It all came down to defense...or lack thereof

[petegz28]

Plain and simple, the defense choked this game. Was not having McGraw THAT big of an issue? Perhaps it was. No pressure all game long. Didn't do shit to stop the run.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Cassel is the reason gasoline is so expensive.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You also aren't going to win many games when your offense goes 3 and out on their first umpteen possessions. How many teams has the defense bailed our offense out when they haven't performed well?

The defense is responsible for this loss. But you can't go down by 14 points and then go 3 and out. And while the Chiefs were down 21 points, I believe that if you score a TD on that drive turning the game to 21-7, the defense walks onto the field with a different mentality that "hey, maybe if we hold these guys, our offense can bring us back to within a TD." Instead, he took a sack that took them out of field goal range. The possession after that, he fumbles the ball in scoring range. Cassel was brutally bad in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th possessions of the game. You can't just throw your hands up and give up when you're down a few scores. We'll never win a playoff game with that mentality.

And the reason the Chiefs offense couldn't keep pace was primarily the fault of the lack of a running game.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You also aren't going to win many games when your offense goes 3 and out on their first umpteen possessions. How many teams has the defense bailed our offense out when they haven't performed well?

The defense is responsible for this loss. But you can't go down by 14 points and then go 3 and out. And while the Chiefs were down 21 points, I believe that if you score a TD on that drive turning the game to 21-7, the defense walks onto the field with a different mentality that "hey, maybe if we hold these guys, our offense can bring us back to within a TD." Instead, he took a sack that took them out of field goal range. The possession after that, he fumbles the ball in scoring range. Cassel was brutally bad in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th possessions of the game. You can't just throw your hands up and give up when you're down a few scores. We'll never win a playoff game with that mentality.

Teams can and have overcome slow offensive starts many a time. They do not overcome surrendering 4 straight TD's to open a game on the road.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

And the reason the Chiefs offense couldn't keep pace was primarily the fault of the lack of a running game.

When your running game isn't working, it's on the QB to make plays in the passing game.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by PGM

Teams can and have overcome slow offensive starts many a time. They do not overcome surrendering 4 straight TD's to open a game on the road.

It becomes more and more difficult to overcome slow starts game after game, after game.


The Chiefs have been notoriously slow starters in the last season and a half.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

And the reason the Chiefs offense couldn't keep pace was primarily the fault of the lack of a running game.

Because it's a given that our passing game is sub-par.

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

And the reason the Chiefs offense couldn't keep pace was primarily the fault of the lack of a running game.

Opponent will focus on stopping the run from here on out and dare Cassel to do anything about it. The last half of the season could be ugly.

[MahiMike]

Totally agree w/this. It was 21-0 before Cassel could get warmed up.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by PGM

Teams can and have overcome slow offensive starts many a time. They do not overcome surrendering 4 straight TD's to open a game on the road.

And that's not on the offense to break up those 4 TDs? When an offense is red hot, it's the job of the other offense to cool them down. Keep them off the field. And let the defense know they have their back. Instead, the Chiefs went 3 and out on the second drive. In the third drive, they wasted an opportunity to put points on the board because Cassel held on to the ball for an eternity.

The defense is responsible for the loss. But again, Cassel is the guy who put the game out of reach by not making plays on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th drives.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by milkman

It becomes more and more difficult to overcome slow starts game after game, after game.


The Chiefs have been notoriously slow starters in the last season and a half.

We are going to have to come out and start throwing successfully early in the game on those 9 man fronts to get the defense honest.

Teams are stacking the box and it has been discussed by Haley. I wouldn't be surprised to see some early play action or something like that Sunday.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

We are going to have to come out and start throwing successfully early in the game on those 9 man fronts to get the defense honest.

Teams are stacking the box and it has been discussed by Haley. I wouldn't be surprised to see some early play action or something like that Sunday.

If the passing game isn't effective early, it won't matter.

Cassel hasn't proven that he can be effective under pressure or when the defense expects him to pass.

This game could be much tougher than people are expecting, especially if you look at the past four Chiefs games.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

And that's not on the offense to break up those 4 TDs? When an offense is red hot, it's the job of the other offense to cool them down. Keep them off the field. And let the defense know they have their back. Instead, the Chiefs went 3 and out on the second drive. In the third drive, they wasted an opportunity to put points on the board because Cassel held on to the ball for an eternity.

The defense is responsible for the loss. But again, Cassel is the guy who put the game out of reach by not making plays on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th drives.

Cool them down? Denver was better prepared, coached, and played with more passion. At least on Sunday they were. I love the Chiefs coaching staff and think McD is a fool, but that game was over before it started.