Banged Up Chiefs Fall Again, 14-10
From Arrowhead Stadium
The Chiefs needed a victory Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks. It didn’t happen.
They needed to at least see their first units perform with efficiency and productivity. It didn’t happen.
What they didn’t need was to have any players suffer injuries. That didn’t happen either.
QB Matt Cassel, CB Brandon Flowers and WR Devard Darling limped off, the Chiefs defense scored the team’s only touchdown and Todd Haley is now 0-3 as the head coach after Seattle grabbed a 14-10 victory. The Chiefs announced paid attendance as 66, 553.
The Chiefs faithful did not have much to see other than more disappointing and frustrating play from their favorite team. Thankfully, it will go down as one of the shortest games of the year, needing just two hours and 44 minutes.
“Disappointing across the board tonight as a team,” said Haley. “After making some progress in game No. 2, I thought we went backwards tonight. Offensively it was a real struggle out there. Defensively there were some good things and too many breakdowns that cost us. Really disappointing.”
It doesn’t get much worse for fans or the team than seeing the franchise quarterback limp off the field less than two minutes into the game. Cassel was trying to get away from Seattle pass rush pressure on the Chiefs third offensive play when he was grabbed around the legs and pulled down by DT Brandon Mebane.
The injury was to Cassel’s left leg, but Haley would not talk about details involving any of his injured players afterwards.
“All injured guys are being evaluated and I don’t have any real information on those guys I know you want to talk about,” said Haley. “We’ll talk about them at a later date.”
Cassel got up limping but went into the huddle and called the next play after he was pulled down by Mebane. The offense went to the line of scrimmage and Cassel walked to behind center, but turned to the official and called for a timeout. He then limped off the field under his own power, but was immediately taken underneath the Arrowhead stands. Cassel disappeared down the 50-yard line tunnel and was not seen again.
Tyler Thigpen came in to replace Cassel, but the drive stalled and Dustin Colquitt booted his punt of the game.
Flowers turned the early tide in another direction for the Chiefs. All during the week, the second-year corner was outstanding in practice, knocking down four balls in Thursday’s workout alone. He said afterwards he needed to start getting two hands on the ball, meaning it was time for him to grab some interceptions.
He wasted no time Saturday night. On the Seahawks second offensive play, Hasselbeck’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by DE Tyson Jackson. Although the tip did not do much to change the trajectory of the football, Flowers was right there to grab the ball. He then made a nice 28-yard run down the sidelines barreling through Hasselbeck at the goal line for the score.
When it came to the end zone, that’s all the Chiefs got as the offense continued its ineffective and non-productive ways.
If you wanted the best example of offensive ugly with the Chiefs, it came late in the first half. The Chiefs got the ball back at their 13-yard line with 2:31 left in the period. Three plays later, they had lost three yards and after Dustin Colquitt punted the ball away, there was still 2:07 in the half. Thigpen’s first pass to Darling was dropped in traffic; that’s the play where Darling suffered a left leg injury and had to be helped from the field. The second play was a pass wide left to WR Bobby Engram that ended up being a three-yard loss. The third down play was a screen left to Charles, but Thigpen’s throw was short and landed in the turf.
Three plays and a punt, minus three yards in offense and just 24 seconds came off the clock.
Colquitt got off a 55-yard punt, but CB Ricardo Colclough missed a tackle on returner Justin Forsett, who broke loose for a 17-yard return and set up the Seahawks offense at the Kansas City 48-yard line with 2:07 to play.
Hasselbeck used the next 71 seconds to move his team that 48 yards, hitting four of his five passes, including the last one, an eight-yard TD throw to WR T.J. Housmandzadeh who beat Colclough for the score. Mare made his first kick of the game with the PAT and the score was tied 7-7.
Thigpen did fight back and give the Chiefs a chance to score before the end of the half, moving the offense 39 yards on four plays. Seattle CB Ken Lucas was called for pass interference on a nine-yard penalty and then Thigpen and Bowe hooked up on a 20-yard play.
With nine seconds remaining in the half, Succop came on and attempted a 53-yard FG. His kick was high and long and right down the middle, but it only traveled 52 ½ yards, banging off the cross bar and falling into the end zone for his second missed FG of the game.
In that first half, Flowers left the game in the possession right after his touchdown with what appeared to be a left shoulder injury. Darling was helped off the field in the second quarter with a left leg injury.
Seattle wasn’t hurting as they came out of the half-time locker room. Hasselbeck led his offense on a 74-yard drive over nine plays that ended up with a 28-yard touchdown pass to TE John Carlson.
Early in the fourth quarter, Succop added a 35-yard FG to make the score 14-10. But Thigpen and then Matt Gutierrez were not able to get the offense into the end zone for the needed TD to win the game. Gutierrez threw a pair of interceptions late that ended any chance the Chiefs had of scoring.
Overall, the offense gained 260 yards, but as Haley mentioned, they were just one of 10 on third down conversions. The head coach placed the blame for that on his quarterbacks that played.
“When you are one of 10 on third down you are not getting it done at quarterback, there’s just no way,” he said. “If there are breakdowns at other places, it is the quarterback’s responsibility to make the chains. When you are one of 10, there wasn’t much good happening that’s for sure.”
Now, everybody waits to see what the situation is with Cassel and his injury. The quarterback was not in the post-game locker room and even his teammates weren’t sure what was up.
“I don’t know what the situation is at all,” said OT Damion McIntosh. “Hopefully we will find out tomorrow.”
Tomorrow is just another day away. Right now, the Chiefs need an awful lot of tomorrows to be able to work on their offense, with or without their franchise quarterback.
Of course it was the pathetic and totally done Mike Goff’s guy that got Cassell, with Goff standing heplessly over his fallen QB. Goff, Zach, Engram, and McGraw have to go.
this is true. Its pathetic that we cant protect the QB for a few plays…Cassel had to run immediately…its absolutely pathetic, once that happened I just knew succop was due to shank a short one…but 1-6 combined field goals between teams is flat out sad…
nice to see charles show up…and I guess Lawrence had a few nice catches but…
I just hate injuries, as a fan, I know that the chiefs are flat out awful, and it is what it is, but its hard when the guys who provide big plays and excitement keep getting hurt…Flowers picks one to the house and gets hurt…its just…seems cursed.
and credit tyson jackson, he played VERY well, yes there was the time he was lost listening to someone on his team and was 2-3 secs late, but he was reading screens, getting his hands up…he forced one field goal attempt at 4th and 1 by putting his hands up forcing hasselback to wait, then pollard could come up and make a play…
Tyson also had the sack that forced a missed 51 yarder.
And he made a tip on the flowers pick…he looked good, he did get tired
I am encouraged by a FEW things, but mostly its just a bad feeling.
I apreciate Coach not sugar coating tonight! As I was yelling at the TV it made me happy to see coach yelling at his QB’s. Coach I know you are searching for answers…..keep at it!
Spring time in KC, 2009
“I can take ANY 22 guys from off the street and do better than that (2008.)
Press: ‘How will you manage to do it’?
“Let me answer that- via the Patriot Way.”
_________________
Late summer/early Fall KC, 2009
Chiefs fall to 0-3
&
If This is Today Haley’s ”Idea” Of Game Planning Then we are in Big Big Trouble!! No Cassel or Not I Saw No Game Plan or Leadship from the Coaching Staff what so ever!! Haley and the Chiefs Worked on Scouting Reports and Game Planning for the Hawks as it if it would be a Regular Season Game… Looking very Horrible So Far!!
I doubt they did as much game-planning as you think. Besides, they planned to have Cassel in there most of the game. He got hurt. Sh*t happens.
Thigpen did not look good. He may be rattled by the trade rumors. Also, they insist on trying to make him what he is not-a drop back passer. If you play him, you ought to put him in the best position to succeed, and that’s in the spread with a run-pass option on most plays. Doesn’t matter if you like the spread or not; it’s what works with him. Gutierrez, despite the INT’s, looks worthy of keeping and developing.
The play-calling was vanilla. We know Gailey (and Haley)are capable of a lot more than that. For whatever reason, they didn’t put it out there. I’d like more screens and draws, and a few passes to the tightends. Just because Gonzo is gone doesn’t me you should completely ignore the position. Bowe is humming along, and I thought Lawrence and Lelie showed some good stuff. Engram and Toomer are starting to get in the mix. Still think Bradley is the best option for no 2 WR.
Ndukwe and Alleman are definite improvements on the line. Niswanger was average, and has a long way to go. Richardson struggled, but mostly when he was playing LT. Albert and Waters can play much, much better, and that’s critical. W. Smith is always solid. McIntosh was up and down, but not awful. If Ghiaciuc can’t take the job from Niswanger, I might look for a veteran center.
Defense was not too bad. Didn’t seem to blitz as creatively as last week. DL and Linebackers were solid, as were the DB’s, except I wasn’t crazy about the play of Colclough or McGraw. Keep M. Brown and Morgan as reserves at safety, and let McGraw go. He’s not THAT great on special teams. I think Lokey, Studebaker and Belcher have made good cases for themselves. Mcbride seems to be improving at LB.
Kick coverage units are better, but what is up with the returns? The blocking on those needs to improve a lot.
Through 3 preseason games I’ve seen great improvement in some areas, and very little in others. Fits and starts. It still seems like they’re trying to develop an identity on both sides of the ball. Not unexpected with all the new faces, and it could take a while.
I still think the arrow is pointing up for the team, and I’m encouraged and looking forward to the season. I know one thing, though: the team needs a W bad. The next game would be as good a time as any to get one.
Yeah Goff and Richardson are getting the QBs killed out there. I see why Chargers was ok letting him go. This guy is washed up. WE’ll be hitting the waiver wire after the last preseason game looking for a right guard because Golf looks done. Richardson isn’t ready for primetime. So once again we’re looking for a right guard and right tackle.
Haley didn’t say he could do BETTER with 22 guys off the street, he said they could win 2 games. Not better, equal – just saying, get your slander right.
From the play I seen last night we will be lucky to win 2 games this year.
Anonymous said
“Haley didn’t say he could do BETTER with 22 guys off the street, he said they could win 2 games.”
- oh… well isn’t that ’special.’ NO, it is not -shy a short bus mentality his.
“Not better, equal – just saying, get your slander right.”
- Rin has it on better authority than yours via reading the newspaper, that what actually said ‘WAS’ what Rin stated – how do I know this? Shall ne’er tell – value my ability keep wagging my tail at yall too much to go to doggie Heaven.)
Ponder that awhile…
Haley is committed to the Patriots way. I can’t remember Pats running the spread. Gailey and Thiggy deserve credit for giving Chiefs a chance with spread last year, but I don’t see them revisiting it short of an emergency.
Thiggy’s trade value took a hit, but if we can get a 4th rounder we should take it. If Cassel’s injury is not severe, then we have our 3 QBs to run the offense that Haley wants to run. Think about the skill sets of Brady, Warner, etc. Haley came here as an offensive guy. Herm was a defensive guy, so it was much easier for him to turn over the reins of the offense to Gailey and a foriegn scheme.
Big lee – I get the feeling behind this o line we will have no choice, and besides that the pats had to adapt a spread offense last year to suit cassel. Furthermore, Haley is all about adopting whatever scheme best fits his players, he said so in relation to utilizing the run game as opposed to his pass happy reputation, and you can also see this in how the people he looks up to coach ie parcells wildcat in miami
“I don’t know what the situation is at all,” said OT Damion McIntosh. “Hopefully we will find out tomorrow.”
This will sound sour – but it seems obvious and apparent, D-Mac, that you don’t know what the situation is about, nor do your coach or GM who thought they could take over a team an offense that had their #1 QB out for the season, their #1 RB injured for a long time, and their #2 QB out for the season, due to injuries, and NOT UPGRADE THE BLINKIN’ OFFENSIVE LINE! There were players available in the draft – we didn’t take them. There were good players available in FA, we didn’t take them either.
Unfortuantely, they thought they were upgrading the OL with Goff. But he’s worse than done. Like Zach and Engram, if they were signing them for leadership and locker room presence, they should have signed them as Coaches, and gave their spots to younger players. The only interior OL FA worth anything was Jason Brown, and they definitely should have gone after him. I’m encouraged with the 2 younger Miami OL’s. At least they’re learning to stay away from the 35 year olds.
“Unfortuantely, they thought they were upgrading the OL with Goff.”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought Carl Peterson was in charge still. What they did do was trade the face of the team for a 2nd rounder next year. Cassel or no Cassel, if I wasn’t aware of millions being spent to redo Arrowhead stadium, I would have thought they were getting ready to sell the team.