Chiefs didn't have Jamaal Charles or Eric Berry in Denver -- but at least they had a pulse
They tried and failed. Or tried and covered, depending on how you want to spin Denver Broncos 24, Kansas City Chiefs 17.
If the locals came away from Week 1 at Arrowhead Stadium horrified and appalled, they walked away from the television set in Week 2 proud at the guts spilled to and front, buoyed by a relief that this team has enough fire in the belly, enough pride, to play with anyone, anywhere.
On the other hand, they might also be just good enough to lose to anyone, anywhere, too. Your call.
The Chiefs outscored the two-touchdown-favorite-and-defending-AFC-champion Broncos in Denver 7-3 in the second half. They held the ball for two-thirds of the third quarter, because Peyton Manning can't hurt you while he's standing there in a baseball cap with his arms folded.
Despite a retooled offensive line that featured only two starters from last year's solid front and (another) first-quarter injury that knocked Jamaal Charles out of the contest, the Andy Gang ran with authority (33 carries, 133 yards) against a more ballyhooed Broncos defensive front. After a complete de-pantsing at home in Week 1 at the hands of the Titans, the Chiefs got a little of their identity back, to say nothing of their mojo.
On the other hand, it's clear, two tilts in, that this whole "rookie kicker" plan might turn everybody gray by Halloween. It's also apparent Denver can be run on, can be pushed around, and that the Broncos have a rather serious, shall we say, "finishing" problem.
Come to think of it, so do the Chiefs, which is the most sobering takeaway of all. Whereas Denver doesn't finish games, the Andy Gang doesn't finish drives. Still.
Playing keepaway with No. 18 is only half the battle, though it's a damn important half. The Chiefs, on an uphill mountain climb in Manning's backyard, managed three second-half drives that each got inside Denver's 10.
Flip through our photo album of Chiefs cheerleaders.
They came away with all of seven points to show for it.
This is -- well, it's bad. It's bad anywhere, but it's especially bad in Denver, against Manning, especially when your defense is playing its naughty bits out minus Derrick Johnson, minus Mike DeVito, minus Joe Mays and, for a spell, minus Eric Berry, who injured an ankle and was seen leaving the field with about 3:08 left in the first half.
Your margin for error was about the width of a Ritz cracker going in. When you lose Berry and Charles (also ankle), that gap shrinks to rice paper.
That's on Andy Reid the play-caller, and Reid the play-caller has been busy shooting his own players in their respective cleats for two straight weekends now.
Against Tennessee, Reid forgot that Charles was on his roster. At Denver, he forgot he had a reasonably capable set of replacements, too.
Down 21-10, the Chiefs had the ball for 10 minutes to open the second half, somehow converting five third downs in the process, marching all the way to the Denver 4. On first down, rather than pound it, quarterback Alex Smith rolled right. On second down, holding, Zach Fulton. On second-and-goal at the 14, sack. On third-and-goal at the 19, another scramble right, and a what-the-hell prayer toward Donnie Avery.
Rookie Cairo Santos comes out for the 37-yard field-goal attempt, and pushes it wide right. Straight, on a line, wide right.
Nineteen plays, 61 yards, zero points.
Down 24-17 with 1:51 left in the contest, Smith finds Travis Kelce for 20 and Dwayne Bowe for 21 to take the rock to the Broncos' 9. Reid tried backup tailback Knile Davis up the middle for 2, then Smith found Donnie Avery on a route four yards short of the end zone. A pass-interference call turned a third-and-goal at the 4 into a third-and-2, and Reid tried Davis up the gut again. Nada. In a fourth-down, convert-or-go-home call, Big Red put the ball in Smith's hands for a quick strike, Bowe shot across from the left boundary on an "in" route, No. 11 fired -- and Denver defensive tackle Terrance Knighton batted it down at the edge of the end zone. Ballgame.
It was a poor end to a befuddling day in general for Reid. Fans will debate the lowest of the lows, though a fourth-and-1 call at midfield with 5:43 left in the first half might take the poop cake.
After dominating the line of scrimmage for much of the second quarter -- the Chiefs ran for 101 yards in the first half -- the coach, down 14-10, elected to punt at the Kansas City 48 rather than go for it and try and keep the ball out of Manning's hands.
That's a lack of faith. Faith in the line, which had shown marked improvement over Week 1's debacle. Faith in Davis. Faith in Smith. Or maybe it was faith in himself.
Regardless, Manning led the hosts right downfield the other way in 11 plays and 4:26, extending the cushion to 21-10.
You don't give Peytie Pie an extra turn with the knife, kemo sabe.
So an "A" for effort, a "B" for in-game adjustments and a "D" for play-calling. The Chiefs don't have a Pro Bowl inside linebacker and a good defensive end. They spent a good chunk of Sunday without a Pro Bowl running back and Pro Bowl safety.
But, hell, at least they've got a pulse.
You can follow Sean Keeler on Twitter @SeanKeeler or email him at seanmkeeler@gmail.com.
