Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 9/26

Good morning. Not sure what to say about yesterday's game. Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news.

Had Cassel, trying to get the ball to Dexter McCluster on a screen pass, thrown it into the ground as he should have, or had Succop made that field goal, the Chiefs could well have earned their first victory of the season.

That’s a bitter reality for the Chiefs. But unlike the aftermath of their last two defeats, games they lost by a cumulative score of 89-10, they have some things to look forward to.

Chiefs Cling to Good Signs After Another Loss from KC Star

For more than 58 minutes the Chiefs kicked aside the turnovers. It allowed them to stay in a game that, statistically, the team had no business being part of. Heart and perseverance defined a gritty second-half comeback that had the Chiefs circling the wagons.

Then, with less than 90 seconds to play, a turnover occurred in Charges territory. It was the Chiefs first giveaway of the day and it sealed a 20-17 loss. The Chiefs fell to 0-3.

The Morning After: San Diego from The Mothership

NFL.com Video: GameDay: Chiefs vs. Chargers highlights

NFL.com Video: Chiefs vs. Chargers highlights

NFL.com Video: Chiefs postgame press conference

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chargers 20, Chiefs 17 | Sunday, Sept. 25

The Chiefs played their best game of the season and even if that’s a classic thinnest-kid-at-fat-camp compliment, there is enough that the large men in this locker room should be smiling and whooping about.

Instead, the silence is broken only by the muted shuffling of equipment managers and the hushed questions from reporters about a blown opportunity.

And to be clear, it’s Matt Cassel who blew this opportunity.

Cassel's Quarterback Play Isn't Inspiring Hope from KC Star

Despite registering two interceptions and also forcing two fumbles that ended up being recovered by the Chargers, the Chiefs couldn’t take advantage of San Diego’s miscues and fell to the Chargers 2017 at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday.

Chiefs Come Up Just Short, Fall to Chargers 20-17 from The Mothership

Is it time to start worrying about Ryan Succop?

The Chiefs kicker missed another field goal Sunday, this time a 38-yarder, and for now, coach Todd Haley insists that he supports Succop. He emerged from the locker room early after halftime to work on field-goal attempts, and he made a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter. The team might at least begin looking at other kickers while Succop clears the cobwebs, but it’s too early to give up on him.

Chiefs Blitz: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Chargers Game from KC Star

Dangerously close to joining that list was Pro Bowl WR Dwayne Bowe. He was injured crossing over the middle on a critical third-and-long fourth quarter snap. His 19-yard grab moved the chains on what ended in a touchdown drive, but Bowe stayed on the turf and called for trainers following hits from SS Steve Gregory and CB Aveion Cason.

Bowe would eventually make a return, but only after lobbying his case to trainers on the sidelines.

Bowe Turns Lobbyist; Coach Backs Kicker from The Mothership

Nose tackle Kelly Gregg ran toward the Chiefs sideline with his arms lifted. Several of his defensive teammates slapped hands and celebrated.

Kansas City stopped Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers on a fourth-and-1 sneak from the Chiefs’ 34-yard line, giving themselves an opportunity to tie or win on their final possession. Quarterback Matt Cassel threw an interception, but regardless, defenders said after the 20-17 loss that they believed the defense took a step forward Sunday.

Defense Shores Up the Holes Against Chargers from KC Star

The team initially said it was a knee injury, and Flowers said that even he thought he had hurt his knee after intercepting a deep pass by Philip Rivers and returning it 43 yards. But as time passed, Flowers said, he realized the injury was to his ankle.

Chiefs Buzz: Cornerback Flowers Injures Ankle, Not Knee from KC Star

Evaluating the Chief’s coaching staff with first impressions is hard this week.  On the one hand, the Chiefs did have a chance to win the game.  The plan appeared to consist of keeping it conservative in the first half and hoping that by the 4th quarter the game was close enough to win.  And it was.

Chiefs Game Notes: Week #3 vs Chargers from Pro Football Spotlight

Since his solid rookie season in 2009, Succop has been something less than confidence-inspiring. He made 86 percent of his field goals that season, an excellent percentage, particularly for a rookie. That percentage dropped to 77 last season and this year is at a substandard 40.

Kicker Succop Struggles in Loss at San Diego from KC Star

LeRon has an off day in run blocking.  Last week PFS sang his praises about how he always seemed to find someone to block on run plays and put defenders on their back from time to time.  This week McClain has plays in which he doesn’t block anyone…or misses.   And he does not put anyone on the ground.

Chiefs vs Chargers Week #3: Breaking Down the TEs and Backs Film from Pro Footbal Spotlight

On Sunday, the Chiefs lost another one, this time 20-17 to the San Diego Chargers. But in the loss, Kansas City might finally have discovered an identity that it lacked in blowout losses the previous two weeks. This team turned to McCluster at Qualcomm Stadium to be its primary running back, a week after Jamaal Charles’ season-ending knee injury and a short while after veteran Thomas Jones was ineffective in the first half Sunday. More than that, the Chiefs seem to have turned to McCluster as a symbol there might be more to this team — and its players and chances — than appearances.

Chiefs Lose 20-17 to Chargers But Gain A Symbol from KC Star

Perhaps it was just the occasion of a game against the strong-legged Chiefs, to whom third-and-long is a running down, but the Chargers made it immediately and readily apparent what they had in mind for Kansas City. On their first five first-down plays of a march to the Kansas City 34-yard line, the ball went to Mathews, and he either ran or caught the ball on a total of 13 first-down snaps.

Two Yards Shy of 100 No Shortcoming for Mathews from The San Dirgo Union-Tribune

n fact, at halftime, they didn’t even have first down. At that moment, KC had scored 30 points over the last five games – meaning from halftime of game #15 last season to halftime of game #3 in 2011. That’s an average of six points per game, three points per half, less than a safety per quarter – for 20 quarters!

What changed? I’m guessing the halftime discussion went something like this. Haley to whoever was within earshot… "I WANT TO SEE US THROWING THE F@#$#ING BALL DOWNFIELD!!!" I speculate that is what was said because that’s exactly what happened.

Chiefs: The Old 0-3 Curse from Upon Further Review

Being a predictable play-call and poor execution, this would have been a microcosm of Kansas City’s disappointing season if not for the fact that no Chiefs came away injured. Nevertheless, the Chiefs are 0-3 and are perhaps a better fit than the Dolphins for the 2011 Faceplant Team.

NFL Week 3 Quick Hits: Patriots' Pass Defense Exposed from The New York Times

Sure, the Chiefs fell to 0-3, but for the first time this season players stepped up. Mostly underachieving players like Jackson and Jovan Belcher rose to the occasion and were instrumental in KC’s final defensive stand. The Kansas City defense held, and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel deserves a significant portion of the credit.

Chiefs Identity Emerges In Their Defense from Warpaint Illustrated

Pick an issue on Kansas City’s offense: no run game, no downfield threat, conservative play calling. The Chiefs failed to generate any big plays until a 43-yard Steve Breaston reception late. Maybe Breaston can help spark Kansas City going forward — he’d been a major disappointment until making that grab.

Everything You Need To Know: Week 3 Late Games from Sports Illustrated