WEEK 1 - Chiefs 24 at Balitmore Ravens 38

WEEK 1 - Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
VENUE - Taxpayer Bailout Field, Baltimore, MD
WEATHER - Beauuuuutiful.
SCORE - KC - 24, BAL -38

OVERVIEW:
I went in to this game expecting a double-digit loss. I came out of this game with exactly that. A bunch of weird happened in between.  I did not think Croyle would start. I had been convinced all week that Cassel was going to go, and Haley was just messing with our heads. I was even more confident that Brandon Flowers was fine, and would start. Neither did. Knowing that at kickoff, I thought this would a trouncing of epic proportions. How can you say the offense held it's own when it' first four possessions were 3 & out, and the only first half points were by the special teams? How can you say the defense held it's own when they were lit up for 38 points and 500 yards? And yet....

OFFENSE:
You could say they're slow getting started. You could say that a glacier is, too. The first time they made a first down in the game was the last play before the 2:00 warning in the first half. And it was reviewed to see if they actually got that far. They held the ball for just 10 minutes in the first 30. The running game was non-existent - between Johnson and Charles, there were 15 totes for 28 stinking yards - 1.8 yards per carry. Inexcusable. On the other hand, Mark Bradley stepped up, and made the case to be the #2 wideout, with 73 yards and a gaudy 18 yards-per. The play calling, especially early, was just bad. I won't candy coat it. What I did like was the overall lack of stupid mistakes. They played basically free from penalties and turn-overs. Croyle's numbers were not glossy, but he threw 2 TDs and no picks, and posted a 116 QB rating.  Once again, however, the line was not up to the task, when it mattered. Croyle had the ball in his hands at the 2:00 warning, down by one score. Any team in the NFL would be happy with that position on the road against a top-tier opponent. But instead of marching for the score, the line let Brodie get eaten, the Ravens had a short field and they drove the stake through the heart with :38 on the clock. Until we have an O-line, the opposing D-coordinator's task is pretty easy. Stack 8 in the box, stuff the run and then mow down the quarterback.

DEFENSE:
At times they look completely lost. At times they look like a squad that can carry the team. The over all numbers were ugly - Over 300 yards and 3 TDs through the air. Over 150 yards and 1 more TD on the ground, with a 5+ yard per carry average. A 100-yard back. Two 70+ yard receivers. Over 500 total yards and 38 points. In their "defense" (sorry), they spent nearly 40 of the 60 minutes on the field. And while the starters are pretty good, there is little depth. They held their ground until the fourth quarter, and even then, the game wasn't decided until the Ravens put up 14 points in the final 3 minutes. Tamba Hali recorded a sack and a forced fumble and Derrick Johnson got a pick that he returned 70 yards. Still, Cory Mays and Derrick Johnson were drowning in pass coverage most of the day, and the safeties provided little support over the middle. They made washed up TE Todd Heap look like Tony Gonzales. Despite Hali's sack, Flacco consistently had time in the pocket. The best broadcast line came from CBS analyst, Rich Gannon, who said, "Flacco has time to balance his checkbook back there." Ouch. To his credit Maurice Leggett, after doing his "Toasty" impersonation in the first half, held his own in the second, despite being picked on all day, as he stood in for the injured Brandon Flowers. 

SPECIALS:
This unit really stepped up. All phases, except punt returns, performed well. Obviously the big play was former K-State Wildcat, Jon McGraw's blocked punt and TD recovery. But Mr. Irrelavent, Ryan Succop, nailed a 53-yard field goal, and consitently kicked deep kick offs. With the exception of one deliberate squibber, he put all of his kick offs inside the 10, and one even went out the back of the end zone. Coulquitt shanked one badly, but otherwise boomed his punts. Jamaal Charles and Quentin Lawrence handled kick off returns with Charles having a 23 yard average, and Lawrence 17. Any thing over 20 is considered solid. On the other hand, punt returns are still awful. Maybe if the guys got more practice, by, say the defense forcing more punts, it might help. Coverage is one area that doesn't get a lot of love, but it was consistently strong yesterday. Especially the punt coverage unit, which allowed an average of just 2.5 yards per return. Kudos.

THE REST OF THE WEST:
Donkeys: Managed to somehow beat the hapless Bungles, with some last-second miracle play. Denver is really bad.

Criminals: Play the Bolts tonight.

Bolts: Play the Criminals tonight.

AWARDS:
DOG: Larry Johnson. I know the line is bad, but 11 carries for 20 yards? I think you could find people off the street capable of that.

BONE: Goes to Jon McGraw. Who else? This team showed as much life as the morgue fridge, until McGraw gave them a spark with that blocked punt and scramble for a TD.

Remember to check out tailgate recipes at the Dogg Dish

NEXT WEEK: The East Bay Criminals invade The New Head for the home opener!

Your faithful scribe,
Mr Doggity