Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/18

Chiefs Fall To Panthers, 28-16 from The Associated Press via The Mothership

Kansas City's Alex Smith finished 14 of 22 for 127 yards.

The Chiefs (1-1) moved the ball well early on without star running back Jamaal Charles, but were forced to settle for a pair of field goals - one of them a 54-yarder by Ryan Succup.

Kansas City's search for a reliable No. 2 receiver continues.

Dwayne Bowe, who will miss the first game of the regular season because of an NFL-imposed suspension, had five catches for 62 yards but none of the Chiefs' other wide receivers stood out.

Rookie quarterback Aaron Murray's first NFL pass was for a 43-yard touchdown strike to tight end Travis Kelce, but he later threw an interception leading to a Carolina touchdown.

Chiefs vs Panthers: Post-Game Quotes from The Mothership

Alex Smith

On the inability to get six: "I definitely got into a rhythm. I think that was great tonight. I think a lot of self-inflicted stuff. I think every drive you can point to a penalty or a sack that caused us to fail. It's tough. They're a good defense. It was a great challenge for us. One of the top defenses in the league at their place. We felt like we were able to move the ball, especially early. Couldn't finish down there."

KCChiefs.com Video: Post Game Report 8/18

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs Panthers Preseason Highlights

KCChiefs.com Video: Alex Smith Postgame Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Andy Reid Postgame Reaction

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs vs Panthers

Chiefs Offense Come Up Empty In 28-16 Loss To Panthers from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Aaron Murray had mixed results in his first extended NFL action.

The Kansas City rookie quarterback's first career NFL completion went for a 43-yard touchdown to tight end Travis Kelce, but he also threw an interception that led to a Carolina touchdown in the Chiefs' 28-16 loss to the Panthers on Sunday night.

"It felt great," Murray said. "Once I got in the rhythm of things and then going, it felt awesome, just to be back out there playing again and just letting it fly."

Chiefs' Sloppy Effort Results In 28-16 Preseason Loss from Chiefs Spin

Penalties proved the downfall, as the team notched 13 yellow flags to the tune of 131 yards.

"That's not the way you function and be a successful football team in the National Football League," coach Andy Reid told reporters during his postgame media session. "We've got to do better there. I told the players those things you get back and you work on it, you discipline yourselves and make sure you get it right."

The sloppiness didn't stop with the penalties.

Chiefs Just Don't Have Blocking, Coverage Problems -- They've Also Got A Red Zone Problem from FS Kansas City

For a team that uses the word "finish" more times than the lady at The Home Depot paint counter, the Andy Gang sure seems to be having a hard time, to this point, grasping the concept.

Grasping jerseys, now, that they've got down.

Sunday was pick-your-poison night in Carolina, and they all hurt like hell. The Kansas City Chiefs got flagged for a whopping 13 penalties and 131 yards of infractions in their second preseason contest, a 28-16 setback in Charlotte, for starters. That's one that sticks out like an ingrown toenail.

Cam Newton, Panthers Show Mixed Bag In Exhibition No. 2 from The Charlotte Observer

The Panthers' defense did what it does throughout the first half, allowing some yardage to Kansas City's Alex Smith but ultimately giving up only two field goals. It helped that the Chiefs didn't have their best playmaker, running back Jamaal Charles, on the field. Due to a bruised foot, Charles didn't make the trip.

But no matter who it is playing, Carolina's defense almost always shows up. That is the reason you have to believe this Carolina team will post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in team history. The defense is Carolina's rock.

Observation Deck: Kansas City from ESPN

Dwayne Bowe's night was encouraging. He had five catches for 62 yards and looked nothing like he did at training camp. There, he had been dropping more than his share of passes, and coach Andy Reid said Bowe had a finger injury. A productive Bowe becomes even more important to the Chiefs if Junior Hemingway is out of their lineup for a prolonged period. Hemingway left the Carolina game in the first half with what the Chiefs called a hip injury, and he didn't return.

John Lynch Said Alex Smith Is On Par With Drew Brees And Peyton Manning from For The Win

The Chiefs would have been a 5-11 team last year without the synergy between Reid and Smith, and Smith definitely deserves a lucrative deal from the Chiefs based on past performances and upside. He's as valuable to the Chiefs franchise as Drew Brees is to the Saints or as Manning is to the Broncos.

But let's not confuse "best around" with "best available."

Chiefs Have To Stick By Eric Fisher from ESPN

Fisher's transformation into a solid left tackle is evidently going to take some time, if it ever happens. Still the Chiefs have little choice but to work with the No. 1 overall pick from the 2013 draft and hope for the best...

...Even if the Chiefs wanted to replace Fisher, their options are limited. They're having trouble identifying on their roster a third tackle, much less one they're comfortable with in the starting lineup.

Why Your Team Sucks 2014: Kansas City Chiefs from Deadspin

Your team: Kansas City Chiefs.

Your 2013 record: 11-5. No franchise in football is better at rendering a successful regular season utterly pointless than the Chiefs. Remember: this team was coming off a 2-14 season in which the GM and coach witnessed one of the players commit suicide at the team facility (I believe Roger Goodell retroactively suspended Jovan Belcher for half a game after the fact). So going 11-5 without incident sounds like a fantastic leap forward, right? Well, see ... Look, if you're a Chiefs fan, you should emotionally prepare yourself before we rehash all of this:

Quebec Duel In Favor Of Foucault from TVA Sports [translated from the original French]

In a preseason game in which Quebecers David Foucault and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif participated, the Carolina Panthers have scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 28-16 on Sunday.

The two offensive linemen were especially seen action in the second half.