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THE MORNING AFTER – BUFFALO

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Tarkus

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Dec 15, 2009, 1:32:19 AM12/15/09

Column - Josh Looney
THE MORNING AFTER ï¿½ BUFFALO
Dec 14, 2009, 6:10:02 AM

DAWSON TO PRESENT LOMBARDI TROPHY AT SUPER BOWL XLIV
December 14th ï¿½ 2:13 PM

The NFL informed the Chiefs today that Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Len
Dawson will participate in the Vince Lombardi Trophy ceremony at the
conclusion of Super Bowl XLIV in Miami on February 7, 2010.

Dawson will carry the trophy to a stage at midfield and hand it off to
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who will then present it to the Super
Bowl Champions, once the game has gone final. NFL Films will accompany
the presentation with a musical score while CBS carries the presentation
live on a national broadcast.

It was 40 years ago that Dawson led the Chiefs to a 23-7 victory over
the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Dawson will continue the
tradition of Super Bowl legends participating in the Lombardi Trophy
ceremony, which began with Bart Starrï¿½s participation in Super Bowl XL.
Past participants have also included Coach Don Shula (Super Bowl XLI),
Doug Williams (Super Bowl XLII) and Joe Namath (Super Bowl XLIII).

A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1987, Dawson
completed 12-of-17 passes, including the legendary 46-yard TD pass to
Otis Taylor, to claim the Super Bowl IV MVP trophy. Dawsonï¿½s return to
the Super Bowl in 2010 will be viewed by more than 150 million people on
live television in the United States alone. The game will also be
broadcast in more than 230 countries and territories.

THE MORNING AFTER ï¿½ BUFFALO
December 14th ï¿½ 6:10 AM

One word: turnovers.

Turnovers decided the football game on Sunday. The Chiefs didnï¿½t
capitalize on Buffaloï¿½s mistakes and Buffalo continually thwarted almost
any positive momentum the Chiefs built by turning in an interception.
There arenï¿½t many games that or more winnable than the one that Kansas
City played yesterday at Arrowhead.

All week, turnovers were the emphasis. Four giveaways led to 28 points
three weekends ago in San Diego. Three turnovers resulted in 17 points
vs. Denver last weekend. Four such mistakes resulted in three points
yesterday for Buffalo (thatï¿½s a total of 11 turnovers the past three
weeks, an identical total posted over the first 10 weeks combined).
There has been an isolated rain cloud pouring turnover after turnover on
the Chiefs offense over the past three weeks.

ï¿½We went into that game with a clear-cut key that if we could win the
turnover battle we would have a very good chance to win the game,ï¿½
Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said. ï¿½Early on we were doing very well in
that area but we were unable to capitalize on some of the turnovers that
we were able to create. That hurt us and then in the end the turnovers
put us in a position where we couldnï¿½t overcome.ï¿½

When it was all said and done, the Chiefs defense put together a
masterful effort in only allowing three points off those four picks. Had
they not held tough, Sundayï¿½s result very well could have mirrored that
of the past two weeks ï¿½ a lopsided Chiefs defeat.

What made it even worse for the Chiefs offense was that they couldnï¿½t
capitalize on any of the turnovers forced by the Kansas City defense.
Chiefs defenders netted three turnovers (two fumbles and an INT), but no
points resulted in the takeaways ï¿½ just two punts and a turnover on
downs. Overall, the Chiefs took 14 snaps on possessions following
Buffalo turnovers and gained just 17 yards.

Poor throws, tipped balls and dropped passes were all part of the equation.

ï¿½Iï¿½ve been pretty clear that when an interception happens there are a
lot of different factors that are involved,ï¿½ Haley said. ï¿½As far as the
interceptions are concerned, when two of them are tipped and one hits
the receivers in the hands and is tipped up, its proof there are a lot
of factors involved.ï¿½

Interceptions are what the Bills do best. Although dead-last against the
run, Buffalo fuels off a top-five passing defense that keeps its team in
games with the INT. In four of Buffaloï¿½s five victories they have forced
four or more turnovers. Whatï¿½s even more amazing is that 17 of those
turnovers have been INTs (19 if you factor in all five wins).

When the Bills win, they pick. They definitely picked the Chiefs Sunday.

Despite the turnovers, the Chiefs were on the verge of achieving the
infamous ï¿½ugly winï¿½ yesterday. Theyï¿½re the types of games that are
brutally played, bu

t overlooked. ï¿½Who cares, a win is a win!ï¿½ some might say. Winning cures
ugliness.

Instead, the Chiefs suffered the other side of that scenario ï¿½ that of
the losers. Each and every opportunity of the ugly game is dwelled upon
ï¿½ ï¿½a play here, a play thereï¿½so many opportunities missedï¿½so many mistakes.ï¿½

ï¿½I donï¿½t see any ugly in victory,ï¿½ Bills head coach Perry Fewell said
following Buffaloï¿½s 16-10 win. ï¿½All victories are pretty to me.ï¿½

Wouldnï¿½t we all like to have traded places with Fewell yesterday?

Letï¿½s ï¿½Take 5ï¿½ from the Chiefs/Bills game yesterdayï¿½

Super Charles!
Todd Haley continually talks about finding players who give the Chiefs
the best chance to win. There certainly isnï¿½t any argument against RB
Jamaal Charles. Through the ups and down, highs and lows, lopsided
defeats and cardiac finishes Charles has been nothing short of
consistently awesome. Throw away a fumble here and there and heï¿½s been
nearly perfect.

Charles set a multitude of career highs on Sunday ï¿½ rushing attempts
(20), rushing yards (143), total touches (27 ï¿½ 20 rushes, seven
receptions) and longest rush (76). Heï¿½s now scored a touchdown in five
consecutive games and is quickly establishing himself as one of the most
dangerous big-play threats in any NFL backfield. His 76-yard TD run off
the draw was a first-hand account of Charlesï¿½ incredible speed in space.

On top of his game-breaking speed, ankle-snapping moves and general
all-around impressiveness, Charles has displayed that one intangible
that goes unmatched ï¿½ heï¿½s gpt heart. For the second-straight week
Charles battled different injuries throughout the game, and for the
second-straight week he simply took care of them on the sideline and got
himself back on the field.

Charles has the tangibles, but heï¿½s also gotten dinged a few times over
the past two weeks. Despite his size, Jamaal is one tough runner.

ï¿½My shoulder has always been like that since high school,ï¿½ Charles said.
ï¿½I played like that through high school with it just hurting and then
Iï¿½d come back into the game. Iï¿½m just going to tough it out. Iï¿½m a tough
player and Iï¿½m going to go out there and try to help my team win.

ï¿½I know that they need me on the field,ï¿½ Charles continued.

They certainly do need you on the field, Jamaal. Can you play any other
positions as well?

Charles has done it all on both offense and special teams this season.
On Sunday, he added defense to his resume after he chased down Bills LB
Paul Posluszny following his INT of Matt Cassel. As Charles wrestled
Posluszny to the ground he successfully stripped the ball out of the
linebackerï¿½s arms for what had the potential to be a double-turnover.

Ultimately, Haley challenged the ruling that Buffalo didnï¿½t fumble. The
play was reviewed and Buffalo remained possession of the football, but
the fact that Charles caused the fumble wasnï¿½t up for debate. It was the
aftermath that kept the ball with the Bills.

ï¿½The ball was definitely ruled a fumble but what they (the officials)
said they couldnï¿½t figure out was who had possession after the fumble,ï¿½
Haley explained. ï¿½Jamaal recovered that football and when he jumped up
he was trying to get any officialsï¿½ attention to show that he had the
ball. The head referee told me they were unable to determine who had
possession after #51 fumbled.ï¿½

ï¿½I thought I had it,ï¿½ Charles said. ï¿½It came out. He was coming down
without the ball and then when he fell he wasnï¿½t down yet, he was one
top of somebody. The ball was coming out and thatï¿½s why I thought that I
had it. (The officials) didnï¿½t listen to me.ï¿½

Buffaloï¿½s Ryan Lindell knocked down a 36-yard FG on the following
possession and gave the Bills a 16-10 lead with about eight minutes to
play. That field goal changed the way the rest of the fourth quarter was
played from that point forward.

So yeah, the Chiefs didnï¿½t win. But Charles put together one hell of an
individual effort. He played a game that enabled the Chiefs to win.
Hopefully, at a minimum, Charles helped lead you to victory in the first
round of your fantasy football playoffs.

The Naked Boot
The Chiefs added a handful of fourth-and-short scenarios to their
already league-leading mark in that category. Twice Haley faced similar
fourth-and-short situations in field goal range. One went for null, the
other went for three.

It was the naked boot that everyone was talking about after the game.
Naturally, that was the play that didnï¿½t go for three.

We all have the advantage of looking back on a situation with 20/20
hindsight vision. At the time the chiefs were tied with the Bills at 0-0
in the first quarter facing a fourth-and-one from the Buffalo one.

The Arrowhead crowd was standing up, yelling, ï¿½Goï¿½Goï¿½Go.ï¿½ I was sitting
there in the press box thinking, ï¿½Goï¿½Goï¿½Go.ï¿½ Fans in the Chiefs live
gameday blog were writing, ï¿½Goï¿½Goï¿½Go.ï¿½ You get the point; everyone and
their dog wanted Haley to ï¿½Goï¿½Goï¿½Go.ï¿½ If you didnï¿½t, you were certainly
in the minority.

Haley ultimately decided to ï¿½Goï¿½Goï¿½Go.ï¿½ The down came and
ï¿½Wentï¿½Wentï¿½Went.ï¿½ The Bills forced a ï¿½Lossï¿½Lossï¿½Lossï¿½ and Chiefs fans
were thinking ï¿½Oh Noï¿½Noï¿½No.ï¿½

ï¿½That was a designed run with him on the edge where youï¿½re trying to
load everybody up in there,ï¿½ Haley explained. ï¿½As the head coach youï¿½ve
got to make some of those decisions early in the game. Just outside the
one yard line it was a great opportunity for us to make a statement. We
didnï¿½t get it done.ï¿½

Looking back, itï¿½s easy to say that Haley should have taken the three
points. That extra field goal sure would have helped the Chiefs cause
late in the game when the Chiefs had to go for it on 4th-and-20 in field
goal range with just over two-minutes left to play. Again, thereï¿½s that
hindsight kicking in.

Unfortunately, Haley doesnï¿½t get the opportunity to look back on things.
He has to make a decision in the ï¿½now.ï¿½ He did, and it didnï¿½t work. That
play alone definitely didnï¿½t sink the Chiefs though. This was a game
filled with missed opportunities.

The decision to go for the touchdown was correct at the time. Arrowhead
would have been booing had the field goal team trotted out for three.

Casselï¿½s Slide Continues
The past two games have paired to form the worst two-game stretch of
Matt Casselï¿½s young career. Unfortunately theyï¿½ve both come at home.
Just two weeks ago, Cassel had a TD-to-INT ratio of nearly two-to-one
(13 TDs, 7 INTs), was completing 55.6% of his passes, had an INT
percentage of 2.2% and held a 77.6 quarterback rating.

That was two weeks ago.

Since then, Cassel has seen his TD-to-INT ratio dip to even (13 TDs, 13
INTs), his completion percentage drop nearly two percentage points, his
INT percentage increase over a full percentage point and his quarterback
rating make a nearly double-digit slide. Cassel likely hasnï¿½t ever gone
through such a stretch like this before. He certainly hasnï¿½t since
becoming a professional.

Casselï¿½s two-game line is as follows: 36-of-72 for 308 yards with 0 TDs
and 6 INTs, which amounts to a QB rating of 26.9. To be fair, poor
throws havenï¿½t been the sole culprit. There have been some very critical
drops, tipped balls and a desperation INT at the end of regulation
factored into the equation as well.

Still, the numbers are what the numbers are.

Many young quarterbacks go through stretches such as these. Itï¿½s never
fun and the Arrowhead fans most definitely displayed their thoughts
about the struggles on Sunday.

ï¿½You know, itï¿½s frustrating not to be winning; thatï¿½s really what it
is,ï¿½ Cassel said. ï¿½You come out and put so much hard work in each and
every week and to not have the production all the time on Sunday and
putting up the Wï¿½s for the fans, for us and for everybody, itï¿½s
frustrating.ï¿½

The real test for Cassel is to make sure that this two-week stretch
becomes his career low-point. There is no need to add a third game to
the spiral. As hard as it may seem, Cassel needs to look at this as an
opportunity to learn about responding to adversity. He needs to rebound
these next three weeks and carry some confidence into 2010.

Itï¿½s going to take some mental toughness to break the funk.

Dorseyï¿½s Knee
Thereï¿½s good news and bad news involving DE Glenn Dorsey.

The bad news is that Dorsey had to leave Sundayï¿½s game with a left knee
injury and didnï¿½t return. He was wearing a full leg brace in the locker
room following yesterdayï¿½s game when talking with reporters.

The good news is that the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft didnï¿½t
re-aggravate the same leg that gave him problems at the end of his
collegiate career. Dorsey also didnï¿½t seem overly concerned about any
long-term effects.

ï¿½Iï¿½m not too scared,ï¿½ Dorsey told media standing in front of his locker.
ï¿½(The brace) is just precautionary. Iï¿½ll be fine. It doesnï¿½t feel like
itï¿½s going to be too serious. They just donï¿½t want to take any chances
with it. Weï¿½ll take some pictures in the morning.ï¿½

Up until his injury, Dorsey had taken the majority of team defensive
snaps this season. He is one of a handful of Chiefs to rarely leave the
field of play.

Seeing It Through
Sundayï¿½s game was a boiling point of frustration for both the fans in
the stands and the players on the field. There were just so many
different opportunities squandered throughout the day, but the thing
about it was that the Chiefs kept finding themselves in the game despite
those opportunities slipping out of grasp.

Yes, Buffalo had the lead from start to finish. But the Bills were never
able to pull away despite plenty of opportunities provided by the
Chiefs. Even to the very last play, the Chiefs still had a chance to win
the game despite putting together a 15-play drive that ended via
interception in the red zone with just over two-minutes to play.

That aspect of the game made it even more frustrating and fans made sure
they let the team know what they thought about it. The entire season as
a whole has been that way from dominating an Oakland team at home to
watching WR Miles Austin do hisï¿½well, you know what he did (twice).

Many of the errors weaved throughout the Chiefs losses have been
preventable.

Now sitting at 3-10 with the franchiseï¿½s third consecutive season of
double-digit losses in the books, how do the players plan to stay
focused for the three-game stretch run to finish out 2009?

ï¿½I guess that would be a challenge for everybody individually to find a
love for the game, be professional, go to work, get better and try to
progress,ï¿½ WR Bobby Wade said. ï¿½Obviously playoff hopes are out the
window and we have to find a way to try and build forward for where
weï¿½re going next year.ï¿½

Wade says that these final three weeks of the season all come down to pride.

ï¿½It just depends on what kind of pride you have as an individual,ï¿½ Wade
said. ï¿½Obviously this is a business, but itï¿½s a sport and a game. Itï¿½s
made to be fun. If you canï¿½t find a way to get back to work and do that
part and be professional, then have an opportunity on Sunday to have
fun, play and perform itï¿½s going to be a rough three weeks.ï¿½

The past three weeks have been rough enough.

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