12
Oct
2010
Hit Of The Week: Antoine Bethea levels Jamaal Charles (VIDEO)
(Photo: Matt Detrich / The Star)
We’ve started a new tradition every week here at ReadAndReact by bringing you the Hit of the Week! We’ll find the most brutal tackle (or block) from each weekend of NFL games, and present it for your viewing pleasure.
Today’s HOTW comes from the Colts’ 19-9 win over the previously undefeated Chiefs. This game ended up being a defensive showdown, and in the 2nd quarter Safety Antoine Bethea set the tone for the Colts D with this vicious hit on Jamaal Charles. Watch as Bethea delivers a perfect textbook tackle on Charles, causing a fumble which Indy recovered:
26
Sep
2010
Don’t look now, but the Chiefs are 3-0
Rookie WR Dexter McCluster and his Chiefs are off to a hot start (Photo: The Canadian Press via TSN)
The Kansas City Chiefs – nobody’s pick to win the AFC west – improved to 3-0 with an impressive 31-10 win over the 49ers this afternoon. Matt Cassel threw for 3 TDs, including this incredible endzone grab by rookie TE Tony Moeaki:
Through three games, Moeaki has 12 catches for 123 yards and 2 TDs, and with plays like that, should be a popular fantasy pick up this week.
Elsewhere on offense, the two-headed monster of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles combined for 192 yards and 1 score on the ground, while the Chiefs defense kept the 49er offense out of the endzone until the very last second of the game. Give Todd Haley credit – whatever he’s doing in Kansas City seems to be working. After winning only ten games in the previous three seasons combined, the Chiefs are now 3-0 for the first time since 2003. and in the unpredictable AFC West, they have an early inside track on a playoff berth. (UPDATE: Since the Raiders, Chargers and Broncos all managed to blow their games today, the Chiefs have a 2-game lead over the rest of the division. And with a bye week, they’ll go at least one more week undefeated.)
But are they for real? I’m not so sure yet.
3
Jan
2010
VIDEO: Charles runs wild in Denver; Broncos miss playoffs
The Denver Broncos completed one of the worst collapses in NFL history on Sunday, getting routed 44-24 by the Kansas City Chiefs, and becoming the third team ever to start 6-0 and miss the post-season.
Jamaal Charles ran for a Chiefs franchise record 259 yards and 2 TDs, while LB Derrick Johnson returned two 2nd half Kyle Orton passes for touchdowns. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Broncos, who started the season as the NFL’s darlings, but fell apart down the stretch. Orton came crashing back down to earth as the season wore on, and finished with 3 INTs on the day, while Charles drove the final nail in the coffin with the 56-yd TD above.
Continue reading after the jump for video of the Broncos getting Orton’d with Derrick Johnson’s 60-YD INT return.
21
Dec
2009
VIDEO: Joshua Cribbs returns kicks better than anyone else … ever
If there has been one shining bright spot in Cleveland this season, it has been the play of WR/KR/PR/QB/RB Joshua Cribbs. Yesterday, Cribbs proved once again that he can create offense single-handedly, helping the Browns to a 41-34 win over the KC Chiefs.
One of the most dangerous men in the league with the ball in his hands, Cribbs returned not one but TWO kickoffs for 100+-yard TDs to set a new NFL record for KO returns for TD in a career:
Ummm … note to Eric Mangini and the Browns staff: you might just want to give the ball to Cribbs on every play.
10
Nov
2009
The Kansas City Chiefs are better at spoofing NBC than they are at football
Since the Kansas City Chiefs can’t seem to field a competitive football team, it only seems appropriate that they would turn their energy toward creating video spoofs of NBC’s hottest comedies … right?
Earlier this year, the Chiefs posted this parody of The Office to their home page, and as much as I was expecting to hate it, it’s actually pretty funny … plus, the Pam is super-cute:
This week, with the Chiefs riding low at 1-7, the front office has sent Larry Johnson packing, and set their comedic sights on 30 Rock. Seems like a perfect plan to get things turned around! They’ve gone so far as to post the video as the first thing anyone sees when they visit the Chiefs’ home page. And while it’s not quite as good as The Office, it’s still pretty well done.
WATCH THE CHIEFS SEND-UP OF 30 ROCK AFTER THE JUMP
6
Nov
2009
How lame are the Kansas City Chiefs?
With their internal PR department apparently being run by a flock of seventh-grade girls, the Chiefs recently posted this sign in their facility. (Thanks to KissingSuzyKolber.com for the link.)
(Source: KissingSuzyKolber.com)
11
Oct
2009
Miles Austin single-handedly beats the Chiefs
Miles Austin took the Dallas Cowboys and carried them on his back this afternoon in Kansas City, with a club record 10 catches for 250 yards and 2 TDs, including this game-winning 60-yd catch-and-run in OT:
[Via]
3
Sep
2009
VICK HITS THE SCENE WEEK THREE
Without getting into all the sticky details, Roger Godell and the NFL stated today that Michael Vick will be eligible to return to regular season play WEEK THREE.
The Eagles will host the Kansas City Chiefs–who seem extremely ripe for the picking.
Vick's last regular season game was on New Year's Eve 2006. His team at the time, the Falcons, lost 24-17 to the Eagles--his team of today.
3
Sep
2009
Open season on offensive coordinators
The Tampa Buccaneers have become the second team in a week to fire their offensive coordinator. Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs dismissed Chan Gailey, who possessed an abundance of experience at the coordinator level (and served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for a spell). For the Chiefs, experience wasn’t the issue. For the Bucs, from what we’re told by Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, experience–and lack of it–was the deciding factor in the firing of first-time NFL offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.
Tampa Bay Head Coach Raheem Morris has shown no fear in making decisions to transform the Bucs.
Jagodzinski was let go today after team officials came to the conclusion that he wasn’t ready to run an NFL offense. Jagodzinski was hired this past winter by the Bucs following two successful seasons as head coach of the Boston College Eagles. After leading the team to consecutive 11-3 and 9-5 seasons, Jagodzinski was fired by Boston College when the team discovered that “Jag” had interviewed for the vacant New York Jets head coaching position. Soon after, he came to the Bucs with high hopes but, according to Stroud, “Sometime during training camp, it became increasingly apparent to Bucs officials and players, that Jagodzinski was not equipped to install and direct an NFL offense… as the preseason wore on, Bucs officials kept a close eye on Jagodzinski and did not feel he had the attention to detail required to remain as offensive coordinator.”
Now, honestly, I feel pretty rotten posting a story about a guy getting fired. That said, the process around “installing and offense” remains fascinating, and after watching Hard Knocks the past few nights, the coaches meetings–in every possible way–prove intriguing. We don’t frequently get a deep look into what these guys do, week to week. The game preparation, the film study, the meticulous preparation (sleeping three hours per day) is obviously intense.
The good news for Jagodzinski? NFL coaches have a tendency to bounce back. There’s no sense that he disenfranchised his peers, or came equipped with a poor attitude. And, like so many young players who find themselves released from their teams over the next 24 hours, there may be a second chance.
2
Sep
2009
Former Patriot Assistants trip over themselves trying to claim Kevin O’Connell
Kevin O'Connell could reunite with Josh McDaniels in Denver
When the Patriots released back-up QB Kevin O’Connell on Monday, it seemed clear that at least one of Belichick’s former staffers would make a play for the 2008 3rd round choice. With the recent injury to Kyle Orton and presence of his former OC Josh McDaniels, Denver seemed like the most obvious fit for O’Connell.
But according to ProFootballTalk, not one, but FOUR teams have put in a waiver claim for O’Connell: Denver, Cleveland, Detroit and the NY Jets. Both the Jets and Lions need back-ups for their rookie QBs, so those teams make sense too. Cleveland is interesting, though. They already have a QB controversy, so does this mean Eric Mangini simply wants more in-house fodder for trade talks?
Let’s face it, Belichick could release a turd, and most of his disciples would kill themselves trying to scoop it out of the toilet. So is O’Connell a real viable option at QB, or just a sign that these young head coaches are desperate, and would be happy with Belichick’s table scraps?
Interestingly, the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t made a claim for O’Connell, which means that the GM who drafted him (Scott Pioli) a year ago isn’t interested. And with an ailing Matt Cassell, that could be a statement in and of itself.
