Chiefs Get Blasted By Chargers, 37-7
From Arrowhead Stadium
On an ugly October afternoon, the Chiefs played an ugly brand of football. Offense, defense and special teams all contributed to a 37-7 pasting from the San Diego Chargers.
By the time this one was over, the fans left in the Arrowhead stands could be counted by sight as a steady rain fell and the Chiefs bumbled about to their sixth loss of the 2009 season.
The rebuilding process is often very ugly, but the one thing that makes it possible to survive the troubled times are signs of progress. For the announced paid attendance of 69,337 that showed up on Sunday, there was nothing good visible.
“Disappointed, mad, a little bit of a letdown because we won a tough game last week on the road,” said head coach Todd Haley. “We had as good a week of practice as we had. It was the best Friday (practice) of the year and we were excited to get to the game.
“We got our butts kicked across the board.”
This was a major step backwards for Todd Haley and his team. It was easily their worst performance of the season to date, and there have been some bad ones in seven games this season.
In the 50-season history of games between these two franchises that were born the same year and have lived together in the AFC West since 1960, no San Diego team has ever administered a beating as bad as the one that went down on this Sunday. And, those 30 points could have easily been 40, because the Chargers wasted chances for another touchdown and field goal.
“This was unexpected,” said OLB Mike Vrabel. “I can’t explain it.”
This type of outcome can happen when a team jumps to a 14-0 lead, and then makes it 20-0 at half-time and a team that already has a razor thin margin of error, now has to climb a mountain just to get back into the game.
“You can’t expect to win when you spot the other team 14 points,” said RB Larry Johnson. “It just makes things too hard.”
The Chiefs had 203 offensive yards, with just 82 net passing yards. QB Matt Cassel threw three interceptions and third down conversions were again a problem. Defensively, the Chiefs gave up 403 yards as QB Philip Rivers picked them apart with three touchdown passes. Had San Diego not gotten the lead and if the rain had not come in the second half, they might have scored 50-plus points before they were done.
“Big plays, little plays, we gave up all of them,” said Vrabel.
The big players were everywhere for the Chargers, as they had p lays of 58, 51, 51 and 36 yards. The Chiefs longest play was a mere 24 yards.
The first half was just a disaster for the Chiefs, as they were unable to move the ball on offense, they were torched by the Chargers offense for big plays and touchdowns and the special teams produced no big plays to help out.
When a punt by Dustin Colquitt took one bounce and went into the end zone, the Chargers began their second possession at their own 20-yard line. Rivers moved them 80 yards in 10 plays, helped along by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call against ILB Corey Mays.
Rivers hit WR Malcom Floyd for a three-yard TD pass on third and goal, as Floyd got inside on coverage by CB Brandon Carr. The PAT kick from Nate Kaeding gave San Diego a lead they would never relinquish or even share, 7-0.
The Chiefs struggled along on their next offensive possession, and that’s where Haley made his decision to go for a first down facing a fourth-and-one at his own 41-yard line. Cassel couldn’t gain an inch on his QB sneak and the Chargers took over in great field position.
“It’s just a QB sneak,” Haley said. “We thought we had the look we wanted and we didn’t get it. We’ve got to be better at sneaking it, or it is a bad call.”
In this case it was both: poor sneak and a bad call. It took eight plays to move the 41 yards, as Rivers hooked up with Jackson for a 10-yard TD pass. Rivers ran a bootleg left and had all day to stand back there and throw the ball. Jackson eventually got away from CB Brandon Flowers in the end zone. Kaeding’s PAT kick made it 14-0.
The KC offense had 11 plays in the first quarter and six of those went for no gain or minus yardage, producing just 18 yards and never moving further than their own 47-yard line.
San Diego got the ball back for the final play of the quarter and then began the second period with another scoring drive. Rivers took them all the way to the Chiefs 1-yard line, where the Chargers had 1st-and-goal. But the Chiefs defense shut down Tomlinson twice, as he lost a yard. Turner ended up settling for a 20-yard Kaeding FG and it was 17-0 and there was still 9 minutes, 49 seconds to play in the first half.
The Chiefs defense finally stiffened a little bit and then the offense finally put together a drive. Starting at their own 33-yard line with 3:07 to play, Cassel got them inside San Diego territory for the first time in the game. But they got stalled near the Chargers 25-yard and then Haley got caught between wanting to go for it on fourth-and-two, and taking what would be a 43-yard FG.
Timeout was called; the Chiefs went for a FG and rookie K Ryan Succop was wide right by about a foot. But that timeout allowed the Chargers to have 1:07 to play and the miss gave them the ball at their own 25-yard line.
Rivers drove them some 45 yards in six plays, including a 21-yard run by RB Darren Sproles. Kaeding kicked a 39-yard FG and with one second left, in the half, they led 20-0 at intermission.
At the start of the game, the Chiefs had won the opening coin toss and so they got the first possession of the second half. In the only productive possession of the game, the Chiefs went no-huddle and Cassel took his team 65 yards in 10 plays, before hitting WR Dwayne Bowe with a seven-yard TD pass on a fourth-and-one play.
That made the score 20-7 and for the briefest of moments, momentum was with the Chiefs.
“We got some rhythm going there early in the second half and then we kind of piddled out a little bit,” said Cassel.
But it was the Chiefs defense that couldn’t hold serve, as Rivers hooked up with RB Darren Sproles for a 58-yard touchdown play. Sproles was wide open in the right flat, caught the ball at the 50-yard line and then raced to the end zone. Along the way, he made S Jon McGraw look like he was ice skating as McGraw was the only man with a chance to tackle him. The PAT kick put the difference back to 20 points and for all intent the game was over.
Cassel threw three interceptions that stopped the Chiefs next three offensive possessions. San Diego added another FG from Kaeding, this one from 19 yards.
When Cassel did not throw it to the other team, the Chiefs couldn’t move the ball anyway and Colquitt came in to punt. San Diego RB Jacob Hester came off the right side of the protection, blocked the punt within milliseconds of the ball coming off Colquitt’s foot. The blocked punt then rolled into the end zone, where Hester fell on it for a touchdown. The PAT made the score 37-7.
The Chiefs have the next weekend off, so that now two weeks to consider this performance and outcome. In a sad season, it’s the worst outcome that could have happened on Sunday.
“You’d love to go into the bye week with smiles, but unfortunately we’re not and that’s part of being a professional,” said Cassel. “It’s going in and figuring out what we’re doing wrong and make those corrections.”
Two weeks may not be enough time for the Chiefs to correct all the things they are doing wrong.
Bob missed a “telling” Haley quote. He actually stated he wanted a couple more “Longs” on this team. Long may be a nice kid but who in his right mind would want 3 of him on a team? Off week coming but we may not have hit bottom yet, I just do not see anything out of Haley, except for getting rid of any herm leftover. If I am wrong, please, tell me something that is better on this team since Pioli/Haley has taken over.
@#$%^&* &^%$##$ %^&%#@# $%^ &^&^%$ #%^ &*^ %$#@!#. $%^$#@! #$%^%#$ @%^^ ^^^^ ^^&*^ %$@#, #%@#$% %^$ #@%^ &@#$%!@ #$%#@# . $##$% @#^% $^$@ ^#$ %$@&# $^# @&%#^@#&% $$^#@. ^%#$ ^%$#&^ %^% $#%$% $! @# $@$#@% ^#$%^$; @#@# $!#$! @^#$$!#%$@$ ^!# ^#$% ^$#%$@ . #%^$@%$!@^%$ #^@ #%$# @% $@%^#$#$^@^% $@ @#@%$! %$@%^$@ %$#! @%$#@& ^%$ &*%$%$@#%#$!!!!! @%^# $&$ @#%$#!@ %@# %$!@#%$ !@% $!#@^%$# . %^$#@%! @## $%$#%^$#%# %%!% ^#^#^ $%% #$!$@ %^#$^#, %$@^&#% ^#$%%@ $#^&# ^%@%$ @^!^&@^# ^@%^!@%^!
Have I made myself clear.
Now with all that having been said, make the loud POP and get it together. It is very obvious that smart football can not be played; yet. So go out there, rip their f***’n heads off, and SH*T down their necks. You have two weeks to respond.
GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!
I started out the game optimistic. I thought maybe the Chiefs turned the corner last week and would start playing more consistent on offense. Boy was I wrong! It is true that Cassel is not getting much help from his team at times, but it is also true that he is not helping his team at times. Those two late game interceptions were all on him, and he wasn’t even close to his receivers. He holds the ball to long on some plays; leading to sacks that make his o-line look worse than they already are. Worst of all, he does not seem to be getting better at running the offense. I could understand if this was week 2 or 3, but this is week 7 and you’re still playing like $*&t. If he has not demonstrated progress in running the offense after the bye week, the team needs to make a change!
On the defensive side of the ball, the team needs a true defensive coordinator. Pendergast was not good in Arizona, and he will not be good in KC. He has never demonstrated the ability to be a good D-coordinator. Furthermore, the team needs to play the best players they have, and stop punishing players for being part of the previous regime. I firmly believe that D. Johnson should be a starting LB, and were was Page?
Finding the “right” 53 has to be about finding the guys that give you the best chance to win, not the guys who you are more familiar with, and come from your former teams. This team is regressing and that is the fault of the current GM and staff. If this is how it’s going to be I would have preferred it if they left the former regime in place. Even though we didn’t win a lot of games last year, at least we were competative. We havn’t been very competative this year, and as of now I see no reason to think we’ll get there.
At least Long was able to hold onto the ball. Even with getting the knocked into looney land on that one hit that removed him from the game. Still had the ball. Would be nice if some of our other receivers could do that.
No unity on this team. Waters was just standing around before the play was calle dead.
I guess when Haley took over he said he could take 22 guys off the street and win 3 games. Good luck! Because that is what they are doing taking guys off the street and putting them in the lineup the next game. What a joke!! If we are going to have amatuers off the street that are starting why do we have to pay NFL prices for this product?
I disagree with us being competitive Buffalo Jay. We weren’t oompetitive against the Eagles and Chargers. Just like last yr the doors got blew off against the Raiders,Falcons, and Titans. So its too early to say that.
As for the game. Nothing to be said other than Haley needs to be fired as the play caller. I don’t think Pendergrast has been doing bad. The defense tackles much better compared to last year and they’re playing with alot more spunk. Its the offense thats holding us back. Too many 3 and outs. Seriously if this keeps up it will be the worst offense in Chiefs history. Just like the defense from 2008 was the worst in Chiefs history.
I love Haley as a head coach, but as a play caller he stinks. He’s not taking this team strength and maximizing it on offense. Clearly we don’t have elite receivers heck we don’t even have good ones except for Bowe. He’s got to find ways to get Charles and Salvage more involved in the passing game. Both guys got speed and can make big plays. Johnson still running hard but that o-line just can’t blcok consistently play in and play out. Bottom line Haley needs to get this offense going. Going 3 and out is demoralizing for your defense. Cassell misssed some throws out there so he needs to improve, but Haley has to get Cassell to get the ball out quicker. Shorter routes for the receiver some screens to running backs something other than what he’s doing now.
Haley/Pioli are cornballs! They think that by not announcing or placing players inactice 1 day before a game will confuse opponents. REALITY CHECK!!!! No1 cares Haley, the other coachs believe they will out coach u hands down. I get it now the “right 53″ means hopefully u get lucky and draft a couple of HOF so it appears that u knew what u are doing. Cassel was a huge reach for a second pick,Jackson was even worse and then u release a guy who showed flashes for a practice squad guy who takes his first hit and recieves a concussion. Hey, Haley u can switch 2 whatever defense u want but u need a creative D-coor. 2 make things work dummy! Wow and I wont start with Mcgraw starting over Page unbelievable…….If u are able 2 watch the game over, look at Haleys face during the game he looked like a deer in headlights. I guess it was b/c he couldnt find any1 2 scream at b/c his golden boy at qb was 2 busy over throwing WR’s……..U fans wanted Herm gone…well he is….now I guess Herms players are the reason why we cant win….but soon Haley will get rid of those players and bring in talented players via draft position and still lose b/c he’s not able 2 coach them up. Oh and forget about Brodie, he will NEVER play. The last thing Pioli wants is a QB controversy that would completely expose his incompetence.
In response to ED, I would just say there is more to being competative than the score. You mentioned all the 3 and outs. Even in our close games we were terrible in moving the ball. If we cannot move the ball, we cannot be competative!
I’m not going to go back and forth with you. We were competitive against Dallas, Ravens, Raiders, and even Giants we fought back. The offense did play well in all those games I mentioned. ITs just been two games we really weren’t. As for Alex the Great calling Haley out I disagree. Parcells could be coaching this team himself and couldn’t win. I don’t like Haley’s play calling most of the time but as a head coach he’s doing ok.
I mean I do think this year’s team is better than last year for sure. ITs just we don’t have any talent. When you’re losing its easy for us fans to bash the head coach thats fair but lets not go overboard like we actually have good enough talent against good teams because we don’t. Our offensive line lacks talent. So do receivers and we can definately use another OLB that can rush pasher.
WOW WHAT A DISSSSSSSASTERRRRRR…MAN I SAID LAST WEEK WIN WAS A GIVEN NOW….ITS THE BLAME GAME…THOSE GUYS ARENT PLAYING FOR HALEY THEY COULD CARE LESS HE CAN CUT AS MANY AS HE LIKE …THERE NOT GONNA PLAY FOR HIM IM TIRED OF COACHES SAYING HE DONT FIT MY SYSTEM…. WELL IF PIMPS SAID THAT TO HOES THEY KNOCK THEY WOULDNT GET A DIME …A GOOD PIMP CAN SCHOOL A SCHOOL GIRL TO BE A BONAFIDE HOE…BECAUSE HE CAN COACHEM AND MAKE THEM BELIVE…THEY ARE ALL SUPERSTARRS A SORRY PIMP CANT KEEP A HOE CAUSE HIS GAME IS WEAK…SO DR DETROIT HALEY ..YOU JUST BLEW 53..AND THEY AINT FUKKEN WITH YA TAKE YA WEAK AS GAME ANY WHERE BUT LEAVE KC…IF YA STAY FOR 3 YRS IT WILL BE THE SAME THANG EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSES
I’ve been reading all the comments. One thing sticks out to me.
All you guys that are calling for Cassel’s head? What game were you watching? This team is a mess from top to bottom. What part about the Chief’s performance makes you think that one player is going to make a difference in this team? Take any player, from any team…past or present, and you think that ONE player is going to make a difference? Isn’t going to happen. But Brodie Croyle is going to be that “difference maker”? Be serious.
Totally agree MADCHIEF, there were alot of half ass efforts out there today including the coach. He just doesnt seem like he can put together a good game plan. Maybe the reason Page and Johnson arent playing is because they know what Haley wants them to do wont work, so Haley plays the inferior player that does what he wants!
Derrick Thomas would make a difference!
Alexthe”GREAT” says:
“Derrick Thomas would make a difference!”
Yes, he probably would make “a difference”. But, he wouldn’t make THE difference. DT played on good teams. What we have now would need a HUGE upgrade to even approach below average.
How would you or us know Mad ????? Have you seen Brodie play since he all most won the Ravens game ???? Lets see same OF/OLine/RB/DF/coaches in that game (ravens).Cassel is tough no doubt Great Players make things happen AHAHAHAH …..like the play to Charles…..now that was a great throw there.Please….. he maybe be a one year wonder …..with a a great team around him.He has… Not Shown Anything SO Far ……0… zeppo ….nothing ….. 1 win that didn’t include a TD!!! Yes what a great QB ….Now he may become one….. But to sit there now …and state he is ….is pure folly. PnS
right on annonymous we dont know how good or bad brodie is we never got a chance to see him play really except against the ravens where he never threw a pic or fumbled the ball made a brilliant deep pass to mark bradley on the ravens defense and ed reed and almost won the freakn game for us. but we have seen cassels ability to over throw thos deep passes and throw 3 picks in 5 throws win a game without a td pass brodie sounds more impresseive in that 1 game than cassel has in any of his game the guys just an expensive back up qb and its a shame brodie wont play cause of pioli politics
PnS,
You should go back and watch that Ravens game again. Croyle did not play all that well. Seriously.
And once again…yes, Cassel had a good year last year with a “great team around him.” Ummm…do you NOT see what’s missing for him this year???
And just for the record, I never said that Cassel was a “great QB”. All I’ve ever said is that he’s the best QB on the Chiefs roster. And crappy game or not…he still is.
You guys crack me up. You call Cassel a “career back-up”…but claim Brodie Croyle is “da man”. LMAO!
No Mad I don’t say Brodie is the man . I say after the games that I have watch …….He Deserves A Chance To Play . To prove its not the QB that’s stinking up the game .I think Cassel is ….SO to shut us fans that say what would it hurt…..another lose…. we got plenty of them. I feel he should get a chance …….That’s All PnS
The biggest problem in putting Brodie Croyle behind this offensive line, would only be getting him injured before the game is over. The best play I saw was the quick slant on forth down where it went incomplete, but we got a defensive pass interference call. We need more quick slants to get the ball out quickly. The receivers really need to concentrate on catching anything thrown near them. Seemed the Chargers were catching most all the passes and we were dropping most of them. I believe Haley needs the WR’s and QB’s to see extra time before and after practice to try to catch passes just thrown near them like a poster stated about Tony G. earlier this week. Plus players need to be taught to always have your head in the game regardless of where the play is going. Just seemed like a half hearted effort by the whole team this weekend, which really sucks!
Merwin So What…. Brodie is the backup QB we have nothing to lose right .Just …..Just maybe Brodie brings a spark to this offensive offense….if its for a half ….1 game…. Who Cares.Plus we can always put the 63mil man back in .Brodie well be gone when his contract is up anyway. PnS
I would have had no problem with putting Croyle in after the second pick by Cassel. Fact remains the game was over when they went for it on forth down at our own 44 yard line, try to run a QB sneak behind a patchwork line straight up the gut, dumb! Lets face it folks, it’s tough to win at home when you have the longest active home losing streak (now at 10 games).
Some of the defenders need to understand that you’ve got to do it every play. Getting it right on most of the snaps doesn’t cut it. There is no excuse for Sproles being as wide open as he was on the TD.
Hey, great news, Bob…You’re site has been hacked and a virus launcher has been installed here.
Visited your site for the first time in several days and now I keep getting a viral pop up attacking my Firefox…
And your site is one of the four sites I visited today. All sports related, looking for LJ Thugson commentary.
Nice webhosting you got.
mad chief says “And once again…yes, Cassel had a good year last year with a “great team around him.” Ummm…do you NOT see what’s missing for him this year???”
Um exactly the point is Cassel is junk not worth 100,000… If you watched the games from last year you could see that thigpen was the better QB. He had the same lineup that is there now, except for dumbass pioli/haley and trading away the best TE in the NFL who happens to block alot better then anything they have brought here, and Thigpen had leads last year into the 4th quarter that unfortunately the defense dropped. The only the lead the chiefs had this year was in the Oakland game, not a good team…
Brodie had a 116 QB rating in that Baltimore game whats the best QB rating Cassel has had so far? He blows and he blows Hard!!
Well it should be an early season exit for the chiefs so I wonder how much time that will leave Haley to get out on the course and get his swing back??