Kansas City Chiefs Strategy and Personnel
by Sports Xchange
--RB Kolby Smith suffered an ankle injury against Pittsburgh on Sunday, and his status for this weekend's game against San Diego is unknown. Some indication will be available on Tuesday, as the Chiefs will practice, breaking their normal routine of taking Tuesday's off.
--RB Jamaal Charles was the last man out of the Chiefs' training room after Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, as he was wearing a wrap around his waist and on his right arm. Charles took a pounding from the Steelers defense but never left the game because of a hit or injury.
--OLB Mike Vrabel likely will miss a second game because of the knee injury he suffered on Nov. 15 against Oakland. Vrabel has not practiced since that game and was inactive Sunday against Pittsburgh, the first game he's missed in six seasons.
--G Andy Alleman's status for Sunday's game in San Diego remains up in the air because of the knee injury that kept him out of the Pittsburgh game. Alleman was not close to practicing last week.
REPORT CARD VS. STEELERS
PASSING OFFENSE: B -- QB Matt Cassel and the Kansas City passing game were pitiful until midway through the fourth quarter, with 62 net passing yards. Part of it was poor pass protection, as Cassel was sacked five times. But then in the final period, Cassel got hot with both the long bomb and the short pass and threw the tying TD and connected with WR Chris Chambers for a 61-yard play that set up the overtime field goal that won the game.
RUSHING OFFENSE: D -- Against one of the best run defenses in the league, the Chiefs got nothing done. They averaged 3.4 yards per carry, totaled 68 yards and had a long run of 10 yards. They need more than that.
PASS DEFENSE: D -- The Chiefs gave up just short of 400 passing yards, and even though they got to Ben Roethlisberger three times and knocked him out of the game with a blow to the head, Roethlisberger had all day to throw. The two interceptions by LB Andy Studebaker were nice, but the Chiefs gave up too many big plays and three TD passes.
RUSH DEFENSE: C -- The Steelers were able to run for 114 yards, but they never really hurt the Chiefs with any big plays on the ground. Kansas City allowed 3.7 yards per carry, and the longest run was 13 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A -- When a team starts the game with a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown, it's going to be good day for the kicking game. Rookie K Ryan Succop was 2-for-2 on field goals, including the game-winner. Coverage was solid, and P Dustin Colquitt had a good day.
COACHING: B -- Todd Haley got his third victory as a head coach and did it by maintaining his cool and convincing his team to go out and have fun. The Chiefs' overall effort was not perfect by any means, but the team played with enthusiasm and played to win. Kansas City didn't play not to lose, which has been a problem this season.
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