Chiefs Players Say Monday Night Football Hangover Not To Blame

by Joel Thorman on Nov 6, 2011 5:33 PM CST

The feeling amongst some media folks after the Miami Dolphins dominated the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday was that the Chiefs were feeling the effects of a short week and a couple of emotional and physical victories over division opponents.

The players, however, weren't using that as a reason for the loss. For the most part, they said in the locker room after the game that the short week wasn't an excuse and they just didn't execute the way the Dolphins did. Chiefs coach Todd Haley took the blame for the loss, as he did after the first two blowouts to start the season, but the players said (publicly, at least) that Monday Night Football wasn't to blame for the 31-3 blowout to the Dolphins.

"It's a short week but we knew who the Dolphins were," Chiefs LB Andy Studebaker said. "We knew they were a good team. We knew they had a lot of playmakers and those playmakers made some plays today. We could've done a better job of stopping them.

"Other than it being a short week and a little less preparation time, it's football," Studebaker continued. "You can't want to play on Monday night one week, love it and be all about Monday Night Football, and not be OK with a short week. So you take the good with the bad."

I think that's a good point by Studebaker -- you can't love Monday Night Football but hate what comes after it.

"I'm not an excuse guy so I wouldn't say it's an excuse from playing Monday night," LB Derrick Johnson said. "You gotta be a pro. It's Sunday and you gotta do what you gotta do to get ready to go. We didn't do that."

FB Le'Ron McClain said he felt they did everything they needed to do during the week to prepare for the game but just didn't get it done.

"I approached the week the same way, watched film the same way, thinking the same way stepping on the field," McClain said. "The ball just didn't fall in our court today."

"You can be mentally and physically tired but as a professional you can't allow yourself to be mentally and physically tired," CB Brandon Flowers said. "You just have to execute."

The general feeling from the players is that they had enough energy left to play today -- at least that's what they told us. That said, I do feel that it's nearly impossible for a team to go from the emotional highs they saw against Oakland and ~~Denver~~ San Diego and replicate that against a winless team.

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Comments

That last line should be San Diego, not Denver

Personally the S4L crowd is a bigger disappointment than the season by far.

by Chiefsfanindonkeyland on Nov 6, 2011 5:38 PM CST reply actions

Whoops!

Thank you sir.

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Nov 6, 2011 5:40 PM CST up reply actions

Apparently it was just a regular hangover that was the problem...

“Is it bad when Kansas City Chiefs players are getting wasted with you in VIP at 2 am the night before a game?”-Mac Lethal, local Kansas City rapper

by KCBoy on Nov 6, 2011 5:49 PM CST reply actions

Adults with millions of dollars drinking.... Omg!

That’s about as interesting of a story as Todd Haley going to the Lil Wayne concert and us losing because of it. LT used to blow lines off strippers at halftime, he did alright.

by ChiTownChiefs on Nov 6, 2011 6:40 PM CST up reply actions

Ha!

So getting drunk at 2 o’clock in the morning the night before a game is totally acceptable due to the fact that they are of legal age and are rich? So, with that logic, it’s totally acceptable for a surgeon to go out and get shit faced 10 hours before performing surgery?

by KCBoy on Nov 6, 2011 6:50 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

If it's true, heads need to roll.

Some players treated this 100% like a trap game and paid for it.

by bossmanham on Nov 6, 2011 6:51 PM CST up reply actions

100% correct, sir.

Ridiculous for that to be going on the night before a game.

by SCKSChief on Nov 6, 2011 7:36 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

If you think it's the first time it's happened you're naive.

It’s one of those things that you hear about on a loss and not a win. If that’s the story you want to run with, enjoy. It happens all the time in every city every weekend. If you think “heads need to roll” you really need to look at the society we live in. We could be the Bengals.

by ChiTownChiefs on Nov 6, 2011 6:56 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

This was tweeted and attracted attention before the game today

and you’re so certain it happens in EVERY city before EVERY game? Where’s your proof? Or are you just so cynical that you assume every player shows up and plays hungover every Sunday? I seriously doubt the people shelling out millions of dollars to have these players perform at there best every week would tolerate that kind of behavior and if the likes of Haley and Pioli found out about it, there would be consequences.

by jonnyu on Nov 7, 2011 12:05 AM CST up reply actions

Offense, Defense, Special Teams

All are at fault.

Total team loss. I doubt the entire team was at the bar at 2am this morning.

I really thought 2011 was going to be our Chiefs breakout year. Injuries to key players has hurt us bad, but I have hope we will see growth and a few surprising wins this year. GO CHIEFS !!!!!!!!

by KC-Murdock on Nov 6, 2011 6:03 PM CST reply actions

Shit happens, it's the NFL

I figured we’d probably either lose this game or the Denver game next week. The only good thing is that the way things are going in San Diego & Oakland at this point, we’ll still be tied for first place this week.

Predictions:
I'm going to stop predicting positive things

by jmcgoblue on Nov 6, 2011 6:05 PM CST reply actions

i'd rather lose this one

than hand one to t-bone and the donkeys

Tony Richardson, we hardly knew ye...

by LaPointer on Nov 6, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

good news for a bad day

Chargers getting beat and broncos just took the lead. We can still be in first.

Is that rapper for real??

by jcrunninwild on Nov 6, 2011 6:07 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Yea? Don't look now

but the chargers are makin a run at that one.

by RamX21 on Nov 6, 2011 6:13 PM CST up reply actions

All I know is

Battle is not as good as everone thought he would be after that Colts game.

I think Thomas Jones would have better success in Bodybuilder competitions than he is havin right now in the NFL!

by LookListenLearn on Nov 6, 2011 6:19 PM CST reply actions

*everyone

I think Thomas Jones would have better success in Bodybuilder competitions than he is havin right now in the NFL!

by LookListenLearn on Nov 6, 2011 6:24 PM CST up reply actions

Happens every year in the preseason haha

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Nov 6, 2011 6:29 PM CST up reply actions

This

And I know you’re only partly joking.

by SCKSChief on Nov 6, 2011 7:37 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

He has zero burst, and is 240 lbs. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I’m surprised people didn’t notice that.

Me and Matt Cassel just - you up, dog!

by ChiefWarPaint on Nov 6, 2011 6:37 PM CST up reply actions

Yep

The man has power obviously, but that’s about it, No burst, no speed and no vision There were a few runs where Jamaal would have broke through and burned everyone to the endzone. I don’t see why they won’t run McClain more.

I think Thomas Jones would have better success in Bodybuilder competitions than he is havin right now in the NFL!

by LookListenLearn on Nov 6, 2011 6:41 PM CST up reply actions

He's got speed

It just takes a while to build up, if he’s got a clear hole and get to the 2ndary watch out. But that’s the thing, he needs a huge hole to run through so he can build up speed.

Me and Matt Cassel just - you up, dog!

by ChiefWarPaint on Nov 6, 2011 9:14 PM CST up reply actions

WE ARE STILL GONNA BE TIED FOR FIRST!

Wow, that is just amazing. If you woulda told me that at 3pm today, I woulda thought you were crazy.

by jakeakabigdub on Nov 6, 2011 6:21 PM CST reply actions

Until Thursday.

by CMatthews on Nov 6, 2011 6:25 PM CST up reply actions

Then we have our shot

Sunday. Lets just hope we can slow the Tebow’s down a little.

by jakeakabigdub on Nov 6, 2011 6:26 PM CST up reply actions

I hope last week's Tebow shows up at Arrowhead.

by CMatthews on Nov 6, 2011 6:28 PM CST up reply actions

Tebow and McGahee are destroying the Raiders.

by bossmanham on Nov 6, 2011 6:22 PM CST reply actions

On a positive note from the day

This game will be burned in the players’ memories for a long time.

Predictions:
I'm going to stop predicting positive things

by jmcgoblue on Nov 6, 2011 6:24 PM CST reply actions

on a negative note

it will also be burned into mine

by rdub on Nov 6, 2011 6:26 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

heh, me too

adding to the misery, I wasted $19 and more than two hours of my life watching Pus & Boots after the game….

Predictions:
I'm going to stop predicting positive things

by jmcgoblue on Nov 6, 2011 6:30 PM CST up reply actions

19$ aint bad for a ''club'' entrance fee

Ohhhh… wait

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Nov 6, 2011 6:34 PM CST up reply actions

can you say first place chiefs

by curtiscapk on Nov 6, 2011 6:25 PM CST reply actions

lol

Surprising.

by bossmanham on Nov 6, 2011 6:26 PM CST up reply actions

still tied for first

wow

by powercat12 on Nov 6, 2011 6:33 PM CST reply actions

yeas

by curtiscapk on Nov 6, 2011 6:33 PM CST reply actions

No ground lost, but none gained.

Could have been worse, all things considered.

Let’s hope they manage to get focused again starting next week. Today was just too sloppy.

We Don't Hear The Hate

by TRSChief on Nov 6, 2011 6:35 PM CST reply actions

what a gift every team lost except denver and they dont count

by damdoneugker on Nov 6, 2011 6:36 PM CST reply actions

They count...

The fighting Tebows are only one game back now

by lonrobinson3 on Nov 6, 2011 7:22 PM CST up reply actions

Wow... what a sad division.

by CMatthews on Nov 6, 2011 6:37 PM CST reply actions

Ill take it

by KCinIL on Nov 6, 2011 6:38 PM CST reply actions

I can't believe we're still in first

Silver lining?

Me and Matt Cassel just - you up, dog!

by ChiefWarPaint on Nov 6, 2011 6:38 PM CST reply actions

AFC Worst

If we lose to the Broncos, there’ll be a 3 way tie for 2nd next week.

by Chief Farmer on Nov 6, 2011 6:38 PM CST reply actions

and by 2nd

i mean last.

by Chief Farmer on Nov 6, 2011 6:45 PM CST up reply actions

This is upsetting.

If only we hadn’t lost Moeaki, Charles, and Berry. We’d be like the 49ers, the only good team in a bad division. At least there’s always next year.

by wustl_chiefs_fan on Nov 6, 2011 6:41 PM CST reply actions

Of course MNF is not to blame....

Our shitty execution, coaching, inability to protect our QB and pressure their QB are the reasons for this embarrassing performance.

by HBKChiefs on Nov 6, 2011 6:41 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Don't forget being hung over from the night before...

Live Adventure!

by MountainManMike on Nov 7, 2011 3:44 AM CST up reply actions

Anyone that saw last week's Phins & G-men game

could’ve told you this was going to be tough.

by Kane on Nov 6, 2011 6:47 PM CST reply actions

Exactly.

I knew this game wasn’t going to be a push over. Apparently KC didn’t get the memo.

by Tyran on Nov 6, 2011 6:49 PM CST up reply actions

so

no game film watched on monday, no practice in pads on tuesday or wednesday, and they lose the following sunday? if practice wasn’t important, the players wouldn’t do it. haley made the choice to rest the guys, it turned out to be a bad decision. oh well—i guess if the guys really needed the break, they took another day off today and should be fine by next week’s game.

by 1kmilesfromkc on Nov 6, 2011 6:47 PM CST reply actions

Sad thing is that Haley thinks he overworked them...

unbelievable.

Live Adventure!

by MountainManMike on Nov 7, 2011 3:45 AM CST up reply actions

Those Pittsburg informs look kinda cool

what just happened?

by ArrowheadHunter on Nov 6, 2011 6:49 PM CST reply actions

Do we have any alternate uniforms?

I think Thomas Jones would have better success in Bodybuilder competitions than he is havin right now in the NFL!

by LookListenLearn on Nov 6, 2011 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah.

We have red helmet with arrowhead logo, or red helmet with Texans logo for throwback games.

by wustl_chiefs_fan on Nov 6, 2011 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

I think its time to face facts about this team

We aren’t going to beat many teams playing like this. Cassel has most definitely not played well the last 3 weeks, luckily we pulled out wins in two of those weeks. Our lines today played arguably the worst they have all season, and we know Cassel won’t lead this team past its shortcomings. We won’t win many more games this season, so its Stanzi time, imo

I'm so overrated, I'm underrated.

by RememberDelaney37 on Nov 6, 2011 6:55 PM CST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

speaking of Stanzi

where the hell is he? I never see him on the sidelines. At least Palko is there with Cassel when he talks to Zorn, he sits and looks through the photos with Cassel. Stanzi? I don’t know where he is so I have no idea but it doesn’t seem like he’s taking an active interest in trying to learn on the sidelines. I hope I’m completely wrong.

CHIEFS DYNASTY – we’re kind of a big deal

by kabrink on Nov 6, 2011 7:16 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, not sure

Maybe that’s one of the reasons he continues to be inactive, because he’s not present in game situations when he could be learning. Something needs to happen with the QB situation though, and quickly

I'm so overrated, I'm underrated.

by RememberDelaney37 on Nov 6, 2011 7:23 PM CST via mobile up reply actions