Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/25

Well, that sucked. Good morning and welcome to Arrowheadlines. We have your Kansas City Chiefs news from across the internet. Enjoy (if you can).

Seattle scored on six consecutive possessions - four times on offense, once on defense and once on special teams - before the last of Kansas City's starters were lifted facing a 44-7 third quarter deficit.

"This is a game of response," linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "It's a game of responding and we're going to have to respond quickly because we're not playing like a good football team right now."

Chiefs Feeling Sense Of Urgency After Second Consecutive Lopsided Loss from The Mothership

There is still time to make fixes, but make no mistake: Coach Romeo Crennel had better get control of this mess before the games start counting. And maybe the mess begins with Crennel insisting that he coordinate his own defense. His defense was supposed to be the reason the postseason would be within reach in 2012. Now, it's maybe the biggest concern...

...Stand behind the "these-games-don't-matter" mantra if you choose, and rest knowing that's true. But what's also true is that in these past two tune-ups, the Chiefs' first-team defense has shown nothing but a lack of focus and motivation and an inability to slow two offenses they should've dominated.

Back-To-Back Defeats Suggest Chiefs' Crennel Is Wearing Too Many Hats from KC Star

KC Star Photo Gallery: Seahawks 44, Chiefs 14

KCChiefs.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel 8-24-12

KCChiefs.com Video: Inside The Locker Room - Postgame vs. SEA

NFL.com Video: Seahawks vs. Chiefs Highlights

NFL.com Video: Chiefs Mascot

NFL.com Video: Cassel Connects On TD, But Fails Celebration

The Chiefs preferred to think of last week's loss in St. Louis as merely one of those things, a temporary slip that would be long forgotten once the preseason was finished.

In light of Friday night's 44-14 loss to Seattle at Arrowhead Stadium, it can now be viewed as the start of a downward trend. And it was a long way down for the Chiefs, who from a three-play-and-punt opening series were never even competitive.

Seahawks Blast Chiefs 44-14 from KC Star

Dwayne Bowe's anticipated debut Friday night was overlooked as Seattle used a trio of field goals to jump out to an early 9-0 advantage before extending the lead 44-14 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Seahawks Fly Past Chiefs 44-14 from The Mothership

Fifteen days separate the despair of this morning from the hope of the season opener, and that's like two months in NFL time. But the Chiefs were absolutely throttled by the Seahawks, 44-14, and whatever the maximum amount of concern you think is appropriate for a preseason game that included no torn knees is appropriate for this one.

This was embarrassing, but there's time for much of it to fade.

One Team Looks Better At QB, And It's Not Chiefs from KC Star

Jonathan Baldwin and Steve Breaston drew starts at wide receiver with Bowe staying off the field until the Chiefs second offensive drive. He wouldn't see his first target from Matt Cassel until the first snap of Kansas City's third offensive drive near the end of the first quarter.

But Bowe also played more than most were likely anticipating, seeing action into the third quarter alongside Kansas City's first-team offense. His lone reception came on a third-and-one conversion to help extend the only scoring drive produced by Chiefs starters.

Dwayne Bowe Still Playing Catch-Up After Preseason Debut from The Mothership

Cassel is going to have to pick up his game. He was not accurate at all in the first half, and under pressure, he forced a pass that was returned 75 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. In the first half, a pass intended for Jon Baldwin sailed high and was nearly uncatchable, but interference was called against the Seahawks. Another high pass got Steve Breaston clocked, and another was wide of tight end Tony Moeaki. When he was on the mark, passes went off the hands of Dwayne Bowe, Jamaal Charles and Moeaki.

Chiefs Blitz: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly from KC Star

McCluster's Night: WR Dexter McCluster led all Chiefs receivers with seven catches for 61 yards (8.7 avg.) with a long reception of 18 yards and a nine-yard touchdown reception.

Postgame Notes: Chiefs vs. Seahwaks from The Mothership

Better to offer up a clunker in August than September, as the Chiefs did to open last season.

But the play across the board was discouraging, and neither starter Matt Cassel nor Quinn could provide a spark.

Cassel played deep into the third quarter, perhaps longer than planned.

"I think the starters played quite a bit tonight, and they didn't get much done," Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said.

Chiefs' Quarterback Mystery Is Solved, But It Didn't Matter Much Friday from KC Star

How alarming was this loss? "Every loss, you're not crazy about it. You can try to find silver linings and I can mention some silver linings, but that doesn't change the score and it doesn't change the way we played. We're going to go back to the drawing board and try to play better. That's what we can do and what we are going to try to do."

Post-Game Quotes: Romeo Crennel vs. Seattle from The Mothership

LB Derrick Johnson

You had the opportunity to look at Seattle's offense. What did you think you could do against them defensively? "We thought that we could stop the run. I think we did a good job at it. The quarterback played tremendously, especially when things broke down he took off running. He threw a couple of good balls. We had a lot of penalties tonight. Seattle is a good team and when you get penalties the way we did, it's hard to win. It's hard to be in the game."

Post-Game Quotes: Chiefs Players vs. Seattle from The Mothership

The team was impressed that Baldwin hunkered down and gleaned as much information and knowledge as possible from veteran receivers Steve Breaston and Terrance Copper. They are two of the more respected veterans on the roster because of their professional approach. For a player who needed to gain his team's trust, it seems Baldwin has done just that this summer.

The Maturation Of Jon Baldwin from ESPN

Along its massive defensive front, the Kansas City Chiefs have some expensive beef. It belongs to Glenn Dorsey, the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft; Tyson Jackson, chosen No. 3 in the 2009 draft; and rookie Dontari Poe, who was taken 11th overall in the 2012 draft...

...Yes sir, the Chiefs' defensive line is the envy of every NFL general manager.

By the way, everything you read in the previous three paragraphs is a lie. A dirty, cheap lie.

Time For KC's Defensive Line To Be More Than Promise from The Wichita Eagle

Yes, I'm sure many Chiefs fans are freaking out over a home blowout like this. But I can't join the in the hysteria. Maybe I'm wrong, but the preseason is just the preseason, big win or big loss. Now, if the Chiefs get throttled at home by Atlanta in 16 days, then the hand-wringing should commence. But this loss doesn't mean the Chiefs will be awful in that game.

Observation Deck: Seahawks-Chiefs from ESPN

Either the Kansas City Chiefs trotted out a defense no better than the Big Ten variety Russell Wilson is accustomed to, or the Seattle Seahawks may have finally found a starting quarterback this preseason.

Russel Wilson Shines vs. Chiefs; Have Seahawks Found QB? from USA Today

The recent one-game suspension of OLB Tamba Hali, along with injuries to Brandon Flowers and Kendrick Lewis in the secondary, have the Chiefs shuffling to try to figure out how to replace all three for the opener on Sept. 9. Flowers could return, but if he does, how many plays will he be in?

Coach Romeo Crennel has some decisions to make as to how much depth he needs to keep at those positions. Another possibility to consider is Crennel bringing back defensive lineman Shaun Smith, a fan favorite in Kansas City who was recently released by the Titans.

Chiefs Bubble Watch: Will Shaun Smith Cost NT Jerrell Powe His Spot? from CBS Sports

On August 30^th Rachel will have the opportunity of a lifetime to report from the sidelines of Lambeau Field for 65 Toss Power Trap Productions, the in-house production arm of the Kansas City Chiefs. She will become part of the Chiefs live preseason broadcast team alongside Trent Green, Paul Burmeister and Josh Looney.

Chiefs Announce 2012 Rock The Mic Sideline Contest Winner from The Mothership

If Chiefs' preseason broadcasts like Friday's against the Seattle Seahawks look and sound like a regular-season Sunday on CBS or Fox, there's a reason. The franchise wanted it that way, and became the first in the NFL to produce its own games.

Chiefs Blaze Trail In Preseason Broadcasts from KC Star