The Kansas City Chiefs got their first win of the season today over the Minnesota Vikings but while the outcome was favorable, the start to the game was anything but.
The Chiefs offense and QB Matt Cassel had been struggling all season long, and those struggles continued in the first half of Sunday’s game. Things seemed to come to a head when Cassel threw a ball into the ground late in the first half when the Chiefs were in the red zone. Cassel appeared to be trying to protect the football but upon further review, he likely could have tried to make a play with his legs. Chiefs coach Todd Haley seemed to take issues with Cassel’s decision on the play and the two had words and had to be separated by FB Le’Ron McClain and RB Thomas Jones.
The Chiefs kicked a FG to close the drive and went to the locker room for halftime.
After the half, however, Cassel came out firing. He had only thrown for 99 yards in the first half but the Chiefs QB finished the game with 260 yards passing and a touchdown.
So did Cassel’s argument with Haley fire the QB up and fuel his solid second half performance?
“You know I seem to respond well to when I’m pushed and when my backs up against the wall,” said Cassel after the game. “And Coach tries to create an environment even in practice where he challenges you and he rides you and he does that thing because what he wants to make is that environment, when you get to the game, when you get to game day on Sunday, that it’s easy and you’ve dealt with it throughout the week, you’ve dealt with it, you know, before. So I understand, you know, his purpose and I also like the open dialogue as well that he’s able to have with his players.”
Whatever the reason for Cassel’s second half outburst, Chiefs fans are hoping the QB can keep the hot hand when the team travels to Indianapolis next week to take on the Colts.
What do you think, Addicts? Did the Cassel-Haley argument give Cassel the fire he needed to stop thinking and start slinging?