Babb: Bowe plays big role in Chiefs’ offense

[Tribal Warfare]

Bowe plays big role in Chiefs’ offense
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

Dwayne Bowe turned around, and there was the ball. Tyler Thigpen lofted a fade toward Bowe in the end zone, and Bowe grabbed it.

Touchdown — his second of the game.

Bowe’s value to the Chiefs’ offense increased Sunday when veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez left twice because of a nagging ankle injury. Gonzalez returned both times, but his absence meant the young Thigpen had one fewer weapon, and the remaining ones couldn’t make mistakes.

“You just have to keep going,” Bowe said after Kansas City’s 30-20 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. “Tyler knows where his playmakers are.”

Bowe proved Sunday he is one of the Chiefs’ most dependable playmakers — and even more important, he showed that Kansas City isn’t crippled when Gonzalez is out. Bowe’s two scores were a career high, part of a seven-catch, 53-yard performance that kept the team close to the explosive Saints, who entered Sunday with the NFL’s most potent offense.

Bowe, last year’s first-round pick, said after the loss that he thought his connection with Thigpen had strengthened during the last four weeks. Thigpen has found Bowe for three touchdowns and 256 yards in the month since Thigpen became Kansas City’s full-time starter.

The Chiefs didn’t have much to feel good about after Sunday’s loss, their sixth in a row. But coach Herm Edwards said he was encouraged that the offense didn’t stall with Gonzalez on the sideline. Edwards said it was good for Thigpen and Bowe that they’ve gotten comfortable with each other, and Sunday was the latest example that Bowe can be one of the team’s top options.

“He’s ready for that,” Edwards said.

Bowe said he’s ready for the Chiefs to eliminate mistakes. They didn’t do it often enough Sunday, and it cost them. Yes, Bowe made his own errors against the Saints, dropping a contested pass in the third quarter, and other players had issues. Receiver Mark Bradley had a key drop in the fourth quarter, and running back Larry Johnson had two fumbles, both of which the Chiefs recovered.

Bowe said the Chiefs aren’t good enough to make mistakes and win, particularly against a team such as New Orleans. Kansas City was far from perfect Sunday, and Bowe said that was the reason the team lost yet another game.

“We’re like one play away from winning the game every week,” he said. “Once the guy sees the play (on film) they could have made — that probably would have changed the game — it makes you sick to your stomach. We’ve just got to make those plays.

“One play, we should’ve thrown it back, or should’ve caught it here, should’ve made the block — there’s a lot of should’ves. You can’t play perfect. But in our mind, we’ve got to go out there thinking we’ve got to play perfect.”

[RustShack]

What about Bradley and Gonzo?

[KcMizzou]

In the midst of a pretty dismal season... I think Bowe's shown that he's for real. He's certainly the best Chiefs wide reciever I've ever seen. (Not old enough to remember Otis)

[Red Beans]

Bowe has had a case of the dropsies at some points but I key that up to this being his second year in the league. He's undoubtedly the best wideout I've seen with the Chiefs.

[KCJohnny]

Bradley actually makes Bowe more dangerous. With a legit #2 and the NFL's greatest TE ever, its all about matchups. As Thigpen masters the skill of reading defenses, Bowe will get his number called mo betta.

[ChiefGator]

I didn't get to watch the game, but listened to it. Dawson kept saying none of our receivers have any seperation. Is that a problem with the Bradley/Bowe combo? Do we need to draft a quicker guy, or is Franklin that receiver?