Chiefs Blair Kerkhoff: Early takeaways can’t stem tide for Chiefs

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-05-2009, 01:06 AM

Early takeaways can’t stem tide for Chiefs
By BLAIR KERKHOFF
The Kansas City Star

The numbers suggest failure, and that’s the bottom line for Chiefs linebacker Corey Mays.

“We lost the game, that’s all there is,” Mays said.

Nose tackle Tank Tyler also didn’t want to talk silver lining after the 27-16 Giants’ triumph Sunday.

“We can’t be happy at all with a loss,” Tyler said.

But as the Chiefs’ season reached the quarter pole without a victory, any sign of progress can be interpreted as encouraging — and the defense dug in at times, especially early, to keep the game close.

For starters, the Chiefs forced the usually careful Giants into their third and fourth turnovers of the year.

Both happened in the first quarter. One created points, the other prevented them.

On the Chiefs’ highlight play of the day, Tamba Hali blew through and knocked the ball from Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s grasp. Glenn Dorsey tucked it in on the New York 36.

The inspired Chiefs then had some of their best offensive moments of the first half, moving close enough for Ryan Succop to knock through a 34-yard field goal and cut the deficit to 7-3.

The Giants quickly moved into Chiefs territory on their next possession, but again the defense was opportunistic. Manning’s pass to Mario Manningham bounced off the wide receiver and into the arms of cornerback Brandon Flowers.

On successive possessions, the Chiefs had matched their takeaway total for the first three games. There had been Derrick Johnson’s interception and long return in the opener at Baltimore and Jon McGraw’s fumble recovery last weekend in Philadelphia.

A defense that was run ragged in two of the three losses had come up with big plays early, but it was one the Chiefs didn’t get that disappointed Tyler.

After Jamaal Charles fumbled away the opening kickoff, the Chiefs yielded 5 yards on two running plays. A stop here, holding the Giants to a field-goal attempt, might have restored the momentum.

But the Chiefs couldn’t get pressure on Manning, who hit Steve Smith for a 6-yard gain at the sideline. Two plays later, the Giants were in the end zone.

“It’s frustrating for a defense to give up points early in a game,” Tyler said.

Even when the scoring drive is just 16 yards.

The defense couldn’t hold on. The Giants went ahead 14-3 on Manning’s 25-yard strike over the middle to Smith — one play after safety Jarrad Page was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

The crusher came just before halftime. The Giants took over at their 13 with 1:49 remaining. A hold here, and the defense could feel they’d kept the Chiefs in the game.

But in running a hurry-up offense, Manning deftly guided the Giants into scoring position. A 21-yard pass to Smith moved the ball into Chiefs territory, then a 24-yarder to Kevin Boss took it to the 7.

Had the Giants not lost a timeout when they failed to reverse a call on a challenge, they might have had an opportunity to take a shot at the end zone. But they settled for Lawrence Tynes’ 25-yard field goal and a 14-point halftime cushion.

“You can’t spot a team two touchdowns early like that,” Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel said.

The backbreaker came early in the fourth quarter. Giants rookie wide receiver Hakeem Nicks hauled in a short toss on a hitch and beat the Chiefs on a 54-yard touchdown, busting a move on corner Maurice Leggett at the 5.

That drive pushed the Giants to more than 400 total yards for the game. They finished with 429, the third time in four games an opponent has topped 420.

10-05-2009, 01:06 AM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3007187	Blair Kerkhoff: Early takeaways can’t stem tide for Chiefs Early takeaways can’t stem tide for Chiefs By BLAIR KERKHOFF The Kansas City Star The numbers suggest failure, and that’s the bottom line for Chiefs linebacker Corey Mays. “We lost the game, that’s all there is,” Mays said. Nose tackle Tank Tyler also didn’t want to talk silver lining after the 27-16 Giants’ triumph Sunday. “We can’t be happy at all with a loss,” Tyler said. But as the Chiefs’ season reached the quarter pole without a victory, any sign of progress can be interpreted as encouraging — and the defense dug in at times, especially early, to keep the game close. For starters, the Chiefs forced the usually careful Giants into their third and fourth turnovers of the year. Both happened in the first quarter. One created points, the other prevented them. On the Chiefs’ highlight play of the day, Tamba Hali blew through and knocked the ball from Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s grasp. Glenn Dorsey tucked it in on the New York 36. The inspired Chiefs then had some of their best offensive moments of the first half, moving close enough for Ryan Succop to knock through a 34-yard field goal and cut the deficit to 7-3. The Giants quickly moved into Chiefs territory on their next possession, but again the defense was opportunistic. Manning’s pass to Mario Manningham bounced off the wide receiver and into the arms of cornerback Brandon Flowers. On successive possessions, the Chiefs had matched their takeaway total for the first three games. There had been Derrick Johnson’s interception and long return in the opener at Baltimore and Jon McGraw’s fumble recovery last weekend in Philadelphia. A defense that was run ragged in two of the three losses had come up with big plays early, but it was one the Chiefs didn’t get that disappointed Tyler. After Jamaal Charles fumbled away the opening kickoff, the Chiefs yielded 5 yards on two running plays. A stop here, holding the Giants to a field-goal attempt, might have restored the momentum. But the Chiefs couldn’t get pressure on Manning, who hit Steve Smith for a 6-yard gain at the sideline. Two plays later, the Giants were in the end zone. “It’s frustrating for a defense to give up points early in a game,” Tyler said. Even when the scoring drive is just 16 yards. The defense couldn’t hold on. The Giants went ahead 14-3 on Manning’s 25-yard strike over the middle to Smith — one play after safety Jarrad Page was flagged for unnecessary roughness. The crusher came just before halftime. The Giants took over at their 13 with 1:49 remaining. A hold here, and the defense could feel they’d kept the Chiefs in the game. But in running a hurry-up offense, Manning deftly guided the Giants into scoring position. A 21-yard pass to Smith moved the ball into Chiefs territory, then a 24-yarder to Kevin Boss took it to the 7. Had the Giants not lost a timeout when they failed to reverse a call on a challenge, they might have had an opportunity to take a shot at the end zone. But they settled for Lawrence Tynes’ 25-yard field goal and a 14-point halftime cushion. “You can’t spot a team two touchdowns early like that,” Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel said. The backbreaker came early in the fourth quarter. Giants rookie wide receiver Hakeem Nicks hauled in a short toss on a hitch and beat the Chiefs on a 54-yard touchdown, busting a move on corner Maurice Leggett at the 5. That drive pushed the Giants to more than 400 total yards for the game. They finished with 429, the third time in four games an opponent has topped 420.
Posts: 43,454