Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 9/19

Good morning, boys and girls. Sorry today's Arrowheadlines is so late, but to be perfectly honest I waited as long as I could to open these stories this morning. Anyway, here's your Kansas City Chiefs news. It's brutal.

With precisely 8 minutes, 5 seconds left in the first quarter, the Chiefs’ season went from disappointing to seemingly hopeless.

That’s the point when Jamaal Charles was pushed out of bounds by a Detroit defender and his left knee twisted awkwardly on the Ford Field turf, almost certainly ending Charles’ season.

The Chiefs hung in for a time Sunday without their star running back but eventually couldn’t keep up with the high-scoring Lions. They absorbed another brutal wallop, this time 48-3.

Charles' Injury Hurts As Much As 48-3 Loss To Lions from KC Star

"It’s hard to pinpoint what’s going wrong," a frustrated Derrick Johnson said following the game. "It’s a bunch of little things that we need to do… just make a play, or get a turnover…just once."

The Chiefs have actually manufactured two turnovers this season, but they’re easy to forget amongst the nine giveaways that have terrorized Kansas City in return.

Six turnovers occurred in Sunday’s loss – three Matt Cassel interceptions, a Cassel fumble, another Dexter McCluster fumble and a Jon McGraw fumble following an interception. Detroit converted those mistakes into 34 points.

The Morning After: Detroit from The Mothership

KC Star Photo Gallery: Lions 48, Chiefs 3 | Sept. 18

NFL.com Video: Chiefs vs. Lions Highlights

NFL.com Video: Chiefs Postgame Press Conference

The Detroit Lions used a stout passing attack to rack up 322 yards through the air en route to a 48-3 Week 2 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Ford Field on Sunday. Detroit’s defense also forced six Kansas City turnovers. The Chiefs committed eight penalties for 70 yards in the loss.

Lions Top Chiefs by 48-3 Final from The Mothership

The only appropriate adjectives can’t be printed in a family newspaper, and the head coach has to take responsibility.

But blaming this entirely on Haley is both lazy and dishonest.

You’re looking at the wrong guy.

Focus away from the head coach for a moment, and look at the general manager.

Point Finger At Pioli For Chiefs' Disastrous Start from KC Star

Frustrated with their lowly predicament, the Chiefs took some of their anger out Sunday on the Lions.

Just not in the way they wanted to.

Rather than making Detroit pay on the scoreboard, the Chiefs were penalized for personal fouls four times in the first half of their 48-3 loss.

Chiefs Pay For Frustration With Penalties from KC Star

So what does the coaching staff do now?  Eric Berry, Tony Moeaki, Jamaal Charles.  The Chiefs had a tough road with their schedule when those players played every down.  The players, not the coaches, are going to be the foundation which stands or falls. 

Chiefs Game Notes: Week #2 vs Lions from Pro Football Spotlight

Coordinator Romeo Crennel’s unit did little Sunday to spark confidence, and for the second consecutive week, the Chiefs allowed more than 40 points in a blowout loss. Cornerback Brandon Flowers said there was miscommunication throughout the defense, allowing the Lions’ receivers to run free through the secondary.

Chiefs Defense Has No Answers Against Lions' Attack from KC Star

Is there any way to fix it for this season?

Coach Todd Haley said his team has to correct its mistakes, most notably eliminating the six turnovers it committed against the Lions. Turnovers put any team at a disadvantage, but because of injuries to key players and lack of depth, the Chiefs simply can’t afford to turn the ball over. Haley’s coaching ability will be put to the test in coming weeks, perhaps as much as it ever has in his three seasons in Kansas City.

Chiefs Blitz: A Look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from the Lions Game from KC Star

One thing the Chief fan did find out…LeRon McClain is the best blocking fullback in the AFC West.  At least through 2 regular season games.  McClain no[t] only ran the ball but ended the day with a +4 power blocking score.  And if you go back and watch the film you just might catch McClain putting some defender on the ground.

Chiefs vs Lions Week #2: Breaking Down the TEs and Runningbacks Film from Pro Football Spotlight

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew refused to shake the hand of Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli after the game, according to The Detroit News.

Last year, the Chiefs accused the Lions of tampering with a player under contract. The incident was believed to have involved Cunningham and former Chiefs safety Jarrad Page.

Chiefs Buzz: Gunther Showered With Attention from KC Star

"It was definitely tough (losing Charles)," McCluster said. "He is a great player, great runner. He was one of the keys to our offense, but like I said before, we are a team. We just have to find a way to pull together, pick up the slack, and get this thing moving pretty quickly."

Charles is the third Chiefs player to suffer a left knee injury in as many games.

Jamaal Charles Injured In Chiefs Loss from The Mothership

Detroit was in control by halftime, leading 20-3, but the Lions made sure it stayed that way early in the third quarter. With Kansas City facing a 3rd-and-1 from its own 41-yard line on its first drive of the second half, Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy stuffed running back Le'Ron McClain for no gain, forcing a punt.

After the Chiefs rushed for 135 yards in the first half, it was the play that set the tone for the blowout.

Players Say Win Over Kansas City Meaningful to Gunther Cunningham from MLive

Jamaal Charles planted his left foot as he was being pushed out of bounds, then fell forward, crashing into the legs of Roary, Detroit’s mascot.

As Charles lay on the ground with what looked like a serious left knee injury, the Kansas City Chiefs had to wonder what else could go wrong.

"I don’t know the extent of his injury, but it’s a terrible loss for us — for out team."

Another Disaster for Chiefs: Kansas City Loses RB Jamaal Charles In 48-3 Loss To Lions from The Washington Post

"I think that we have to re-evaluate where we are and make adjustments and do whatever we need to do to start heading in the right direction," said Kansas City's Matt Cassel, who was intercepted three times. "Obviously the last two weeks are not satisfactory to any of us."

In their opening-game loss to Buffalo, the Chiefs lost Pro Bowl defensive back Eric Berry to a season-ending injury, and tight end Tony Moeaki is also on injured reserve. Now, Charles could be out a while.

Lions Move to 2-0 with 48-3 Rout of Chiefs from The San Francisco Chronicle

Three torn ACLs in three weeks? It’s unthinkable.

Charles, Berry and Moeaki are three of the Chiefs’ core players. This is just too much for this team to overcome. It is clear 2011 will simply not be the Chiefs’ season after they were a surprise 10-game winner last season.

News Keeps Getting Worse For Chiefs from ESPN

Consider how long the Lions have waited. For years, they have been the picture of incompetence and heartbreak. Sunday, it was as if Detroit unleashed all of that frustration on Kansas City, delivering a 48-3 pounding of the Chiefs for the most lopsided regular-season victory in franchise history. That included going for touchdowns on fourth down twice in the second half, when the game had long since been decided.

Roaring Success in Detroit, Buffalo from The Los Angeles Times

Beyond the obvious offense and defense problems, the Chiefs are in danger of totally imploding just two weeks into the season. Kansas City was hit with four personal foul penalties and turned it over six times.

Everything You Need to Know : Week 2 Early Games from Sports Illustrated

So what now? Naturally, coach Todd Haley is feeling his rear end burn (in a figurative sense only, I hope). While Haley on the hot seat will strike most fans as odd – he was a legitimate coach of the year candidate in 2010, his second season in K.C. – people who know what's going on inside the organization are nodding their heads unremarkably. That there is a lot of tension between Haley and his boss, general manager Scott Pioli, is the worst kept secret in NFL circles. The fact that they get along like vegetarians and Gates Barbecue shouldn't be enough to get Haley fired, but the combination of that and a season from hell could certainly do the trick.

Ryan, Falcons Get Over Vick Mental Block from Yahoo! Sports

There's a lot to love about the second week of the NFL season, but while we're here, we might as well go ahead and note that the Chiefs are donecakes when it comes to competing in the 2011 NFL season.

They're 0-2, they look lost on offense and defense, their best players are dropping like flies, and they have a negative 79 point differential through two games.

Sorting the Sunday Pile: Week 2 from CBS Sports

Has there been a playoff team in recent history (ever?) that's had the kind of player losses (tight end Tony Moeaki, safety Eric Berry, and now running back Jamaal Charles with a suspected torn ACL, to be confirmed by an MRI today) and the on-field losses of these Chiefs? In two games, they've been outscored 89-10. Yes, 89-10. I don't see any way they come back from this, particularly this week, with a game at San Diego. It's only a matter of time before questions start piling up about the jobs of president and GM Scott Pioli and coach Todd Haley. Though I suspect owner Clark Hunt will give Pioli at least one more coach to hire; Hunt and Pioli are close.

MMQB from Sports Illustrated