Spotlight On The Run … Game-Day Cup O’Chiefs

From Denver, Colorado

What should we make of this little nugget from the pile of numbers known as NFL statistics:

• On December 6th at Arrowhead Stadium, the Denver Broncos ran for 245 yards against the Chiefs defense.
• Then, on December 13th, 20th and 27th, the Broncos ran for a combined 245 yards against the Colts, Raiders and Eagles.

The numbers say the Broncos have not recovered from running all over the Chiefs a month ago. It’s like they shot all of their energy and enthusiasm that day in the ground game. Since then they have run for 95, 80 and 70 yards.

On Sunday, we will find out if the culprit behind the Broncos great success on the ground a month ago was the Chiefs defense, rather than the Denver offense. The teams meet at Invesco Field in the final game of the 2009 regular season. CBS-TV has the coverage and kickoff is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. CST.

There is no question the running game will be at the forefront of what happens in this 100th meeting between these original brothers from the start of the American Football League. It’s been that way for a long time between these teams. The team that runs is the team that wins.

Since 1995, the Broncos have been the best running team in the NFL, averaging 137 yards per game. In that time frame they’ve had 15 different runners put up 97 individual 100-yard performances. Denver has had 11 runners go over 1,000-yards in a season. Only the Jets and Titans with 12 runners have had more.

Denver has done with not only a large number of backs, but different blockers, quarterbacks, receivers, even offensive line coaches. How do they get this done?

“It’s a testament to building your program and knowing the types of players you want and the kind of system you want to run,” said Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. “Denver exemplifies that. It’s what we want to accomplish. You have got to know exactly what you want to do and how you want to play and then you have to acquire the players necessary to fit the things you’re doing. That’s your plan.

“Now, when you’re in those transition periods like we are and Denver is, you’ve got a bunch of players here and there that were really brought in for different reasons sometimes. I think in the transition period you’ve got to do the things necessary to try to succeed but, at the same time, teach exactly what you’re going to be teaching for years to come. Denver has a bunch of guys who can zone block and some runners that it appears are very good at zone running. What they do from here is for them to decide.”

Apparently for the first time in a long time, the Broncos aren’t sure what they want to do under new head coach Josh McDaniels. That might explain their recent problems in running the football. It certainly has gotten under McDaniels skin because this week he threw his offensive line under the bus.

“If we’re not winning the line of scrimmage, like I said before, it doesn’t matter what back you have, doesn’t matter who you’re handing the ball to, you’re not going to do a whole lot,” McDaniels told the Denver media last week. “I’m not taking blame off the backs because they certainly can do a better job of reading certain plays and all the rest of that, but it starts with what we do up front.”

“Until we win the line of scrimmage, which we’ve done this year a number of times, you’re not going to run the ball very well. That’s just the bottom line.”

It’s always been the bottom line for the Broncos and Chiefs at Invesco Field. The Chiefs have yet to win in Denver’s newest stadium, going 0-8. In those games, which the Broncos won by an average of 14 points and in the running game:

• The Broncos averaged 197 rushing yards per game with 15 rushing TDs.
• The Chiefs have averaged 96.9 rushing yards per game with seven rushing TDs.
• The math is pretty simple, as on average the Broncos have an edge of 100 yards and a TD per game at Invesco.

Here’s how the numbers break down over those eight games. It paints a vivid picture of why the Chiefs have been unable to win in the building:

History says quite loudly that if the Chiefs hope to beat the Broncos and grab their fourth victory of the season, they must stop the run. Would Haley agree?

“100 percent,” he said.

Knowing what must be done and doing it have been very different things for the Chiefs defense this season. They knew that if they were going to beat the Broncos a month ago at Arrowhead Stadium, they had to stop the run. Denver ended up gaining 245 yards and the Chiefs never had a chance.

It started a three-game stretch where the Chiefs defense gave up 796 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. They stopped the bleeding a bit last Sunday in Cincinnati, giving up 144 yards to the Bengals with no rushing TDs.

For the Chiefs to win the season finale, they must have a defensive effort even better than what they got against Cincinnati. One thing that would help the Kansas City defense is a strong running game of their own; they need a big game from Jamaal Charles.

He needs 139 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark, giving Charles the chance to become the ninth runner in franchise history to pass that mark. Will the offensive coordinator Todd Haley do anything to make sure that happens?

“The 1,000-yard milestone is one that has been around for a long time,” said Haley. “Obviously, as the season expanded and got longer I don’t think it’s quite where it was. But it’s still a milestone that has kind of stood the test of time. At least the teams that I’ve been around, that if you can rush as a team for a certain amount of yards you generally have a chance to be pretty competitive.

“But this is about winning number one and any of those milestones or individual standards that are set are more about feeling good when the season’s over.”

The Broncos are trying to get their own running back to 1,000 yards on the season. Rookie Knowshon Moreno is at 897 rushing yards.

Can the Chiefs defense keep that from happening? Can Charles get his 1,000? Can the Chiefs finally win at Invesco? Question that should have answers on Sunday.

SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE

• BILLS – placed DB Todd Johnson on the injured-reserve list; promoted LB Ryan Manalac from the practice squad.
• BRONCOS – released OT Herb Taylor; promoted WR Matthew Willis from the practice squad.
• CARDINALS – released K Mike Nugent; promoted DE Jason Banks from the practice squad.
• COLTS – placed TE Tom Santi on the injured-reserve list (back); promoted TE Colin Cloherty from the practice squad.
• DOLPHINS – promoted LB J .D. Folsom from the practice squad.
• 49ERS – signed K Shane Andrus.
• JAGUARS – promoted CB Kennard Cox from the practice squad.
• SAINTS – released CB Mike McKenzie; promoted QB Chase Daniel from the practice squad.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …

Born on January 3, 1949 in Cincinnati was S Mike Sensibaugh. He was selected in the eighth round of the 1971 NFL Draft out of Ohio State University. Sensibaugh played five seasons with the Chiefs (1971-75), appearing in 63 games with 55 starts. He had 20 interceptions, including eight during the 1972 season. He also recovered 11 fumbles. After the 1975 season he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he played three more seasons before ending his career after eight seasons.