Chiefs Defense Still Helping Opponents Set Franchise Records

by Joel Thorman on Sep 13, 2009 4:44 PM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Joe Flacco had a career day against the Kansas City Chiefs this afternoon. He surpassed previous highs in:

Attempts (43)
Yards (307)
Touchdown passes (3)

The Ravens also had 501 yards of total offense, which is a franchise record.

Frankly, it could have been a lot worse for the Chiefs defense. The Ravens drove into Chiefs territory on eight of their first ten drives. The final drive, which resulted in a touchdown, started inside the Chiefs own ten.

For some reason, the Ravens didn't stick to the run in the first half. Flacco was given opportunity after opportunity to throw the ball and time after time he had plenty of time so it's no wonder they decided to roll out the shotgun and the no huddle so often. In the second half, the running game was featured more often and it had success as evidenced by Ray Rice's 108 yards on 19 carries.

“We wanted to put the ball in the air, at least early on in the game and see what we could do from there,” said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. “That was pretty much the game plan.”

The Ravens had five players with over 30 receiving yards and three of them caught touchdown passes. The Chiefs defense only tackled one player behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. There was one sack, as well, so the defense is on pace to beat out their 10-sack 2008 season.

The Ravens were balanced (41 rushing players, 44 passing plays) and put up 32 first downs against the Chiefs defense. That's probably why the Ravens had a nearly 2:1 advantage in time of possession.

For a team to put up 38 points, and your offense commit no turnovers, you know the defense had it's troubles.

Somehow, someway the Chiefs were still in the game with a chance to tie with just a few minutes remaining. To me, this is a sign of trouble. When a team is driving into your territory on eight of ten possessions, it's hard to count on there being a 70 yard interception return or a missed field goal to bail you out.

If the defense continues to give up gobs of yardage, it's unlikely the Chiefs will have the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie or win.

Tweet Comment 65 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

That is a nice summary

rec’d

by Ren on Sep 13, 2009 4:47 PM CDT reply actions

I mean...

The Chiefs looked terrible out there. I will say this – if Herm was the coach we lose that game 38-7. But anyone who watched has to agree that we were lucky to be in the game after the 1st half. I see improvement and hopefully cassel’s size opens the field up because Croyle looked overmatched

A new GM, a new coach, a new year. A new sense of hope and pride.

by CBaller13 on Sep 13, 2009 4:52 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Well when your offense is out there for a total of about 1 minute

The D will never get a chance to rest…and thus, them getting fatigued.

by Wrestler189s on Sep 13, 2009 4:53 PM CDT reply actions

The defense is also why we were in the game at all.

They are directly responsible for half our points.

And if Herm had been coaching, the outcome would have been the same, "We had a chance to win it there at the end . . . "

by bakerlee on Sep 13, 2009 4:53 PM CDT reply actions

I thought about that Herm point

As for the defense, I was saying it’s unlikely we can depend on a 70 yard INT return, a blocked punt for a TD and a missed FG. That won’t happen every game and those were big breaks for us today.

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Sep 13, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

without thoes breaks (and yes I know thats part of the game) the score would have represented how outclassed we were today.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

outclassed is probably the worst choice of words

if anyone had class, it was the Chiefs.

by jonnyu on Sep 13, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions

outclassed, overmatched...

It’s all the same in this context

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions

we also wont have 1 first down in the first half every game.

Its football shit happens and it all changes from game to game.

by SayHeyWerd on Sep 13, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow

you really don’t think we will have any first downs in the first half against the Raiders?

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Sep 13, 2009 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I believe he is stating

Our offense would typically perform better than it did today (i.e. we will have our starting QB and going against a non-elite D). So our D won’t be out there as often. We will also have our starting shutdown CB.

by Scaryclouds on Sep 13, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I know

I was being a smart ass. I just didn’t see too much for optimistic improvment… Since there has been one game, not sure how you can say we “typically” will perform better. I believe that would require some history.

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Sep 13, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions

The O-line will get better

When they start replacing guys from Center to the right over the course of the next year.

http://ajax-dj.mybrute.com

by ChiefDJ on Sep 13, 2009 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Our left side

didn’t play well either. Our young LT got freight trained several times. Not saying he is a bust, just that the problems aren’t all focused on the right side for this game.

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Sep 13, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

There are positives and negatives to this game, clearly...

I feel we were very fortunate to be in the game late. The D look especially bad the 1st and 4th quarter, the O had something like 11 total first downs. It would appear, even though we could have won this game, that the Chiefs are in for a long season…again.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 4:56 PM CDT reply actions

Legget

Damn he is nothing more than a nickel corner in this league as of this year… We really missed Flowers today!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:02 PM CDT reply actions

Sorry Leggett… I forgot the T like he forgot the D!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree..

Flowers missing today was bigger than Cassel. Mo Legg was taken advantage of. It’s obvious the Ravens saw something there, and they exploited it all day.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah!!!

I really think that 90% of the WR’s yardage came vs Leggett. I only saw Carr get beat a few times and 2 or 3 times with Brown.

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions

if Flowers had played

we probably would have at least gone to OT if not won it

by KCCheeze on Sep 13, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Dont get me wrong

I think Leggett is a pretty good ball hawk… Just not an “Island CB” in the NFL yet!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I really think this defense is missing something when Leggett has to play CB instead of Nickel

I think Leggett in the nickel is the keystone of this defense as weird as it sounds.

The defense started looking sour in the preseason when Flowers got hurt and Leggett had to move to the outside.

I thought he did OK this afternoon. I didn’t see an aweful lot of catches made on him that he could have done much about. But I think he is much better suited for the Nickel.

http://ajax-dj.mybrute.com

by ChiefDJ on Sep 13, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Cushions

Some of the cushions he was giving them were TERRIBLE! 10-yard cushions on 3rd and 8. I was yelling at the TV 3 times when I knew it was coming!

You are right tho… He can give that kind of Cushion when he is in the nickel because he has underneath help.

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions

That is scheme oriented, not something the player decides to do

So if you want to yell at someone, yell at Pendergast for calling the play, not the player for lining up how the coach drew the play up.

http://ajax-dj.mybrute.com

by ChiefDJ on Sep 13, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Common...you have no idea what played was called...

neither do I…but it’s obviously a mistake to give a guy a 10 yard breather when they need 8 yards.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Are you kidding?

You think Todd Haley who wants to control every facet of a player in practice and on the field is going to just be OK with a CB deciding on his own to play 10 yards off? This isn’t schoolyard football.

The players line up the way the scheme is drawn up.

http://ajax-dj.mybrute.com

by ChiefDJ on Sep 13, 2009 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Back Peddling

So what your saying is the scheme is to give a 10 yard cushion on a 3rd and 8 while in 1 on 1 coverage and then back peddling as soon as the ball is snapped… Watch it again. Carr was 5 yards off his man!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions

You think second year players always line up where they are supposed to?

Your kidding right? Oh course players fuck up…all the time…this is week 1…. How is that hard to believe.

I’d bet a D coordinator that’s been around for years knows how to line up against a 3 and 8. Moreso than the player

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Every week someone who doesn't know what they're talking about

complains about the CBs playing too far back.

This isn’t High School football.

If they are playing zone or the safeties are blitzing, or any other number of reasons, the scheme lines up the CBs with a cushion so they don’t get beat over the top.

Every team in the NFL does this. Nobody plays bump and run on the line of scrimmage every play.

http://ajax-dj.mybrute.com

by ChiefDJ on Sep 13, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

silly thing is

they don’t move until the WR is 2 yards away from them with a full head of steam….then they turn and get blown by anyways

by KCCheeze on Sep 13, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

OK One ?

Do you think Leggett played Well?

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

So

Your saying that Leggett lined up wrong repeatedly and Haley didn’t yank him and chew him out?

Gotcha.

The Kansas City Chief's 2009 record will be 5-11.

by Druful on Sep 13, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Yank him for WHO?

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions

If we had anyone to put in there....

they would have yanked Mo Legg….considering the Ravens picked on him all day long.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Washington? Colclough?

The Kansas City Chief's 2009 record will be 5-11.

by Druful on Sep 13, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

If

he was lining up wrong play after play, Haley would have put Colquit in for him. If you havent’ learned anthing about Haley, it should be that he won’t tolerate that sort of mistake. Legget would have been benched and someone in his place. It was scheme. Reminded me of Greg Robinson.

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Sep 13, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Not blaming him for the lining up

I am just blaming him for not knowing what the other team needs for a 1st.

Just like when Bradley was only getting 7 on 3rd and 8… Haley was ripping him a new one. He didn’t pull Bradley did he? Bradley did that TWICE!!!

That kinda blows a whole in your theory guys…

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions

hole***

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions

both

times Bradley’s brain farts were on third down. So the offense was coming off the field anyway.

Try again.

The Kansas City Chief's 2009 record will be 5-11.

by Druful on Sep 13, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Isnt that what I said!

I guess you cant read Druful!

What does getting 7 on 3rd and 8 mean? Isnt that short on 3rd down?

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions

This was one of those weird games

where the Chiefs were totally outplayed in every facet of the game and still had a chance at the end. Had a lot of those last year and it looks to continue.

Ah well, we all know this team isn’t very good right now.

http://ajax-dj.mybrute.com

by ChiefDJ on Sep 13, 2009 5:03 PM CDT reply actions

+1

the Chiefs were totally outplayed in every facet of the game and still had a chance at the end.

Every facet except special teams, we get the nod there. But we looked pretty silly on O and D for most of the game. It’s amazing we were in the game so late. Another long year and (at the very least) top 10 pick.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I would give more credit to the punt block

If it were something we saw happening a lot. Aside from Pollard, who isn’t even on the team anymore, I haven’t seen another player even get close to blocking a punt for years. That makes me feel that McGraw getting the block today was more a fluke than something we could hang our hat on happening week after week.

Succop making that 53 yarder made me very happy, though I was extremely confused as to why they kicked the line drive kickoff and gave the Ravens good field position that one time.

http://ajax-dj.mybrute.com

by ChiefDJ on Sep 13, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

our d didn't look silly till the 4th

granted they wern’t perfect, but they wern’t getting walked on. it wasn’t till the 4th that they couldn’t stop the ravens. and can you blame them. at the start of the 4th the offence had only completed 2 first downs. there is no way you should expect a deffense to still be good if they are on the field 40 mins of the game. that’s 2 flippen thirds. you guys can look at this as a deffensive problem but i saw a bigger problem with the offense. you can’t win games with deffense alone.

by Leaf on Sep 13, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Tamba Hali looked pretty good

on pass rush. And how about Mark Bradley? We looked better than I thought we would. Add a real QB and we could be fairly decent.

Yes, I'm still alive. Sorry to disappoint you.

by royaldaddy on Sep 13, 2009 5:07 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Bradley looked decent...

Except for his inability to get the ball past the 1st down marker.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

yeahh

by SayHeyWerd on Sep 13, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions

he got his ass chewed out for that

I don’t know if anyone else saw it but Haley was not happy at all with Bradley today

by jonnyu on Sep 13, 2009 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I saw that...one it was pretty blatent he could have got the first down...

the other it would have been close…but you have to get the ball across the line.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Bradley was exceptional!

He is the #2 guy! With a terrible offensive performance like that for him to do that well is a good sign.

Shit I mean we couldn’t run to save our lives…speaking of run…yen get his ass signed now!

D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.

by Patrick Allen on Sep 13, 2009 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions

TWICE

Twice he was 1/2 a yard short on 3rd down! WTF!!!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions

He was getting chewed out

for not running his route deep enough. Shouldn’t have had to run for anything. You need 8 yards, you run 9.

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Sep 13, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Really?

I guess he was getting there only 1 second late as opposed to everyone else 3 or 4 seconds late. Guess that is pretty good. I saw him getting stoned on just about every rush except one or two.

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Sep 13, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions

same old story

Whenever the other team desperately needs a first down, the Chiefs seem to just give it to them. Today one of those today, was a touchdown as well.

by route 66 on Sep 13, 2009 5:13 PM CDT reply actions

Corey Mays got torn up today as well....in case anyone missed that.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 13, 2009 5:16 PM CDT reply actions

Turning his head

They had a few Heap plays where Mays just turned his head to get to his position in the pass defense… Heap would catch it while Mays didnt even know the ball was thrown.

by flyin_squirl on Sep 13, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions