Though the final score to the Kansas City Chiefs contest against the Denver Broncos wasn't what we wanted, LB Tamba Hali did conjure up memories of a certain former Chiefs player.
Hali forced two fumbles, both recovered by Glenn Dorsey. He also had three sacks, which extends his team lead 6.5 sacks.
“He had a perfect game,” Dorsey said. “He applied pressure and was in their backfield all day. I told Tamba I have to take him out to eat or something. Every time he was getting back there, I was getting a fumble (recovery).”
And just for good measure he added nine tackles, a team high.
There were two consecutive plays that were especially memorable. On the first one, Hali chased down Orton for his first sack of the day. On the second play, as he was being held by a Broncos offensive lineman, he got to Orton again and sacked him stripping the ball. The penalty was called, Chiefs declined and took the ball for the first of two Hali-forced turnovers.
All in all, the Chiefs put up 10 or their 13 points coming off of Hali turnovers.
It's fitting that Hali had the best game of his pro career on the same day Derrick Thomas had his jersey retired, which would have been the story if the Chiefs had won.
Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel said he wishes they could have won for a guy like Hali. "Tamba did a great job," he said. "He played a heck of a game."
Chiefs fans were encouraged to wear their No. 58 jerseys. They were all over the place. It seems that everyone had (or has) a DT jersey. He was one of the most popular figures in the city.
While their play was similar yesterday, DT the man doesn't seem anything like Hali, who hasn't talked to the media all year. Think about it. The best game of your career and you don't talk to anyone about it.
Well, he did have three words to say, according to Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star.
"I appreciate Derrick."
I think DT would have been proud yesterday.