Chiefs in free fall after loss to Denver

Ugly.  That’s one way to describe it.  A defense that continued to be ripped for chunks of yardage and missed offensive opportunities and turnovers resulted in yet another loss for Kansas City today, 44-13 to Denver.

On the Chiefs first possession, KC missed a sure TD when Matt Cassel had Bobby Wade all alone deep, but didn’t put enough air under the ball and Wade failed at a one handed grab.  Both players could have done a better job.

The Broncos scored first on a throwback screen to TE Daniel Graham as he nearly walked into the end zone from seven yards out.

Kansas City then mounted a 20 play drive that ended with a chip shot field goal by Ryan Succop because the Chiefs couldn’t get in after first and goal from the one.

Midway through the second quarter Correll Buckhalter ripped through the KC defense for 56 yards on one drive, he finished the game with 113 yards on 12 carries. Knowshon Moreno plowed in from 2 yards out to make it 14-3.

Tamba Hali forced a fumble while being held with a minute to go in the half and KC managed to convert it into three points it was 14-6 at half. 

On the opening drive of the second half coach Todd Haley chose to run a fake punt with Brodie Croyle attempting a pass, but it was tipped, KC turned it over on their own 27 and the Broncos got a field goal 17-6.

Back to back interceptions by Cassel on two possessions resulted in a Brandon Marshall TD and Matt Prater field goal and it was 27-6.  Then another Jamaal Charles fumble resulted in an Andre Goodman 30 yard return for touchdown making it 34-6.  

I don’t blame Haley for his failed gamble on the fake punt, it was nearly a big gainer, but it opened the floodgates for a second half collapse.  When you can’t stop anyone, you try for miracles, but right now there are none to be found.  The only bright spot was Tamba Hali.  He had three sacks and two forced fumbles.

Cassel looked shell-shocked out there and finally Haley turned things over to Brodie Croyle for the 4th quarter.  44 points is the most ever scored by Denver in Kansas City and the Chiefs have now given up 87 points and 7 turnovers in the last two weeks.  KC has now lost 10 straight games in the month of December, the worst record in the NFL.

A question for next week when Buffalo comes to town is who will start at QB, Cassel or Croyle?  It’s certainly up for debate.  Cassel was 10 of 29 for 84 yards and a 14.6 passer rating. That’s JaMarcus Russell territory.