CHIEFS RIPPED IN DENVER, WELCOME BACK TO SQUARE ONE
After all the ugliness we witnessed in Oakland last week, I had some real concerns about the Denver game. Actually, the overtime win against the Bills started the ball rolling, Kansas City should have lost that game. For those of you who cracked on me for my 7-9 prediction for the 2010 season, now you know why I had reservations.
Long time readers know my biggest complaint about the Chiefs for over two years has always been an inconsistent pass rush. Against Denver there were no sacks, no knockdowns, no real pressure on Bronco quarterback Kyle Orton all afternoon. We also caught a glimpse of last year's miserable safety play. Kendrick Lewis & Jon McGraw were both inactive because of injury. That pressed Donald Washington & "fresh off the practice squad" Rickey Price, into service. Both were exploited by Orton, who along with his receivers, looked like Peyton Manning & company on a good day. Does anyone recall week 17 last season when Kansas City whipped the Broncos 44-24? Does anyone remember Brandon Carr's nightmare day with Jabbar Gaffney? The day he had 14-catches for 213-yards? Part of that was zero help over the top from the safeties, part of it was excellent scouting, knowing what patterns Carr has difficulty covering. See anymore of that in this game?
The Broncos also gashed the Chiefs' defense on the ground, for the third game in a row, K.C.'s opponent rushed for over 100-yards & averaged over 4-yards a carry. Denver came into this game losers of 4-straight, didn't look like it did it? The Bronco defense gave up 59-points to the Raiders just two weeks ago yet Kansas City couldn't score a point for the first 28 1/2 minutes.
Yeah, let's examine the sparkling effort of the Chiefs' running juggernaut of an offense. It totaled 51-yards, five one. Of course every time the Broncos had the ball, they scored & the larger the margin became, the less relevant the running game was. Brian Waters suffered a groin injury chasing Jason Hunter as he rambled 75-yards with a Matt Cassel fumble. The fumble that was created by a complete whiff on LB Mario Haggan by RT Barry Richardson & Cassel's total lack of awareness in the pocket. Richardson sat out the remainder of the game on the bench, replaced by Ryan O'Callaghan, Waters was unable to return. Their inability to punch it in with a 1st & goal is ridiculous, I'm going to need an explanation as to why the NFL's best rushing team can't get one stinkin' yard on 4 downs.
Could someone please explain to Matt Cassel that when he is flushed from the pocket it's legal to throw the ball away, he doesn't need to take a sack, or sacks. He failed in this area, cost them 8-yards & then Ryan Succop was forced into a 52-yard field attempt instead of trying it from the 44. Another rather annoying trait he's exhibited is his reluctance to get plays off on time inside the 10-yardline. Twice yesterday he took a delay of game penalty, especially maddening considering the score at the time. Snap the ball already!
Dewayne Bowe had a career day with 13 catches good for 186-yards & 2 touchdowns, he played extremely well. I don't know that I've ever said that before, Bowe never really had the game to receive such compliments, it's like he's beginning to get it.
It was good to know Jake O'Connell got to play yesterday, I know he played because for the third game in a row he was called for holding. For a guy who is seldom in the game, he gets his name called regularly. Our new tight end, Tony Moeaki made a nice 34-yard catch & run & then he was used mostly as a blocker on passing downs. Then he appeared to get injured on the onside kick attempt.
Don't be fooled by Cassel's 469-yard passing performance, the Broncos played a lot of prevent defense after halftime. It allows completions, but it's meant to make the offense earn their points slowly. When you're down by 35, there's little hope unless you're the 1993 Buffalo Bills or the 2010 Kansas Jayhawks. Comebacks from deficits like this just don't happen.
Next week, the Arizona Cardinals come to Arrowhead. They were crushed at home by Seattle 36-18, surrendering 5 sacks & 5 QB hits. The Cards had 41-yards rushing in the game. They're coming to K.C. losing 4 straight, just like the Broncos. In all six of their defeats, their opponents had their highest scoring game of the season. What I'm saying is if the Chiefs don't rebound in a big way, don't look for anything to get better. San Diego & Oakland had a great day & they didn't even play. The AFC West became a much tighter division & Kansas City's window of opportunity is nearly closed shut.
The game will become the answer to a couple of trivia questions. Who did Tim Tebow throw his first NFL completion against? Who did Tim Tebow throw his first touchdown pass against? Sadly, the answer to both is Kansas City.
Joe Amen of The Denver Post
One more thing to talk about was Todd Haley's reaction to Josh McDaniels after the game, he refused to shake his hand instead, waggling his finger at him. I have no idea what he said & Haley would only say it was a "private matter" between the coaches. McDaniels didn't address the subject in his post game press conference. I think we're seeing some of the 2009 version of Todd Haley, which can't be good. If he was upset the Broncos continued to throw the ball in the second half, then stop them, end of story. Don't whine about how those mean 'ole Broncos won't quit scoring on your team. When they come to town in three weeks, beat the tar out of 'em, but don't act like a baby when you don't get your way. I think this has a lot to do with Pioli & Weis more than Haley, McDaniels might feel like he was left out when it came to choosing a head coach & coordinators in Kansas City. Whatever it is, Haley looked like a spoiled child. Let's not see anymore of it either.
Long time readers know my biggest complaint about the Chiefs for over two years has always been an inconsistent pass rush. Against Denver there were no sacks, no knockdowns, no real pressure on Bronco quarterback Kyle Orton all afternoon. We also caught a glimpse of last year's miserable safety play. Kendrick Lewis & Jon McGraw were both inactive because of injury. That pressed Donald Washington & "fresh off the practice squad" Rickey Price, into service. Both were exploited by Orton, who along with his receivers, looked like Peyton Manning & company on a good day. Does anyone recall week 17 last season when Kansas City whipped the Broncos 44-24? Does anyone remember Brandon Carr's nightmare day with Jabbar Gaffney? The day he had 14-catches for 213-yards? Part of that was zero help over the top from the safeties, part of it was excellent scouting, knowing what patterns Carr has difficulty covering. See anymore of that in this game?
The Broncos also gashed the Chiefs' defense on the ground, for the third game in a row, K.C.'s opponent rushed for over 100-yards & averaged over 4-yards a carry. Denver came into this game losers of 4-straight, didn't look like it did it? The Bronco defense gave up 59-points to the Raiders just two weeks ago yet Kansas City couldn't score a point for the first 28 1/2 minutes.
Yeah, let's examine the sparkling effort of the Chiefs' running juggernaut of an offense. It totaled 51-yards, five one. Of course every time the Broncos had the ball, they scored & the larger the margin became, the less relevant the running game was. Brian Waters suffered a groin injury chasing Jason Hunter as he rambled 75-yards with a Matt Cassel fumble. The fumble that was created by a complete whiff on LB Mario Haggan by RT Barry Richardson & Cassel's total lack of awareness in the pocket. Richardson sat out the remainder of the game on the bench, replaced by Ryan O'Callaghan, Waters was unable to return. Their inability to punch it in with a 1st & goal is ridiculous, I'm going to need an explanation as to why the NFL's best rushing team can't get one stinkin' yard on 4 downs.
Could someone please explain to Matt Cassel that when he is flushed from the pocket it's legal to throw the ball away, he doesn't need to take a sack, or sacks. He failed in this area, cost them 8-yards & then Ryan Succop was forced into a 52-yard field attempt instead of trying it from the 44. Another rather annoying trait he's exhibited is his reluctance to get plays off on time inside the 10-yardline. Twice yesterday he took a delay of game penalty, especially maddening considering the score at the time. Snap the ball already!
Dewayne Bowe had a career day with 13 catches good for 186-yards & 2 touchdowns, he played extremely well. I don't know that I've ever said that before, Bowe never really had the game to receive such compliments, it's like he's beginning to get it.
It was good to know Jake O'Connell got to play yesterday, I know he played because for the third game in a row he was called for holding. For a guy who is seldom in the game, he gets his name called regularly. Our new tight end, Tony Moeaki made a nice 34-yard catch & run & then he was used mostly as a blocker on passing downs. Then he appeared to get injured on the onside kick attempt.
Don't be fooled by Cassel's 469-yard passing performance, the Broncos played a lot of prevent defense after halftime. It allows completions, but it's meant to make the offense earn their points slowly. When you're down by 35, there's little hope unless you're the 1993 Buffalo Bills or the 2010 Kansas Jayhawks. Comebacks from deficits like this just don't happen.
Next week, the Arizona Cardinals come to Arrowhead. They were crushed at home by Seattle 36-18, surrendering 5 sacks & 5 QB hits. The Cards had 41-yards rushing in the game. They're coming to K.C. losing 4 straight, just like the Broncos. In all six of their defeats, their opponents had their highest scoring game of the season. What I'm saying is if the Chiefs don't rebound in a big way, don't look for anything to get better. San Diego & Oakland had a great day & they didn't even play. The AFC West became a much tighter division & Kansas City's window of opportunity is nearly closed shut.
The game will become the answer to a couple of trivia questions. Who did Tim Tebow throw his first NFL completion against? Who did Tim Tebow throw his first touchdown pass against? Sadly, the answer to both is Kansas City.
Joe Amen of The Denver Post
One more thing to talk about was Todd Haley's reaction to Josh McDaniels after the game, he refused to shake his hand instead, waggling his finger at him. I have no idea what he said & Haley would only say it was a "private matter" between the coaches. McDaniels didn't address the subject in his post game press conference. I think we're seeing some of the 2009 version of Todd Haley, which can't be good. If he was upset the Broncos continued to throw the ball in the second half, then stop them, end of story. Don't whine about how those mean 'ole Broncos won't quit scoring on your team. When they come to town in three weeks, beat the tar out of 'em, but don't act like a baby when you don't get your way. I think this has a lot to do with Pioli & Weis more than Haley, McDaniels might feel like he was left out when it came to choosing a head coach & coordinators in Kansas City. Whatever it is, Haley looked like a spoiled child. Let's not see anymore of it either.
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