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McLovin
11-06-2007, 10:02 AM
RAND: Definitely not where Chiefs need to be

Nov 06, 2007, 4:08:43 AM by Jonathan Rand (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/jonathan_rand/) - FAQ (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2004/01/20/jonathan_rand_faq/)


For the first time in a month, Herm Edwards did not state in his post-game press conference that his team isn’t where he hoped it would be. He didn’t have to say that after the 33-22 loss to the Packers at Arrowhead because the loss and his team’s record spoke for itself.
Edwards said the Chiefs weren’t where they wanted to be even when they climbed to 2-2, a nice recovery from an 0-2 start. A home loss to the Jaguars came as a kick in the gut for the Chiefs but after back-to-back wins against the Bengals and Raiders, their outlook seemed bright.
But after Sunday’s loss and the injury to Pro Bowl the Chiefs are definitely not where they need to be at the halfway point. Their 4-4 record keeps them tied with the Chargers for first place in the AFC West but it’s awfully unlikely .500 football will produce a division title.
The Chiefs will need to win nine or 10 games and finish no worse than 5-3 at home. They’re 2-2 at home now, which means they’ve squandered the advantage their schedule presented once they pulled a big upset at San Diego on the last day of September.
The Chiefs were to play six of their next eight and seven of their next 10 games at home. But they’ve lost two of the first three homes games of that stretch, which brings them to a must-win game against the Broncos on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs can’t afford to lose to a division rival at home, especially not a week before traveling to Indianapolis.
Nobody expected the Chiefs to start playing like the Patriots after their bye week. But few expected them to regress, which they did against the Packers. And it’s a cruel twist that workhorse running back Larry Johnson was injured after getting a week off.
It’s a given that the Chiefs, who have the 30th-ranked offense, won’t win unless they play outstanding defense, keep the game close and make decisive plays in the final minutes. They achieved none of those things after taking a 26-22 lead over the Packers with 5:18 left.
The Chiefs instead did everything it takes to let a close game slip away. They couldn’t effectively rush the opposing passer, Bret Favre, or protect their own passer. They couldn’t prevent the big play – a 60-yard bomb to Greg Jennings. And they kept hurting themselves in the kicking game. No wonder they were outscored 17-0 at crunch time.
The Packers, admittedly, are among the NFL’s strongest teams and Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback. But the Chiefs have a history of humbling great quarterbacks in Arrowhead, and to become a playoff team, they’ll have to perform like one of the league’s better teams at least when they’re home.
Their defense, which ranks 13th, has been asked to keep the Chiefs in games and usually answers the call. But when an opponent totals 198 more yards and holds the ball more than 32 minutes, it’s pretty clear the Chiefs had little to crow about Sunday on either side of the ball.
The Chiefs can’t afford even one more such meltdown, and perhaps not even one more loss at home. Counting on the Chargers to stumble some more is not a sound plan for success.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/11/06/rand_definitely_not_where_chiefs_need_to_be/

m0ef0e
11-06-2007, 02:32 PM
It seems that the Chiefs need to be climbing out of some kind of hole to play their best.

hermhater
11-06-2007, 02:37 PM
If this continues at home we are in trouble.

I have confidence that we will stomp the Broncs at home next week though!

Why do we ALWAYS have to play Indie away?

Is that some kind of scheduling jinx or what?

m0ef0e
11-06-2007, 02:38 PM
If this continues at home we are in trouble.

I have confidence that we will stomp the Broncs at home next week though!

Why do we ALWAYS have to play Indie away?

Is that some kind of scheduling jinx or what?

We should be able to handle the donkeys and I think we are going to do well against Indy.