The Kansas City Chiefs lost 20-15 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night. Though it was another loss, there were more good things to take out of this game than the previous loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Here are five players that helped themselves on Saturday night.
Matt Cassel
Last week against the Atlanta Falcons Matt Cassel had just 25 yards on 6-of-8 passing including a turnover and a key sack. I said that performance was a disappointment, even though some disagreed.
This week I think we can all agree that Cassel looked much sharper against the Bucs.
He completed 14-of-19 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown.
On the second drive he took them down to the Bucs red zone and got six out of it. At the end of the first half, he took them on a drive that started fro their own 13 and ended, as time ran out in the first half, with Ryan Succop kicking a field goal from the then.
There are still improvements to be made but Cassel looked much better on Saturday night.
Dwayne Bowe
OK, so he didn't need a huge game here by any means but, after a strong start to camp and then a catch-less start to the preseason, I thought it was important he got involved.
He was the second leading receiver for the Chiefs with three receptions for 33 yards that went for a pair of first downs.
Again, this isn't something Bowe needed to make the team, by any means. I just think that someone like him needs that in-game validation that what they're doing is right. Bowe had a good half.
Javier Arenas
Once again, it's not Javier Arenas the defender it's Javier Arenas the return man.
Last week he had a 42-yard return and then later a 100-yard return that was called back. This week, he had a 54-yard kick return that included a nice broken tackle.
During training camp, it was usually Arenas and Dexter McCluster taking return duties. I think it's becoming clear that this is Arenas' job to lose.
Tamba Hali
Like Bowe, he didn't really need a good game to impress anyone. But, in Hali fashion, he went out and had a solid game and, looking at the stat sheet, you can hardly tell. He's credited with one tackle but he pressured the quarterback multiple times including one near-fumble (quarterback's arm was going forward).
For Hali's sake, I wish he could get the sacks so folks would give him the proper credit of being one of the better pass rushers in the league. For the Chiefs sake, I hope he's a secret the rest of the season.
Jeremy Horne
It looks like he's the receiver out of UMass is one of the undrafted guys with a shot at making the team.
In the first preseason game, Brodie Croyle missed him deep. Then last week in training camp I kept hearing his name more and seeing him on the field more.
Saturday night in the first quarter, he caught the only touchdown pass of the game. It was a six-yard pass from Cassel and there wasn't anything particularly impressive about the play.
Except that Horne was out there with the first team. The play was halfway through the first quarter. The Chiefs believed in him enough to give him a shot at that point. That's a good sign they like him or they think he can handle more.