Chiefs buzz | Chambers is healthy scratch

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs buzz | Chambers is healthy scratch

Wide receiver Chris Chambers, a former starter, wasn’t active for the second straight game. Chambers, who has just seven receptions for 76 yards this season, hasn’t had much of an impact and coach Todd Haley appears tired of waiting for him to produce.

Chambers has a sore finger that is heavily wrapped when he practices, but he wasn’t listed on the injury report at the end of last week.

Defensive end Tyson Jackson played for the first time since injuring his knee in the season-opener against San Diego, though he was a backup to Shaun Smith.

The other inactive players for the Chiefs: defensive lineman Atiyyah Ellison, linebackers Charlie Anderson and Justin Cole, defensive backs Jackie Bates and Reshard Langford, fullback Tim Castille and offensive lineman Rudy Niswanger.

In the (red) zone

The Chiefs came into Sunday’s game ranked 23rd in the NFL in red-zone offense, with just six touchdowns in 14 trips inside the 20.

But they were four for four against Jacksonville.

“Being efficient on third down, being efficient in the red zone and scoring touchdowns when you get down there is important,” quarterback Matt Cassel said. “For the most part our offense was able to do that, and that’s always a good day.”

Clutch catches

Cassel found a couple of unlikely targets to pick up some key third downs on the Chiefs’ game-clinching touchdown drive.

With the Chiefs facing third and 8 at their 17, Terrance Copper, playing in place of Chambers, leaped high for a 16-yard grab to move the chains. And on third and 1 at their 42, fullback Mike Cox, in an obvious running formation, slipped out of the backfield and caught a pass for 13 yards, sustaining the drive.

“Terrance didn’t play much offensively but when he did get the opportunity, he made a huge play for us,” Cassel said. “It’s awesome to see. And Mike Cox doesn’t get many balls thrown to him, but he does his job without any complaints, week-in and week-out … .”

‘It’s embarrassing’

Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio’s team has allowed 72 points in its last two games, and he was livid with Sunday’s performance.

“Our defensive performance was embarrassing,” said Del Rio, a former Chiefs linebacker.

“To have (quarterback) Todd Bouman step forward and play the way he did and give our team a chance stepping into a tough situation, to not take advantage of that performance and do more with it, was extremely disappointing.”

Running wild

The Chiefs, who lead the NFL in rushing, got a season-best 236 yards a week after running for 228 at Houston.

“Whenever you can run for 200 yards as a team two weeks in a row says a lot about your team, says a lot about your running backs group, the offensive line and the mentality of the whole (team),” said Thomas Jones, who ran for 125 yards.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BCD

Cassel is not better than Orton.

Well according to the Denver Post Orton is done in Denver.

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

You mean the one that your head coach pined over until it drove your Pro Bowl QB and stud receiver out of town? Go read your thread again. It's just for you.

Based on all the other decisions I've seen from MCD his endorsement of Cassel is not helping his value.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Cassel in Denver would make Orton look like a ****ing Pro Bowler. Utter hilarity ensuing as Teblow was forced to start.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Well according to the Denver Post Orton is done in Denver.

I'm not surprised. They want Jesus. This has nothing to do with Orton's play really though. Denver cant run the ball. A one dimensional offense cannot sustain itself.

[wasi]

Haley addressed Chambers situation last week. The fact that the offense has been able to do what it has without the 2009 version of Chambers is great. It's still a long season and I think Chambers will still show up in game.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...7-25f2cd286d9f

Q: Do you think you’ve gotten the same amount of effort, commitment and focus from WR Chris Chambers this season as when you picked him up last season?

HALEY: “Chris is part of the equation that I was just speaking about. I think that he, like everybody else involved, has continued to be a part of us improving. And that’s not always able to be seen. I talked a little bit yesterday about one of the things where I feel like we’re growing as a team is I’m continuing to see this leadership of our team or the guys with a little more experience than maybe others that are continuing to help and work with these young guys in private settings and Chris is one of those guys. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t see him talking, working. So I think that again, I wouldn’t look at Chris and say production-wise or those things there’s something that’s different. I see something that’s better: he’s improving and he’s a big part and going to continue to be a big part of us going forward and trying to become a good team.”