Chiefs Get Crushed By Falcons 40-24

Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

The Kansas City Chiefs started out with plenty of fight but injuries to their defense proved to be too devastating to overcome.

The KC offense came out on fire but so did Atlanta’s. Neither team punted in the first half and KC fans were feeling pretty good when the Chiefs went into the half trailing by only three.

But the second half was not as pleasant as the first. The KC offense got the ball and drove down field for a FG try to tie the game. Ryan Succop’s kick bounced off the upright and it was all down hill from there.

The KC defense simply couldn’t stop Atlanta’s receivers and eventually the KC offense buckled, turning over the ball multiple times. From there, the rout was on.

There is going to be a lot of overreacting and panic after this game. People will say Romeo Crennel needs a defensive coordinator and Scott Pioli will be raked over the coals for allowing Brandon Carr to leave for Dallas.

The fact of the matter is, the Chiefs were out-matched, playing a Super Bowl-caliber team in the Atlanta Falcons. They were missing four starters on defense and they simply couldn’t keep up in the track meet.

But the Chiefs showed me enough to still be excited about the 2012 season. I’ve no doubt that when Hali and Flowers return, the defense will settle down, and the offense appears stronger than it has been since Pioli arrived in KC. The Chiefs’ schedule softens significantly down the stretch. If the injuries don’t get them, I anticipate the Chiefs will be in contention at the end of the season.

It’s a long year folks.