Qtr. I got that feeling again in the pit of my stomach. The feeling I've gotten many times before from a defense that is dissolving right before our eyes when it counts, in the fourth quarter. Maybe this defense is still a long way from being elite, definitely more so from a talent standpoint than a scheme that has little chance of success. They're on the right track, but faster, quicker, smarter & meaner is needed to take Romeo Crennel's defense to where it needs to be.
Thanks to the rest of the underpowered AFC West, the Chiefs can still win this division. It has to start next week against Jacksonville & continue on versus Buffalo, Oakland & Denver, winning three of these four is essential. I think they can do it, but please.......no more 4th quarter implosions.
Sadly, the Texans' winning touchdown drive was greatly aided by a phantom pass interference penalty on cornerback Brandon Flowers. He was in fact, pushed by WR Andre Johnson, Flowers never laid a hand on him while the ball was in the air. Johnson caught the pass inbounds, but if anyone was going to be penalized on this play, it certainly wasn't Flowers. The call should have gone against Houston, creating a 46-yard swing in field position. It was a huge break for the Texans.
The lack of any pass rush was obvious all day long, Tamba Hali was totally stymied. This has been an issue for three years & still remains near the top of the "To Do List" for next season. Matt Schaub's winning touchdown pass was a perfect example, 9-seconds to throw the ball. Even the best secondary can't blanket every receiver that long.
The play call on third & two with under 3-minutes left was puzzling. The Chiefs had run the ball for a staggering 228-yards up to that moment, but Charlie Weis called a pass instead. it should be noted Thomas Jones ran for 100-yards on 19-carries, Jamaal Charles totaled 93-yards on only 8 carries & Dexter McCluster chipped in with 28 on just 2 carries. Throwing that incomplete pass also stopped the clock, something the Chiefs didn't need at that point in the game.
Matt Cassel threw with more success today, but he also missed two wide-open receivers in their last possession. Cassel wasn't sacked until the last play of the game, he didn't throw an interception, he didn't fumble, he threw 3 touchdown passes & had a passer rating of 123.9, his highest as a Chiefs' starting QB. As last season wound down, I thought Cassel would be better this year. Until today, I wasn't confident he was ever going to get any better. I see signs of improvement, but missing two very open receivers in crunch time was very disappointing.
Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe began his comeback tour in Houston catching 6 passes for 108-yards & two scores. He's a long way from being all the way back, his history has shown erratic results, Dropping a go-ahead touchdown pass one week & then catching everything thrown his way today is what I'm talking about. Chris Chambers couldn't play because of a ring-finger injury sustained on Thursday. There wasn't sufficient backup for Chambers.
The offensive line, with the exception of right tackle Barry Richardson, played well. Richardson is good one play, beaten the next. Let's hope Ryan O'Callaghan is back tomorrow. I bitched about Charlie Weis' playcalling on 3rd & 2, but calling the pass to Mike Vrabel, long a staple of the New England Patriots, was brilliant on 4th & goal as were the running plays on third & long yardage. Vrabel has 10-lifetime receptions, everyone of them for touchdowns.
I guess what bothered me more than anything was I thought they had control of this game midway thru the third quarter only to see Houston run wild in the 4th Qtr. I got that feeling again in the pit of my stomach. The feeling I've gotten many times before from a defense that is dissolving right before our eyes when it counts, in the fourth quarter. Maybe this defense is still a long way from being elite, definitely more so from a talent standpoint than a scheme that has little chance of success. They're on the right track, but faster, quicker, smarter & meaner is needed to take Romeo Crennel's defense to where it needs to be.
Thanks to the rest of the underpowered AFC West, the Chiefs can still win this division. It has to start next week against Jacksonville & continue on versus Buffalo, Oakland & Denver, winning three of these four is essential. I think they can do it, but please.......no more 4th quarter implosions.
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