LT Branden Albert made a couple of mistakes early on in the Chiefs 17-10 loss to the Bengals yesterday. One of those mistakes, took over 40 yards and potentially some points off the board.
How did Albert respond?
He didn't.
Per Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star, Albert wouldn't answer any questions following the game (which begs the question of 'Why?' when NFL rules mandate he be available for the media following games).
Albert's first gaffe came on the second play from scrimmage. Facing a 2nd and 8, Albert was called for jumping early pitting the Chiefs at 2nd and 13. The next play went for 9 yards but, instead of that being a first down, it put the Chiefs in a third and short (which they converted).
The second gaffe was a big one. With just a couple of minutes left in the first quarter, the Chiefs were driving at their own 29 yard line. The Chiefs called a run for Charles which he broke off for 42 yards into Bengals territory and on the edge of field goal territory.
Flag. Holding on Albert.
What should have been a 1st and 10 from the Bengals 29 yard line was now a 1st and 20 from the Chiefs own 19.
Babb sums up the Chiefs predicament well.
"In the handful of games that Kansas City has been competitive in during the second half of the season, it has needed something close to perfection to keep it that way," Babb writes. "On the rare occasions that it happens, the Chiefs usually win. When it doesn’t happen, players grab their bags from a losing locker room and head toward another somber bus."
As Todd Haley has said before, this Chiefs team can not overcome a 52 yard field position swing.