Chargers Blast Drowning Chiefs 43-14
On Saturday the first storm in five months blew through San Diego, dropping heavy rain and churning the Pacific Ocean so much so that huge waves crashed the southern California shore. Several fishing boats were capsized in the channel from the ocean to Mission Bay.
On Sunday, the Pacific was quiet, winds were calm and the skies were blue. But the Chiefs were hit by a football tsunami wearing pale blue and lightning bolts on their helmets. The Chargers blasted the Chiefs 43-14 and drowning any momentum or confidence that Todd Haley’s team might have developed in their two-game winning streak.
“I looked at this game as an opportunity to see where we were,” said Haley. “It was an opportunity to see if we could take another little baby step. Clearly, we didn’t today.”
In two games between these teams, San Diego has won by 30 and 29 points, outscoring Kansas City 80-21 and showing everyone from the Hunt family, to GM Scott Pioli, Haley and their staffs how far away the Chiefs are away from being able to play with the AFC West’s best team.
“In this process of trying to become a better team, this clearly was an opportunity for us to grow as a team,” said Haley. “I just don’t think we handled this very well.”
At times, the Chiefs were more inept in this game that at any time this season. Twice, C Rudy Niswanger snapped balls over the head of QB Matt Cassel in the shotgun. Another time, Cassel lost the handle on an attempted pass and the fumble was returned for a touchdown by San Diego.
In all, the Chiefs turned the ball over four times and the Chargers turned all of them into points. There was a fifth turnover, when San Diego got a safety. It was that kind of game.Â
San Diego doesn’t need that kind of help. QB Philip Rivers threw for 317 yards and scored two touchdowns and had all day to throw, as the Chiefs were not able to muster any type of pass rush. The great RB LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 42 yards and two touchdowns. TE Antonio Gates caught seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Rivers-LT-Gates, the names that have sparked the Chargers for the last several years. There were no surprises in this game.
“We came into this game and one of our keys was not turning the ball over,” said Haley. “We turned it over four times, that translated into 28 points which we can’t overcome. Defensively, we talked about not giving up big plays and we game up too many big plays that put us in a hole and we are not capable of overcoming.”
The first half had the look of so many previous Chiefs games this season. The offense was slow out of the box, hurt by negative plays. The defense gave up a big play and was so afraid of the Chargers big wide receivers that they couldn’t handle Gates, who seemed to be constantly wide open.
The Chiefs offense actually had several things going for them in the early going. They had great field position, starting their first two possessions at their 44 and 43-yard line. One San Diego defensive starter was out in DE Luis Castillo and the Chargers lost two more in the half due to injury with S Eric Weddle (knee) and OLB Shawne Merriman leaving the game (foot).
But the turnovers killed the Chiefs chances, especially since the interception and two fumbles led to 21 points for San Diego.
The teams traded punts to start the game, and after the Chargers’ second kick, the Chiefs began at their own 43-yard line. Cassel and WR Bobby Wade connected on a 12-yard completion on third down to move the sticks, but on the next third down play, Cassel’s pass hit off the helmet of San Diego DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo and fluttered into the air, where CB Quentin Jammer grabbed the interceptions.
Seven plays and 61 yards later, Rivers connected with Gates for a 19-yard pass and run for a touchdown. Gates beat ILB Jovan Belcher, who was flagged for holding on the play. The PAT kick by Nate Kaeding gave the Chargers the early 7-0 lead.
The teams again traded punts as the action moved into the second quarter. The Chiefs turned their worst field position of the half into a touchdown, as they took over at their nine-yard line. Cassel hit Chambers for passes of 14 and 10 yards, while Charles ran for 10 and then he broke free on the right side, making a couple tacklers miss and gaining 31 yards. San Diego FS Paul Oliver was hit with a 15-yard facemask penalty, so it turned into a 46-yard gain for the chiefs.
Three plays later on a third-and-four at the San Diego eight-yard line, Cassel hooked up with Chambers again, and the veteran receiver got the first down, stayed in bounds and then held the ball behind his head and crossed the goal line for his third Kansas City touchdown in four games. The PAT kick by Ryan Succop tied the score at 7-7.
That didn’t last long, as the Chargers needed just 41 seconds to reel off three plays, including a one-yard TD run by Tomlinson, his 133rd career rushing touchdown. The big play was a 53-yard completion from Rivers to WR Malcom Floyd, beating CB Brandon Flowers on a deep post. Flowers got not help from his safeties on the play.
That 14-7 score didn’t last long. On the Chiefs next possession, Charles got loose again on the right side and while fighting for extra yardage he was stripped of the ball by Jammer and SS Steve Gregory. The fumble was recovered by LB Brandon Siler and San Diego had possession at their 39-yard line. This time it was a seven-play, 61-yard drive to another touchdown. Gates had three catches in the series for 18, 12 and the 15-yard touchdown play where he was again wide open in the middle of the field. With Kaeding’s PAT kick it was 21-7.
It was 28-7 within 20 seconds. Charles got off a nice 45-yard kick return and the Chiefs had the ball at the San Diego 49-yard line. But on the first play, Cassel was attempting to throw the ball when he lost the handle. The ball never touched the ground as it hit off the quarterback’s body, and then was grabbed by a blitzing Oliver, who returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. The play was officially ruled a sack and a fumble, although the ball never touched the ground.
The Chiefs went to the half-time locker room down by 21 points. That deficit grew to 35 within about three minutes, as again the Chiefs offense contributed to make the Chargers day that much easier. On a third-and-one play, Cassel was in the shotgun when C Rudy Niswanger’s snap went high and right over the quarterback’s head. San Diego rookie LB Larry English fell on the fumble at the Chiefs 10-yard line. Three snaps later, Tomlinson scored on a three-yard run and with the PAT kick it was 35-7.
Cassel and the offense finally got its act together on the next possession, as they went 79 yards on eight plays in drive built on Charles. The big play was a 49-yard Cassel to Charles pass, where the running back made a nice adjustment on his route to catch the under thrown ball. Charles got into the end zone with a four-yard touchdown run, only the second rushing TD for the Chiefs this season.
San Diego got three points back when Kaeding kicked a 55-yard FG to push the score to 38-14. Early in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs forced a turnover, as Flowers stripped Tomlinson at the goal line and recovered at the Chargers four-yard line. But three plays later, LB Tim Dobbins came on a blitz and as Cassel was going to the ground in the end zone, he threw the ball forward. The officials flagged him for intentional grounding and it was 40-14.
At that point, both teams called off the dogs. Brodie Croyle replaced Cassel for the Chiefs final offensive possession and Billy Volek came in for Rivers as the Chargers ran out the clock.
The victory makes the Chargers 8-3 and the Chiefs are now 3-8.
If this was a game to measure where the Chiefs are at present, the returns are shouting the team has loads of improvement and work ahead before they can claim to be a highly competitive squad to be reckoned with by the better teams in the league.
Fix the Oline first and foremost, then work on the other shortcomings. There won’t be the lack of projects and personnel decisions to cause any boredom among the coaches and GM.
This game and performance was a step backward, to say the least.
So many things went wrong in this one that it’s hard to know where to start.
Positives (not many) include:
Jamaal Charles continues to look good. His fumble hurt us a lot but that was more of a great defensive play than a gaff by Charles. I find it hard to fault a guy for trying to make a big play. He had another nice kick return as well, and a long reception. Charles is gradually developing into a star. Chambers had yet another nice game. Pioli needs to make a note of this: SPEND MONEY on good players and you get results. Flowers also had a nice game with several breakups and a turnover on the goal line.
Negatives were many so I won’t go into all of them, but the worst ones were:
Niswanger is an absolute disaster. We haven’t been able to run up the middle all year in large part because of him and now we can’t pass out of the shotgun because he can’t snap the ball. This has been a problem all year, not just today, but today it boiled to a head. Niswanger should be on the bench for the rest of the year and GONE in the offseason. He is the worst center in the league by far. Our ILBs and Ss are as bad as we’ve seen in pass coverage in the history of the franchise. We’ve given up over 400 yards to every team we’ve played except the Redskins and Raiders. Pendergast needs to go, but he doesn’t have much to work with.
Finally, everyone wants to pick on Cassel because he got paid big bucks. Granted, he had another bad game against the Chargers, but we have over 100 million invested in Dorsey and Jackson and they could not be any more invisible on the field than they’ve been. On the year, they have combined for 4 passes defensed, 1 tackle for loss, and zero sacks! I know 3-4 lineman aren’t paid to put up huge numbers, but these guys are overpaid disasters. Dorsey was one of Peterson’s final major gaffs and Jackson is quickly becoming Scott Pioli’s first. I am highly disappointed in both of them.
Pioli, you have your work cut out for you in the offseason. SPEND SOME MONEY! Bring in some talent so we can actually compete in these tough games. I’m sick and TIRED of this team being 30 plus million under the cap! This goes for you too Clark!
Cassel looks pathetic. When he does get the ball out of his hands it doesn’t even come close to a receiver or hits a D-lineman. He has slow reaction time, slow delivery and is inaccurate as stated above. One of the snaps over his head he was already moving to his left, so I place that one on him as well.
On a different note, its too bad JC fumbled…he is an electric running back. He is the next Chris Johnson guaranteed!!! He doesn’t even need an all pro O-line, he hits the holes hard and is quick to make cuts and then is gone. If he had better blocking…watch out!
I’m glad I watched the Steeler game four times, at least I had a week to relish something positive from this group.
This game just proved what I’ve been saying wrong all season with this team on both sides of the ball. Offensive line can’t protect Cassell and not allow any runs up the middle forcing Haley to go to shotgun on 3 and 1 instead of lining up in an i-formation and pounding it up the middle. One of the fumbles cam on a 3 and 1 play where we clearly should’ve pounded the ball up the middle to get a yard, but we lined up in shotgun which led to a bad snap by a below average center. Next receivers couldn’t get open except for Chambers and sometimes Long. Clearly Cassell needs more playmakers.
Defensively. Haley needs to start Page and Morgan next year. McGraw and Brown clearly lack the speed you need to cover the middle of the field and help protect over the top especially on deep balls. Guys like Flowers were on an island on too many deep passes. Haley need to put Morgan back in at free safety immediately because McGraw is just too slow. Next yr start Page back at free safety and Morgan at strong draft a couple safeties in the mid to late rounds in the draft. Next couldn’t get any pressure on Rivers. Just proves we still need another pass rusher opposite Tamba. He’s getting double and tripled team because of the lack of pass rush on the other side.
We got 4 picks in the first 3 rounds of the draft. Take a couple of o-linemen, a receiver, and a outside linebacker in no particular order. Just take care of those 3 positions and you should see a different team next yr.
Colby chill out Dorsey is having his best season so far this yr. Jackson will get better. And anyone hating on Cassell isn’t watching the actual game. Clearly the guy gets know time to throw the ball and he’s the main reason why this team has won 3 games. Because he continues to rally the troops regardless of the score.
I am convinced that the weakest position on the ENTIRE team is center.
ED, we can hate on Cassel if we want. Not everyone thinks he’s the second coming of Tom Brady. It’s funny how you’re quick to defend him by saying he doesn’t have enough talent around him, buy you can use that same arguement for any of our QBs the past few years. He gets paid to win, just like everyone else, and if he’s playing like crap, then maybe he needs to take a seat and see if someone else can do better. This season is over, lets see what we have on the bench. We’ve experimented with every other position this year, might as well go for broke and experiment with QB as well.
ED says:
“Colby chill out Dorsey is having his best season so far this yr.”
As opposed to his one other season where he was also invisible.
“Jackson will get better.”
I’m sure you are right, but I highly doubt he will EVER be worthy of the third pick of the draft. Pioli reached big time and he should have taken Curry or Monroe.
“And anyone hating on Cassell isn’t watching the actual game.”
I totally agree. Cassel has missed on some throws, but his receivers are leading the league in drops. Chambers is helping, but he can’t do it alone.
I have a feeling team PROCESS is going safety first in the draft and free agency . Bob if you could I know that the season is not over yet. Who will be available in free agency at the safety position after this year? Pioli and Haley has to understand there are some talented hidden gems on other rosters. Not just the Pats,Cardinals, and Dolphins they did not try to seek from other teams. Offensive line is next for the draft and free agency .Although I hate to say it but if the Nebraska NT is sitting there when team PROCESS is ready to pick even though I think he may be gone before then take him . I think he is your middle motor that can open up opportunities for Dorsey and Jackson. Although I am not happy about Jackson”s play this year. He reminds me of Neil Smith ala 1988 when the Chiefs chose him he came back the following year with a splash because of Derrick Thomas , Dan Salamaua had took on some of the blocks and he was awesome and never looked back since. Thats what I am saying about Jackson he needs a compliment pusher in the middle. No knock on Magee but I see him as a back up. With a change of defensive coordinator and assistant coaches he could become a monster! Dick Jauron is out there lets try to grab him after the season is over. And as far as Matt Ca$$el goes I think with a upgrade on the offensive line and a quarterback coach and a homerun wide reciever he could be the next Len Dawson but right now he is a replica of Steve Bono and Elvis Grbac all roll up in one.Man I just get bothered that Aaron Curry would have gave Antonio Gates a fit if we would have drafted him but oh well we have to give Jackson a chance. Team PROCESS knows whats better for the team so could of should of does not work here.