Four Plays Doom Chiefs In Indy

The Kansas City Chiefs were defeated 19-9 by the Indianapolis Colts but the game was a lot closer than even the score indicates.

The surprising Chiefs showed the nation that they are for real by bringing the best defensive effort of any team all year against Peyton Manning.

In the end, however, it was four plays that doomed the Chiefs on the road. There is no doubt, had the Chiefs avoided these four mistakes, they would have had a much better chance of upsetting the Colts.

1. The first quarter failed fourth down conversion.

The Chiefs first offensive drive could have ended in points but a decision to go for it on fourth down, cost the Chiefs.

Kansas City moved down the field at will on the Colts defense, marching 73 yards on 15 plays but were stopped short on the Colts’ 8-yard line.

Facing 4th and 2, and trailing 3-0, the Chiefs decided to go for it on 4th down but failed, costing theselves a sure 3 points.

The other three plays after the jump.

2. Jamaal Charles’ fumble.

The Chiefs were driving mid-way through the 2nd quarter when Jamaal Charles broke lose on a 8-yard run to the Indy 33 where he was drilled by Antwan Bethea. Charles fumbled the ball and the Colts took over. Indy failed to score on the turnover but the turnover cost the Chiefs a chance to move ahead.

3. Dwayne Bowe’s TD Drop

With 3:44 to go in the third quarter the Chiefs took over on the Indy 30 after veteran John McGraw picked off a Peyton Manning pass. The Chiefs went for the Colts throat on the very next play. Cassel fired off perhaps his very best pass of the game, hitting WR Dwayne Bowe in the hands in the corner of the end zone.

Bowe dropped the ball. He cost the Chiefs 7 points.

4. Ryan Succop misses a 51-yard FG

This play isn’t on the list to dump on Succop. He played a fantastic game and n 51-yard FG is a gimme.

At the end of the game, with the Chiefs down 10 and facing a fourth down and four, Todd Haley decided his odds were better going for the FG than trying to convert the first down. Succop missed the FG and effectively eneded the game.

Points are points and in a game where the Chiefs only lost by ten, they needed Succop to be perfect.

There you have it Addicts. There were four glaring plays that could have turned the tide for the Chiefs. There was also a a play where Derrick Johnson dropped a sure pick six that gets an honorable mention but no real blame can be put on the defense.

Romeo Crennel’s guys held Manning to 5.5 yards per pass and kept the Colts under 100 yards rushing.

In the end it was a handful of plays that made the difference.

What do you think Addicts? What plays do you think doomed the Chiefs?