tk13
09-27-2004, 01:09 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/9768143.htm
Chiefs' season seriously in doubt
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Watching in horror as Kris Brown's winning field goal sailed through the uprights, the Chiefs felt the realization begin to sink in.
They might have been able to survive season-opening losses to Denver and Carolina, but not the 24-21 defeat to Houston that was delivered Sunday on Brown's 49-yard kick with 2 seconds left.
The one game on an otherwise difficult schedule that looked like a gimme went to the other guys.
“This loss is at the top of the list,” said fullback Tony Richardson, who has experienced numerous painful defeats in his 10 seasons with the Chiefs. “All of them hurt, but this one kind of sticks a knife in you.”
The Chiefs, who fancied themselves a legitimate Super Bowl contender just a few weeks ago, are 0-3 for the first time since the dark days of 1980. More important, the Chiefs aren't playing well enough to believe they can get their numerous problems solved quickly — and next week, they'll have the whole country watching them at Baltimore on “Monday Night Football.”
Making the Chiefs' task all the more daunting is the history. Only three teams that started a season with three defeats have gone on to reach the playoffs since 1990, when the NFL expanded the playoff field to six teams per conference.
At least for now, the playoffs are far from the thoughts of anyone working at Arrowhead Stadium. Immediately, the Chiefs are just trying to win a game.
“We've dug ourselves a big foxhole,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “The great thing about this organization is when we dig a foxhole, we dig it big enough for everybody to get in.”
There was plenty of brave talk in the postgame Chiefs locker room about strong character, believing in themselves, not giving up and having 13 games remaining to make their move.
But there seemed to be little conviction behind the words. More than anything, the Chiefs appear stunned that a season that began with so much promise could have unraveled so quickly.
“Guys are hurting,” Richardson said. “You could never believe the way we were clicking during the off-season that we would be sitting here at 0-3 right now. But that's the reality. We can't have a pity party for ourselves.”
The disturbing trends for the Chiefs are many, but two have contributed most to their woeful start. They have been abysmal in the fourth quarter, being outscored 34-7 this season and 10-7 by Houston on Sunday.
They also are having trouble finding someone to make the big plays. Priest Holmes did what he could, recovering from his sprained ankle in time to rush for 134 yards and become the Chiefs' all-time career rushing leader.
But Holmes was of little help in the fourth quarter, when five of his nine carries went for 2 or fewer yards. He also was unable to convert on fourth and 2 from the Houston 6 in the second quarter.
Quarterback Trent Green, a Pro Bowler last year, let the Texans back in the game with an ill-advised pass for Tony Gonzalez into the end zone that Marcus Coleman returned for 102 yards and the tying touchdown in the third quarter. The play tied for the second-longest interception return in NFL history.
Dante Hall and Gonzalez were more involved in the passing game than they had been, combining for 13 catches. But in the fourth quarter, Gonzalez had just one catch and Hall had none.
Eric Warfield and Jared Allen each had a big game defensively, but they didn't make the plays to stop the charging Texans in the fourth quarter.
“Those plays have to come from the same guys,” Richardson said. “We have enough playmakers here. It's not like we cleaned house and brought in new guys. We have the same guys that made plays last year.”
Green added: “The only ones that are going to be able to dig us out of this are the guys in here. We're not all of a sudden going to get some miracle-makers that are going to come in and change everything.”
The next stop on the Chiefs' tour is in Baltimore, where the Chiefs won last season with heroics from Hall and their defense.
But with big plays from either party in short supply this year, Baltimore is a most unlikely place for a struggling team to make its stand.
“It's going to require sweat, it's going to require blood, it's going to require stamina,'' said Holmes, referring to the necessary ingredients for a Chiefs turnaround. “Right now, not only did we lose a game to a team in our division in Denver, but an 0-2 team (Houston). You're supposed to keep losing teams losing.
“We definitely need a win, and it has to come against Baltimore.”
Chiefs' season seriously in doubt
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Watching in horror as Kris Brown's winning field goal sailed through the uprights, the Chiefs felt the realization begin to sink in.
They might have been able to survive season-opening losses to Denver and Carolina, but not the 24-21 defeat to Houston that was delivered Sunday on Brown's 49-yard kick with 2 seconds left.
The one game on an otherwise difficult schedule that looked like a gimme went to the other guys.
“This loss is at the top of the list,” said fullback Tony Richardson, who has experienced numerous painful defeats in his 10 seasons with the Chiefs. “All of them hurt, but this one kind of sticks a knife in you.”
The Chiefs, who fancied themselves a legitimate Super Bowl contender just a few weeks ago, are 0-3 for the first time since the dark days of 1980. More important, the Chiefs aren't playing well enough to believe they can get their numerous problems solved quickly — and next week, they'll have the whole country watching them at Baltimore on “Monday Night Football.”
Making the Chiefs' task all the more daunting is the history. Only three teams that started a season with three defeats have gone on to reach the playoffs since 1990, when the NFL expanded the playoff field to six teams per conference.
At least for now, the playoffs are far from the thoughts of anyone working at Arrowhead Stadium. Immediately, the Chiefs are just trying to win a game.
“We've dug ourselves a big foxhole,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “The great thing about this organization is when we dig a foxhole, we dig it big enough for everybody to get in.”
There was plenty of brave talk in the postgame Chiefs locker room about strong character, believing in themselves, not giving up and having 13 games remaining to make their move.
But there seemed to be little conviction behind the words. More than anything, the Chiefs appear stunned that a season that began with so much promise could have unraveled so quickly.
“Guys are hurting,” Richardson said. “You could never believe the way we were clicking during the off-season that we would be sitting here at 0-3 right now. But that's the reality. We can't have a pity party for ourselves.”
The disturbing trends for the Chiefs are many, but two have contributed most to their woeful start. They have been abysmal in the fourth quarter, being outscored 34-7 this season and 10-7 by Houston on Sunday.
They also are having trouble finding someone to make the big plays. Priest Holmes did what he could, recovering from his sprained ankle in time to rush for 134 yards and become the Chiefs' all-time career rushing leader.
But Holmes was of little help in the fourth quarter, when five of his nine carries went for 2 or fewer yards. He also was unable to convert on fourth and 2 from the Houston 6 in the second quarter.
Quarterback Trent Green, a Pro Bowler last year, let the Texans back in the game with an ill-advised pass for Tony Gonzalez into the end zone that Marcus Coleman returned for 102 yards and the tying touchdown in the third quarter. The play tied for the second-longest interception return in NFL history.
Dante Hall and Gonzalez were more involved in the passing game than they had been, combining for 13 catches. But in the fourth quarter, Gonzalez had just one catch and Hall had none.
Eric Warfield and Jared Allen each had a big game defensively, but they didn't make the plays to stop the charging Texans in the fourth quarter.
“Those plays have to come from the same guys,” Richardson said. “We have enough playmakers here. It's not like we cleaned house and brought in new guys. We have the same guys that made plays last year.”
Green added: “The only ones that are going to be able to dig us out of this are the guys in here. We're not all of a sudden going to get some miracle-makers that are going to come in and change everything.”
The next stop on the Chiefs' tour is in Baltimore, where the Chiefs won last season with heroics from Hall and their defense.
But with big plays from either party in short supply this year, Baltimore is a most unlikely place for a struggling team to make its stand.
“It's going to require sweat, it's going to require blood, it's going to require stamina,'' said Holmes, referring to the necessary ingredients for a Chiefs turnaround. “Right now, not only did we lose a game to a team in our division in Denver, but an 0-2 team (Houston). You're supposed to keep losing teams losing.
“We definitely need a win, and it has to come against Baltimore.”