Sunday, December 26, 2010

Home Sweet Home

Charlie Riedel/AP Photo




















Several words could describe this game: ugly, penalized, at times questionable, frustrating, one-sided. Usually you don't see 'one-sided' followed by the rest of those words and it mean a win for the team you're rooting for, but today it did.

The Chiefs offense was so explosive in the first half and the Chiefs defense so overwhelming throughout the game that the game wasn't even close. After scoring 31 points in the first half, and the defense holding Tennessee to just 7, all Kansas City had to do was just score 3 points in the second half to ensure victory. The Chiefs defense held the Titans to just another 7 points in the second half. The final score was 34-14.

Just how good was our offense? 458 total yards; Cassel was 24-34 (his first 8 pass attempts were completed) for 314 yards (his second highest total of the season) and 3 touchdowns, 128.8 qb rating; 152 total rushing yards; Dwayne Bowe with 153 yards and 1 touchdown; 9-18 on third down conversions (with most of those failed conversions coming in the second half with a sizable lead). We scored 24 points from our first four possessions to start the game. The start of this game reminded me of our first game this season against the Broncos and how fast they started. This time, it was the Chiefs that got off on a lightning fast pace.

This was a Titans defense that was determined to stop the run of the Chiefs. According to ESPN stats and information, the Titans had loaded the box 98 of its opponents attempts this season, second most in the NFL. This was a team that was prepared to live or die by Cassel's arm. And died they did on a 70.6% completion rate by Cassel.

Just how good was the defense? They held an opponent to 20 points or less for the ninth time this season; they held the fourth leading rusher in the NFL, Chris Johnson, to 58 yards; they intercepted Kerry Collins twice (three times but Kendrick Lewis's was negated by a questionable roughing the passer penalty); and to top it off, held the Titans to only 270 total yards.

Now, with such dominating stats, why would I use the words 'frustrating' and 'questionable.' 

The thing I found most frustrating was the penalties. The Chiefs had 7 penalties for 84 yards. A lot of these yards came from unnecessary roughness calls. We got suckered into the Titans way of playing it seemed, and many good plays were wiped away by those yellow flags. 

Another thing I found frustrating was Thomas Jones's fumbles. One near our own goal line which we recovered, and then one down in the red zone late in the 4th (even though it would have been reversed if we had any time outs left to challenge). If this had been a close game, those fumbles might have sank us. Jones is a veteran running back and should not be making those sort of mistakes (even though the game wasn't close on his second fumble, I am greedy and would have liked to see us score again).

And as far as 'questionable' is concerned, I think we all know where I'm going with this. Why did we put in Croyle before the end of the third quarter. He was in there for one possession, threw the interception, and then was replaced by Cassel. Why take out Cassel in the first place? The camera's showed him upset and talking to coach Haley on the sidelines during his short stint on the sideline. Did Haley want to see how Cassel responed? On one of his best games of the season? I'm just glad they brought Cassel back in.

Now, that sort of wraps up my post game analysis, but before it's over, how about Arrowhead? We just went   7-0 at Arrowhead and finish the season there next week against the Raiders whom we just eliminated from the playoffs today. We are 10-5 on the season, our highest win total since 2005, and we are one win away from an AFC West championship. Big victory today.

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