Blast from the past leaves fans bored, Chiefs winless in Denver

By Clayton Wendler  |   Tuesday, September 19, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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It was like something out of a time machine.

Looking a whole lot like a Kansas City Chiefs team from a decade ago, Herm Edwards' 2006 edition tried to grind, scrape, claw and scratch their way to a win at Invesco Field on Sunday. They came up just short, losing 9-6 in overtime.

This was not the brand of football Chiefs fans were used to seeing the last five years. Forget touchdowns. The Chiefs looked almost content to settle for first downs. Three yards and a cloud of dust was back in style on Sunday, and so was defense.

For the first time since 1995, the Chiefs walked into Denver and held the Broncos under 10 points. Even more impressive is the fact that the Chiefs held Denver out of its own Mile-High end zone for the first time since 1971.

Those 1995 Chiefs fielded the likes of Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith, Dale Carter and James Hasty. The 1971 Chiefs had Buck Buchanan, Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier and Emmitt Thomas. It's too early to draw comparisons between those great defenses and Gunther Cunningham's current unit, but there is reason for optimism.

The Broncos have had their way with Kansas City defenses in Denver over the last several years. From 2001 through 2005, the Broncos averaged 32 points a game at home against the Chiefs.

Sunday was a complete role reversal. Kansas City's offense could barely keep its head above water. The defense kept the Chiefs in the game all the way until the end. The unit was downright dominant in the first half, holding the Broncos to 103 total yards and only five first downs.

"The defense played as well as you could ask for," said guard Brian Waters. "They did an unbelievable job of keeping us in the game."

While the defense was keeping it close, Kansas City's offense was surely making former head coach Dick Vermeil squirm in his armchair somewhere. Without starting quarterback Trent Green, the Chiefs went conservative, almost completely scrapping their downfield passing game.

Backup quarterback Damon Huard didn't throw a single pass into the end zone. The Chiefs ran on third-and-five in the first quarter. They ran the ball with 41 seconds left in regulation.

Even when the Chiefs passed, it looked like a run. Most of Huard's throws were short, almost like extended handoffs.

Eventually, it caught up to the Chiefs. Kansas City's defense kept it in the game, but Kansas City's offense kept Denver in the game.

And that brings us back to that time machine. With the game bearing resemblance to a Marty Schottenheimer-slugfest from years past, Chiefs fans may have almost been expecting Tamarick Vanover to appear out of nowhere and run back a punt for the game-winning touchdown.

Instead, Jake Plummer took on the John Elway role, and ripped out their hearts.

With just over seven minutes left in the contest, Plummer took control of Denver's offense from its own 20, and led the Broncos down the field for the game-tying field goal. In overtime, it was more of the same, with Plummer completing a long pass to Javon Walker, setting up Jason Elam for a potential game-winning field goal.

The kick was perfect, and the Broncos had their sixth straight victory over the Chiefs in Denver.

Some things never change.

Comments? Suggestions? Criticism? Contact C.E. Wendler at cwendler@realfootball365.com

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