By Nick Athan
WarpaintIllustrated.com
December 5, 2010
After the Chiefs hard fought 10-6 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, head coach Todd Haley walked to the middle of the field and gave his counterpart Josh McDaniels a big hug. After the embrace, he turned around, raised his fist and pointed towards the stands in a triumphant manner. This was a big win for his young team. And after the game, Haley momentarily let down his tough exterior.
There were so many story lines heading into this contest. It had been three weeks since the Broncos destroyed the Chiefs 49-29 that led to Haley snubbing McDaniels after the loss.
On Sunday, the Chiefs put that behind them and avenged that loss. No it wasn�t a blowout. Instead it was a physical game that was decided solely by the will of the players.
As a result, the Chiefs are now 8-4 on the season and riding atop the AFC West with a two-game lead over Oakland and San Diego. They have that lead because the Raiders went on the road Sunday afternoon and dropped the Chargers convincingly 28-13.
And now Kansas City can control their playoff destiny. But that matters very little at the moment. What does is how Kansas City won this game. Sunday the players showed just how badly they wanted to win this game. In fact after the game, the win also showed a side of Todd Haley that we in the media had yet to see out of the second year head coach.
�I�m excited to see guys care that passionately. This is an emotional game. These guys are going out there and leaving it out there. They are laying it on the line,� Haley said while fighting his emotions.
It wasn�t the tear factory that came after one of Dick Vermeil�s postgame news conferences. But it was poignant nonetheless.
It was really the first time that Haley let his guard down in front of the media. But he recognized as the game was unfolding the sacrifices each player made to earn this grind it out victory.
�These guys care and that is such a refreshing, positive thing out of this group,� Haley said while fighting back his emotions. �It makes it so much fun to go to work every day. I�ve heard so many of our coaches, myself included, say this is a fun group to be around and coach and it�s because they care.�
And when Haley looks at the game film on Monday, he needs to thank his players for bailing him out. On the opening drive of the third quarter leading 10-3, Haley chose to go for it on fourth down from the 2-yard line.
It didn�t work and it could have cost the Chiefs a victory. But his players wouldn�t let that happen. Down the stretch they made the plays to hold off the upset minded Broncos.
NO CATCHES FOR BOWE
After setting the NFL on fire the last seven games, Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe didn�t have a single catch Sunday afternoon against the Broncos. In fact, quarterback Matt Cassel only threw the ball his direction three times. And that was a direct result of the play of Broncos All Pro cornerback Champ Bailey.
In the open field, Bowe simply had no room to operate against Bailey�s in your face coverage. Throughout the game, Bailey jammed Bowe at the line of scrimmage and that slowed down his ability to get open. And on the one pass Bowe managed to catch in the game late in the fourth quarter, he was flagged for offensive pass interference that negated the catch and a Chiefs first down.
After the game, Bowe was philosophical with the media about the shutout. �He�s the best defender I ever went against,� Bowe proclaimed.
That certainly can�t be argued. Bowe torched Bailey in their first encounter for two touchdowns and 186 receiving yards. That wasn�t the case on Sunday. Still Bowe handled his disappointing day with grace and class.
�It�s disappointing,� he said of not getting a single catch Sunday. �But at the end of the day, we won.��
FLOWERS PLAYS
Cornerback Brandon Flowers made a surprise start on Sunday. He�s been suffering with a strained hamstring and was limited in practice all week. But after testing his leg in warm-ups, he was activated. His play on Sunday contributed to the woes of Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton. He completed just nine of 28 passes for 117 yards.
However, in the fourth quarter, he limped off the field. One would have thought he tweaked that sore hamstring but after the game he told reporters he had a leg cramp.
NEXT UP
The Chiefs travel to San Diego next Sunday to face the 6-6 Chargers. If Kansas City can defeat San Diego, they could eliminate their west coast division rival from winning their fifth straight AFC West crown.
