Tribal Warfare
09-11-2011, 04:07 PM
Chiefs suffer worst opening-day loss in team history (http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/11/3135069/chiefs-play-awfully-in-first-half.html)
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
This was supposed to be the gimmie, the soft spot on the Chiefs schedule, the perfect jumping off point for the 2011 season.
Instead, the Chiefs’ 41-7 loss on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium was the worst opening-day loss in the 51-year history of the franchise.
The previous worst-opening day loss was 37-10 at Oakland in 1965. The previous worst-opening day loss at home was 26-10 to San Diego in 1961 when the franchise was located in Dallas.
The Chiefs’ malaise from the preseason and hangover from the way 2010 ended spoiled a glorious afternoon for an announced crowd of 68,755, which emptied out of Arrowhead Stadium early in the fourth quarter.
About the only thing the crowd had to cheer for were the firefighters, police officers and other first responders who were honored in pregame and halftime ceremonies in memory of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Chiefs, who went 0-4 in the preseason, have now lost seven straight dating to the 2010 season, when they hammered in the regular-season finale by Oakland and AFC wild-card game against Baltimore, both at Arrowhead.
And now the Chiefs play their next two and four of the next five on the road, starting next Sunday at Detroit.
Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw four touchdown passes, including two to tight end Scott Chandler for the Bills, who were a last-place team in the AFC East last year.
The Chiefs trailed 20-7 at halftime after running back Jamaal Charles caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cassel with 1:46 left in the half.
The Bills took advantage of two Chiefs turnovers as well as some other shoddy plays and jumped to a 20-0 lead.
The Chiefs’ Dexter McCluster fumbled on the opening kickoff, and the Bills recovered at the Kansas City 26. On the first snap of the game, rookie linebacker Justin Houston was called for pass interference, putting the ball at the Chiefs 23.
Buffalo converted the turnover into a 7-0 lead when Fitzpatrick threaded a 4-yard pass at the goal line to tight end Scott Chander, who wedged between safety Eric Berry and nickel back Javier Arenas.
The Bills made it 14-0 on a 27-yard pass from Fitzpatrick to Stevie Johnson, who made a leaping grab on a corner route in front of Brandon Flowers with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Chiefs appeared to cut the lead in half early in the second quarter when Cassel hit tight end Leonard Pope for 19 yards. But replay review showed Pope did not have full control of the ball as he went out of bounds, and the touchdown was overruled.
Then Cassel was sacked for a 12-yard loss by defensive tackle Kyle Williams, who blew through up the middle. That resulted in a field-goal try, and Ryan Succop was wide right from 49 yards.
Rian Lindell kicked a pair of field goals in the second quarter that gave the Bills a 20-0 lead.
Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles’ fumble at the Kansas City 18 set up the Bills for Lindell’s second field goal, from 38 yards with 5:38 left in the half.
Chiefs coach Todd Haley challenged the ruling that Charles fumbled, but like everything else the Chiefs tried on this day, it failed.
Three observations from the first half of today’s game between the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bills lead 20-7.
1. We all knew, or at least strongly suspected, the Chiefs wasted their training camp and preseason. But the extent is a surprise. Hard to believe they can be this awful against a 4-12 team from last year. Third straight blowout game for the Chiefs at Arrowhead counting last year’s final regular season game against the Raiders and the playoff loss to Baltimore.
2. The passing game looks like it’s the first day of training camp. No rhythm at all until the scoring drive late in the half..
3. The Chiefs may have listed Thomas Jones as their starting halfback, but he’s third-string in this game.
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
This was supposed to be the gimmie, the soft spot on the Chiefs schedule, the perfect jumping off point for the 2011 season.
Instead, the Chiefs’ 41-7 loss on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium was the worst opening-day loss in the 51-year history of the franchise.
The previous worst-opening day loss was 37-10 at Oakland in 1965. The previous worst-opening day loss at home was 26-10 to San Diego in 1961 when the franchise was located in Dallas.
The Chiefs’ malaise from the preseason and hangover from the way 2010 ended spoiled a glorious afternoon for an announced crowd of 68,755, which emptied out of Arrowhead Stadium early in the fourth quarter.
About the only thing the crowd had to cheer for were the firefighters, police officers and other first responders who were honored in pregame and halftime ceremonies in memory of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Chiefs, who went 0-4 in the preseason, have now lost seven straight dating to the 2010 season, when they hammered in the regular-season finale by Oakland and AFC wild-card game against Baltimore, both at Arrowhead.
And now the Chiefs play their next two and four of the next five on the road, starting next Sunday at Detroit.
Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw four touchdown passes, including two to tight end Scott Chandler for the Bills, who were a last-place team in the AFC East last year.
The Chiefs trailed 20-7 at halftime after running back Jamaal Charles caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cassel with 1:46 left in the half.
The Bills took advantage of two Chiefs turnovers as well as some other shoddy plays and jumped to a 20-0 lead.
The Chiefs’ Dexter McCluster fumbled on the opening kickoff, and the Bills recovered at the Kansas City 26. On the first snap of the game, rookie linebacker Justin Houston was called for pass interference, putting the ball at the Chiefs 23.
Buffalo converted the turnover into a 7-0 lead when Fitzpatrick threaded a 4-yard pass at the goal line to tight end Scott Chander, who wedged between safety Eric Berry and nickel back Javier Arenas.
The Bills made it 14-0 on a 27-yard pass from Fitzpatrick to Stevie Johnson, who made a leaping grab on a corner route in front of Brandon Flowers with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Chiefs appeared to cut the lead in half early in the second quarter when Cassel hit tight end Leonard Pope for 19 yards. But replay review showed Pope did not have full control of the ball as he went out of bounds, and the touchdown was overruled.
Then Cassel was sacked for a 12-yard loss by defensive tackle Kyle Williams, who blew through up the middle. That resulted in a field-goal try, and Ryan Succop was wide right from 49 yards.
Rian Lindell kicked a pair of field goals in the second quarter that gave the Bills a 20-0 lead.
Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles’ fumble at the Kansas City 18 set up the Bills for Lindell’s second field goal, from 38 yards with 5:38 left in the half.
Chiefs coach Todd Haley challenged the ruling that Charles fumbled, but like everything else the Chiefs tried on this day, it failed.
Three observations from the first half of today’s game between the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bills lead 20-7.
1. We all knew, or at least strongly suspected, the Chiefs wasted their training camp and preseason. But the extent is a surprise. Hard to believe they can be this awful against a 4-12 team from last year. Third straight blowout game for the Chiefs at Arrowhead counting last year’s final regular season game against the Raiders and the playoff loss to Baltimore.
2. The passing game looks like it’s the first day of training camp. No rhythm at all until the scoring drive late in the half..
3. The Chiefs may have listed Thomas Jones as their starting halfback, but he’s third-string in this game.