Chiefs want to forget late collapse
The Kansas City Chiefs have heard enough about their lastminute collapse to Denver.
With a trip to Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, the Chiefs will end an agonizing 11- day stretch since that disheartening defeat to the Broncos.
“They understand the challenge that’s ahead of them,” coach Andy Reid said. “Move on and learn from your mistakes and we roll.”
But boy did the Chiefs commit some late blunders in the 31- 24 loss at home to Denver back on Sept. 17.
Five turnovers, none bigger than a fumble by the typically sure- handed Jamaal Charles that was scooped up and returned by cornerback Bradley Roby 21 yards for the go- ahead touchdown with 27 seconds left. No thirddown conversions on seven chances. A late fourth quarter touchdown drive allowed by the defence.
All caught on national television in prime time. How deflating.
But the Chiefs ( 1- 1) promise that they’re not looking back. It just so happens that they get a chance to redeem themselves in another nationallytelevised night game.
“Try to finish plays and just go out there and play ball and just finish plays to the best of our abilities,” safety Eric Berry said.
This is exactly what the Packers ( 2- 0) did on Sept. 20 when they beat the Seattle Seahawks 27- 17.
Green Bay outplayed the defending NFC champions in the fourth quarter, inspired by a 10- play, 80- yard drive for the go- ahead score masterfully orchestrated by MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The defence came up with two turnovers in the game’s final seven minutes.
“That was an emphasis coming into the season, finishing,” veteran linebacker Julius Peppers said. “It’s shown up in the games when we needed it.”
Some other things to watch ahead of the teams’ first meeting since a 19- 14 win by the Chiefs in 2011:
RODGERS VS. SMITH: Rodgers and Chiefs counterpart Alex Smith are buddies. Rodgers roots for his fellow quarterback when they’re not playing each other.
But Monday night, Rodgers gets another chance to remind teams what they missed after passing him up before the Packers selected him with the 24th overall pick of the 2005 draft. Smith was the first pick that year by the San Francisco 49ers.
Neither wanted to rehash the past this week. Keep in mind that Rodgers, a twotime NFL MVP, makes his statements on the field.
GROUND CONTROL: Chicago’s shifty Matt Forte ran all over the Packers in the season opener. Seattle’s bullish Marshawn Lynch was stopped cold by gang-tackling Green Bay last week.
Charles, an explosive allpurpose threat for the Chiefs is up next for Green Bay. He ran for 125 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries last week.
Packers defensive co- ordinator Dom Capers said the key to stopping any back, no matter the style, is to slow him early.