Chiefs Hit Another Bump In The Road

     The 2011 Kansas City Chiefs have already had bad luck and bad play. In the last preseason game, the Chiefs lost their starting Tight End Tony Moeaki to a torn ACL. To start the season, the Chiefs lost their All-Pro Safety Eric Berry to a torn ACL in the first quarter of the season in a blow-out 41-7 against the Buffalo Bills. The on week 2, the Chiefs traveled to Detroit Lions and lost All-Pro Running Back Jamaal Charles to, what else, a torn ACL. They lost, embarrassingly 48-3. The Chiefs traveled to San Diego to face the Chargers in week 3 and played a close game. The Chiefs were driving, down a field goal, with less than 2 minutes left in the game. The Chiefs were to run a simple bubble screen to the left, but a miscommunication occurred, leading to a San Diego defensive lineman to intercept the ball to end the game.
      The Chiefs were looking at a 0-4 start when they went down 17-0 to the Colts. Matt Cassel led the Chiefs to a comeback win; 28-24. The Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead the next week and improved their record to 2-3. The Chiefs traveled to Oakland, California to face their arch rivals, the Oakland Raiders; the Chiefs thoroughly dismantled their offense forcing their two quarterbacks to throw six total interceptions in a shutout win 28-0. The Chiefs came back home for a Halloween Monday Night showdown versus the Chargers for the AFC West lead. The Chiefs looked like they were going to lose when late in the fourth quarter in a tie game, the Chargers in well in field goal range; Chargers QB inexplicably fumbles the snap which the Chiefs recover and go to overtime. Ultimately, Chiefs kicker, Ryan Succop nails a field goal to win the game. Kansas City was at 4-3 on top of the AFC West.
     The, win less, Miami Dolphins come to town and destroy the Chiefs 31-3 in Arrowhead. The next week, the Denver Broncos come to Kansas City and also takes down the Chiefs 17-10; but more importantly, Chiefs QB Matt Cassel did not finish the game. He exited the game early with an injury to his throwing hand, which was later to be determined to be a broken hand requiring season-ending surgery.
     Tyler Palko is now the Chiefs starting quarterback as they go into New England to face the Patriots on Monday Night Football. They were demolished 34-3.