Chiefs look horrible in home opening loss to Bengals 23-10
The Chiefs were beat up and battered by the Bengals in Herman Edwards first game as head coach. Trent Green completed 11 of 15 passes (73.3%) for 90 yards and a pick-off. Green also carried the ball 4 times for 21 yards, but was knocked out of the game on a wicked hit by DE Robert Geathers as he was sliding. Damon Huard came in and did ok, completing 12 of 20 passes (60%) for 140 yards and a TD. RB Larry Johnson had 17 carries for 68 yards (4.0 ypc) and caught 5 passes for 80 yards (16.0 avg). TE Tony Gonzalez caught 10 passes for 81 yards and a TD.
The Chiefs defense did not play as bad as most people thought they would in this game. The Bengals rushed for 116 yards, but only averaged 3.4 yards per carry. The Cats threw only 19 times, but completed 13 of them(68.4%) for only 120 net yards passing.
I hate to say this about Herman Edwards……but I told you so!
A season is not lost after the first loss of the season. With that said, I must say the future was left bright with returning talent and a saying that was stressed over and over again from Coach Vermeil.
” Exacution is the key to playing great football game after game.” His teams exacuted well even with a marginal defense. What do you think about our present offense and defense in regard to exacution? I haven’t seen any from preseason to date! Don’t get me wrong, I am a true Chiefs fan and I am looking for someone to step up and make the needed changes NOW. Send a truck load of money to Louisiana and ask Willie to “COME ON DOWN!” At least find someone that can ADEQUATELY replace him. Trent has been on his backside every game. No wonder this incident put the hurt on him and KC.WE NEED HELP NOW, no time in a short 16 game season to wait and see.
Execution is one thing, but when you don’t have any real threats at wide receiver, a more than suspect offensive line, and now you don’t have anyone to throw the football anyway you aren’t going to be very successful. Larry Johnson is going to get mighty tired of seeing eight and nine men in the box.
KC needed to do more in the off-season to prepare for the loss of Trent Green. Huard is so far opposite of the answer and Croyle is no where near ready. Someone needed to be brought in to take over the helm at QB once Trent is done. Your teams that have success will have a competent back up at QB. We don’t have that. Not even close.
The defense has to be better this year. At some point you have to improve. The defense is one palce they have attempted to improve.
That being said, I will never give up on the Chiefs!! We just may be in for a rough ride this year.