Can This Group Become A Team? … Game-Day Cup O’Chiefs

Nostalgia will drip heavy Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Some of the greatest players in the history of the franchise will be around the building, including members of the 1969 Chiefs Super Bowl team who are celebrating their 40th anniversary season. They will be honored during the pre-game coin toss and at half-time.

They will notice quite a change in atmosphere around the franchise as the ‘09 Chiefs host the Dallas Cowboys for a noon kickoff. The TV broadcast is on the FOX Network.

Since last season’s Alumni Day, the Chiefs have become the NFL team that loses most often. Right now the number stands at 27 of the last 29 games, winning only two games in that span. They’ve now lost 14 of their last 15 and they currently have an eight-game losing streak.

No Chiefs group in the history of the franchise has experienced this type of losing. The 1977-78 Chiefs lost 24 of 30 games. No other clubs wearing the red and gold have experienced the type of losing that’s gone on since midway through the 2007 season.

You’ll notice I called them a group, because they most certainly are not a team. Some players addressed that situation after last Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants. Because of all the changes that have come down in the last nine months there is no question that one of the problems this team has is a lack of togetherness.

This is visible at the stadium if you watch the Chiefs sideline. Lately, it’s been a very quiet place. When the offense or defense comes off the field, they head to one end of the bench area or the other, grab a Gatorade, listen to a coach and then sit. There is no emotion, there’s little in the way of communication back and forth. Watch QB Matt Cassel and what he does on the bench when the defense is on the field. After looking at the polaroids and talking with backup Brodie Croyle and usually Haley, does he sit on the bench, or does he get up and go talk to his offensive line? Does he converse with the wide receivers? Is he talking to Larry Johnson or any of the other backs? So far, the answer is not usually.

That’s what made the fumble by Jamaal Charles on the opening kickoff last week against the Giants so devastating. This was the first play in a game that would have almost 150 snaps. As big a turnover as that was, it should not have decided the game.

But it did. The Chiefs sideline never recovered. They were shell-shocked.

Next time at the stadium, or even on television, watch when Cassel gets sacked. Do any of his teammates hurry over to help him off the ground? Do any of the other offensive players patrol the area around where the quarterback went down, making sure the defensive guys don’t give a little something extra as they get off Cassel’s prone body? So far that hasn’t happened.

It’s not because these players don’t care about their teammates. It’s not that they don’t care about winning. Right now, this team is wound too tight. They are afraid of making a mistake. They are constantly analyzing themselves and the last play. They are not moving on to get ready for the next play.

Right now, most of this team is drowning in football quicksand. They are thinking and not reacting. They are thinking and not having any fun. They are caught in a paralysis of analysis.

Haley and his staff see this. They’ve talked about it, talked about ways to push out this deer in the headlights look and develop a steely eyed character of determination and confidence.

It brings us full circle to the chicken and the egg question when it comes to football. Does a group of players have to win to become a team? Or do they have to be a team to win?

The ‘09 Chiefs have neither a team nor a victory. If they get a chance before the game, or at half-time, they should spend a few moments talking with the legends that will be among them on this Alumni Day. Pick their brains, take their advice and ask them questions.

Right now the current Chiefs need all the help they can get.

UPDATING THE COWBOYS FOR SUNDAY’S GAME

Wade Phillips, his staff and players flew Air Jerry into Kansas City on Saturday, but they left back home in Big D a couple of important players: RB Felix Jones, WR Roy Williams (left) and SS Gerald Sensabaugh. All three will not play because of injuries. With Jones it’s a knee, Williams has bruised ribs and Sensabaugh has a thumb injury that required surgery early last week.

That’s very good news for the Chiefs because both Jones and Williams are home run hitters in that Dallas offense and Sensabaugh is the starting strong safety.

On Saturday, the Cowboys also promoted RB Chauncey Washington from their practice squad and released OL Duke Preston.

Miles Austin will make his first NFL start replacing Williams in the Dallas opening offense, with Pat Watkins replacing Sensabaugh in the starting defense.

SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE

• BENGALS – just three days after the death of his wife, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer traveled with the team to Baltimore where they will play on Sunday. No cause of death has been made public for the 50-year old Vikki Zimmer
• BUCCANEERS – released DE Maurice Evans; activated S Tanard Jackson from suspended list.
• COWBOYS – promoted RB Chauncey Washington from the practice squad; released OL Duke Preston.
• LIONS – expected to rest injured QB Matt Stafford on Sunday against the Steelers, with Daunte Culpepper getting the start.
• REDSKINS – released DE Renaldo Wynn; promoted P Glenn Pakulak from the practice squad.
• SEAHAWKS – promoted OT Kyle Williams from the practice squad; released DL Michael Bennett; QB Matt Hasselbeck is expected to start on Sunday against Jacksonville as he recovers from a rib injury.
• STEELERS – S Troy Polamalu is not expected to play on Sunday against Detroit as he recovers from a knee injury.

FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY

On October 11, 1964, the Chiefs lost to the Broncos 33-27 at Bears Stadium in Denver. At one point, the Chiefs trailed by 20 points in the fourth quarter, but they scored a pair of late TDs to make it respectable. QB Len Dawson threw three TD passes, with a pair to WR Chris Burford for 14 and 21 yards and 33 yards to TE Fred Arbanas. Dawson also threw three interceptions in the game and the Chiefs also lost a fumble. K Tommy Brooker hit a pair of FGs from 37 and 48 yards. Burford finished with five catches for 108 yards and Arbanas had five catches for 103 yards. LB Bobby Bell blocked a PAT and also had an interception. Denver QB Jacky Lee threw three TD passes and WR Lionel Taylor had nine catches for 90 yards and two TDs.

On October 11, 1970, the Chiefs beat the Boston Patriots 23-10 in front of 50,698 fans at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs defense had a huge day, holding the Patriots to 105 total offensive yards and just one fourth quarter touchdown. Kansas City picked off six passes from Boston quarterbacks Mike Taliaferro and Joe Kapp. Both CB Jim Marsalis and S Jim Kearney had two picks each, with S Johnny Robinson and LB Bobby Bell adding the others. Bell also had a sack, as did DE Jerry Mays. RB Robert Holmes had a pair of TD runs.

On October 11, 1981, the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders 27-0 in front of 76,543 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. It was a memorable afternoon for the Chiefs defense. They held the Raiders to 79 rushing yards and Oakland, 230 total yards and they were shutout for the third game in a row, something that had not happened in the NFL since 1943. It was also the first start for rookie RB Joe Delaney, who ran 28 times for 106 yards and caught three passes for 104 yards. KC touchdowns were scored on a four-yard run by FB Billy Jackson and a pair of QB Bill Kenney TD passes to WR Henry Marshall (four yards) and WR J.T. Smith (nine yards). CB Eric Harris, LB Whitney Paul and S Gary Barbaro all had interceptions for the Chiefs defense.

On October 11, 1987, the Chiefs replacement team lost to the Dolphins replacement team 42-0 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. It was a memorable game for two reasons: it was the second week of replacement football during the ‘87 players strike and it was the first regular-season game in Joe Robbie. On a rainy afternoon, the Chiefs saw two fumbles returned for TDs by the Dolphins, while the offense had just 132 total yards. Starting QB Matt Stevens was knocked out of the game with a separated shoulder and backup Alex Espinoza suffered a concussion. The third quarterback was Stein Koss, who was the team’s starter at TE. But he was out of the game with bruised ribs. Stevens had to return to the game and in the second half did nothing but handoff the ball.

On October 11, 1992, the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-17 at Arrowhead Stadium. It was a big afternoon for QB Dave Krieg, as he threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was WR Willie Davis, who caught five passes for 167 yards and a 74-yard touchdown catch. WR J.J. Birden caught TD passes of 24 and 43 yards. The Chiefs defense had six sacks, with three by LB Derrick Thomas and two from DE Neil Smith. CBs Albert Lewis and Dale Carter had INTs.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …

Born on October 11, 1962 in Dayton, Ohio was S Martin Bayless. He joined the Chiefs in 1992 after eight seasons in the league with the Cardinals, Bills and Chargers. Bayless played four seasons in two different stints with the Chiefs (1992-93, 1995-96), appearing in 59 games with 28 starts. He had three sacks and three I interceptions with the KC defense. Bayless played a total of 13 NFL seasons with 12 interceptions and 11.5 sacks.