Struggling Chiefs OK with conservative approach

BY DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
11/27/12 at 5:49 AM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It's Week 12 and the Kansas City Chiefs already have nothing to lose.

They have dropped eight straight games to be officially eliminated from playoff contention. They lead the NFL in turnovers, haven't scored a touchdown in more than 11 quarters and still have just one lonely win during one of the worst seasons in franchise history.

Time to throw caution to the wind, right?

Time to go for broke, right?

Time to do something - anything, really - to ignite a floundering franchise, right?

Think again.

Coach Romeo Crennel said he stands by his decision to keep kicking field goals rather than attempt several short fourth downs in a 17-9 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, even though his own players acknowledged it was going to take more than 3s to win.

In short, he approached the game like the Chiefs were 10-1, rather than 1-10.

"You have to do what you think is right at the time," Crennel said Monday, "and I thought going against this particular team that points on the board was going to be important. The more points the better, but we definitely needed points on the board."

The first instance came on the opening drive, when the Chiefs actually showed some moxie by having Peyton Hillis throw a halfback pass on third-and-3 from the Denver 16. When it fell woefully incomplete, though, Crennel sent in Ryan Succop to kick a field goal.

The second came on the Chiefs' next drive, when they marched to the Denver 4. This time, Succop was sent on rather than going for it on fourth-and-2, and the result was a 6-0 lead that was wiped out when the Broncos put together a touchdown drive just before halftime.

That shouldn't have been a surprise: Denver had scored at least 30 points in five straight games, making it unlikely that Kansas City could win simply by throwing jabs.

The Chiefs needed to throw a haymaker, and they never even tried.

They have gone more than 173 minutes without scoring a touchdown, their last one coming in the first quarter Nov. 12 against Pittsburgh. They have scored just 31 points in the three games since Crennel fired himself as defensive coordinator and said he would spend more time with the offense.

"When I made the decisions that I made, I had good reason for making them," Crennel said, "and you don't look back. You make your decision and if they work, they think you're a genius. If they don't work, you go the other way. You're a dummy."

Original Print Headline: 1-10 Chiefs OK with conservative approach

Chiefs up next

Vs. Carolina

Noon Sunday

Associated Images:

Kansas City running back Peyton Hillis is tackled by Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil during the first half of Sunday's game in Kansas City, Mo. CHARLIE RIEDEL / Associated Press