Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
This may be a little bit late but when the Chiefs do something good we need to make sure we recognize it. This is the first really good Earning Their Arrowheads of the 2012 season. Like the column, better late than never.
Let’s take a look at which Chiefs earned their arrowheads in Sunday’s emotional victory over the Carolina Panthers. We’ll use stats and grades from Pro Football Focus to find out which players did well. The player’s PFF grade is in parenthesis.
Offense:
This was the best performance of the year by the KC offense. Here are some of the standouts.
Brady Quinn (+4.1)
Quinn had the best game of his career. He was efficient, took care of the ball and converted a number of key third downs when he needed to. If he shows the same resolve against the Browns the Chiefs will have a good chance of winning two-straight.
Jeff Allen (+3.5)
Allen was the second-highest graded offensive player. Impressive day for the rookie.
Steve Maneri (+2.7)
The former tackle turned TE did a great job run blocking. He played 42 snaps and helped keep Jamaal Chalres going.
Jamaal Charles (2.0)
Without this guy the Chiefs probably don’t have an offense.
Patrick Demarco (+2.0)
The full back played 40 plays and aided in the run game.
Jon Baldwin +0.7
Baldwin only played 21 snaps but he made the most of them.
Dwayne Bowe +1.8
Pedestrian game for “The Show” but the Chiefs probably don’t win without him.
Tony Moeaki +2.1
Moeaki continues to bounce back from his injury by making an impact in the passing game. HE played 71 of the team’s 72 offensive snaps.
Defense:
Not as impressive…
Tamba Hali +0.3
Tamba struggled in the run game but as usual, he brought the heat.
Eric Berry +0.6
Berry had an average game but he jacked up his hand, got it wrapped and came back in. With injuries to DJ and Flowers, the Chiefs couldn’t afford to lose Berry. For that alone, he gets the nod.
Justin Houston +0.7
Don’t look now but Houston is the Chiefs’ best defensive player. He turned in another sack, two QB hurries and two stops.
Special Teams:
Ryan Succop
Three of his five kickoffs were touchbacks and he his two long field goals. Succop is 25 of 28 on FG tries on the season.