tk13
11-15-2004, 02:06 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/10182849.htm
Fingers point to everyone
JASON WHITLOCK
NEW ORLEANS When it was over, in the moments following Kansas City's incomprehensible and virtually impossible-to-recover-from collapse against the New Orleans Saints, the Chiefs didn't point any fingers of blame.
How could they?
There were far too many targets and not nearly enough fingers.
Losing 27-20 to the Saints, blowing a 10-point lead, drawing 12 penalties, turning nearly 500 yards of offense into just two touchdowns and bowing out of reasonable playoff contention took a total team effort.
Sunday's meltdown was just the culmination of a travesty that was forecast in February, when the Chiefs' brass decided last year's Chiefs should be retained for the 2004 season.
With Kansas City's season on the line, the receiver the Chiefs knew they needed to get rid of, Johnnie Morton, fumbled and caused an interception by falling down. The safeties the Chiefs handed new contracts Jerome Woods and Greg Wesley got roasted by Joe Horn late in the game and were whistled for three penalties. The defense the Chiefs' brass chose not to improve gave up 27 points and nearly 7 yards per play in just 24 minutes of action. And with Priest Holmes KC's ATM (automatic touchdown machine) sitting on the sideline in street clothes, the Chiefs' offense sputtered in the red zone.
There's no reason to point fingers. The Chiefs aren't a playoff-quality football team.
The big picture doesn't look so good, said defensive end Vonnie Holliday. From here on out, every game is a playoff game.
Playoff hopes might be over, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil acknowledged after his team fell to 3-6. That's the reality. We just keep dropping further out of the picture.
The fall began long ago. It's just that no one expected the Chiefs to hit rock bottom in the Big Easy. The Saints, 4-5, are a bad football team, led by a coach, Jim Haslett, who is on the verge of getting fired. The Saints field the league's worst defense. They're quarterbacked by a guy, Aaron Brooks, who has the leadership attributes of a wide receiver.
The Saints desperately wanted to play dead on Sunday. They're not on a playoff drive or a save-Haslett campaign.
Judging by New Orleans' stupid offensive play-calling why did Deuce McAllister carry the ball only 16 times? I'm not sure Haslett wants to save his job.
The Chiefs had to work hard to find a way to lose Sunday's game. They jumped ahead 10-0 in the first quarter. But they should have been up by three touchdowns after the first quarter. Morton blew one drive, fumbling at the New Orleans 15. On Kansas City's next possession, the Chiefs settled for a field goal after running six plays from inside the Saints' 6.
The Chiefs botched their opportunity to bury the Saints. Kansas City's defense rattled Brooks early. Gunther Cunningham's unit blitzed repeatedly, and Brooks couldn't recognize where to throw the football. When the quarter ended with the Chiefs up only a touchdown and a field goal, you could sense that the first 15 minutes would come back to haunt them.
Kansas City began to self-destruct in the second quarter. Three KC penalties sparked New Orleans' first touchdown drive. Two KC penalties sabotaged the Chiefs' ensuing offensive possession. Wesley drew a flag on the Saints' next TD drive.
The Chiefs were sloppy. By halftime, they'd been flagged 10 times and they trailed 14-13. Kansas City's self-destruction continued after the break. Quarterback Trent Green threw a laser at Morton's chest. Morton fell down, and the ball spiraled into the arms of New Orleans defensive back Mike McKenzie.
With the score knotted at 20-20 on the play after Kansas City's defense had to waste a timeout because it had only 10 players on the field Joe Horn split Wesley and Woods for the 42-yard decisive touchdown. Woods appeared to jump on an underneath route and react slowly to Horn's deep seam.
I should've been over there to help Greg out, Woods said. I'm a veteran. I was just late. I take the blame for it. When they went to that three-receiver set and we brought pressure, I didn't think he'd have time to throw the deep post. Every other time we brought pressure like that, (Brooks) threw quick.
The Chiefs got the ball back with plenty of time (more than 5 minutes). But the drive fell apart deep in New Orleans territory when Darren Howard beat John Welbourn and pressured Green, forcing a high pass to running back Derrick Blaylock that was tipped and then intercepted.
Had the Chiefs not blown their first timeout of the half, they would have received the ball once more with enough time on the clock to score. They could have prolonged the inevitable. They could have made us wait one more week before writing them off.
Fingers point to everyone
JASON WHITLOCK
NEW ORLEANS When it was over, in the moments following Kansas City's incomprehensible and virtually impossible-to-recover-from collapse against the New Orleans Saints, the Chiefs didn't point any fingers of blame.
How could they?
There were far too many targets and not nearly enough fingers.
Losing 27-20 to the Saints, blowing a 10-point lead, drawing 12 penalties, turning nearly 500 yards of offense into just two touchdowns and bowing out of reasonable playoff contention took a total team effort.
Sunday's meltdown was just the culmination of a travesty that was forecast in February, when the Chiefs' brass decided last year's Chiefs should be retained for the 2004 season.
With Kansas City's season on the line, the receiver the Chiefs knew they needed to get rid of, Johnnie Morton, fumbled and caused an interception by falling down. The safeties the Chiefs handed new contracts Jerome Woods and Greg Wesley got roasted by Joe Horn late in the game and were whistled for three penalties. The defense the Chiefs' brass chose not to improve gave up 27 points and nearly 7 yards per play in just 24 minutes of action. And with Priest Holmes KC's ATM (automatic touchdown machine) sitting on the sideline in street clothes, the Chiefs' offense sputtered in the red zone.
There's no reason to point fingers. The Chiefs aren't a playoff-quality football team.
The big picture doesn't look so good, said defensive end Vonnie Holliday. From here on out, every game is a playoff game.
Playoff hopes might be over, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil acknowledged after his team fell to 3-6. That's the reality. We just keep dropping further out of the picture.
The fall began long ago. It's just that no one expected the Chiefs to hit rock bottom in the Big Easy. The Saints, 4-5, are a bad football team, led by a coach, Jim Haslett, who is on the verge of getting fired. The Saints field the league's worst defense. They're quarterbacked by a guy, Aaron Brooks, who has the leadership attributes of a wide receiver.
The Saints desperately wanted to play dead on Sunday. They're not on a playoff drive or a save-Haslett campaign.
Judging by New Orleans' stupid offensive play-calling why did Deuce McAllister carry the ball only 16 times? I'm not sure Haslett wants to save his job.
The Chiefs had to work hard to find a way to lose Sunday's game. They jumped ahead 10-0 in the first quarter. But they should have been up by three touchdowns after the first quarter. Morton blew one drive, fumbling at the New Orleans 15. On Kansas City's next possession, the Chiefs settled for a field goal after running six plays from inside the Saints' 6.
The Chiefs botched their opportunity to bury the Saints. Kansas City's defense rattled Brooks early. Gunther Cunningham's unit blitzed repeatedly, and Brooks couldn't recognize where to throw the football. When the quarter ended with the Chiefs up only a touchdown and a field goal, you could sense that the first 15 minutes would come back to haunt them.
Kansas City began to self-destruct in the second quarter. Three KC penalties sparked New Orleans' first touchdown drive. Two KC penalties sabotaged the Chiefs' ensuing offensive possession. Wesley drew a flag on the Saints' next TD drive.
The Chiefs were sloppy. By halftime, they'd been flagged 10 times and they trailed 14-13. Kansas City's self-destruction continued after the break. Quarterback Trent Green threw a laser at Morton's chest. Morton fell down, and the ball spiraled into the arms of New Orleans defensive back Mike McKenzie.
With the score knotted at 20-20 on the play after Kansas City's defense had to waste a timeout because it had only 10 players on the field Joe Horn split Wesley and Woods for the 42-yard decisive touchdown. Woods appeared to jump on an underneath route and react slowly to Horn's deep seam.
I should've been over there to help Greg out, Woods said. I'm a veteran. I was just late. I take the blame for it. When they went to that three-receiver set and we brought pressure, I didn't think he'd have time to throw the deep post. Every other time we brought pressure like that, (Brooks) threw quick.
The Chiefs got the ball back with plenty of time (more than 5 minutes). But the drive fell apart deep in New Orleans territory when Darren Howard beat John Welbourn and pressured Green, forcing a high pass to running back Derrick Blaylock that was tipped and then intercepted.
Had the Chiefs not blown their first timeout of the half, they would have received the ball once more with enough time on the clock to score. They could have prolonged the inevitable. They could have made us wait one more week before writing them off.