Sep 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) carries the ball against New England Patriots the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—It looked as if the Chiefs fielded a completely different team on Monday compared to Week 1.
With the 41-14 drubbing of the New England Patriots (2-2), the Chiefs moved to an even 2-2 record on the season and have won two in a row after starting 0-2.
The Chiefs offense has come alive, scoring a combined 75 points in the two wins after producing 27 total points in the two losses.
Without further ado, here are the highs and lows from Monday Night Football.
HIGHS:
• Running back Jamaal Charles came back in full force after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2. Charles had 92 yards rushing and a touchdown on 18 attempts, while adding 16 yards receiving and two touchdowns on three receptions.
• Charles wasn’t the only Kansas City running back having a field day. Knile Davis also racked up the yards. He had 107 yards rushing on 16 attempts, adding 12 yards receiving.
• Tight end Travis Kelce has looked good for the Chiefs all season and the story was no different on Monday. Kelce had 93 yards receiving and a touchdown on eight receptions.
• The Chiefs defense was all over the Patriots offense, resulting in turnovers. The first turnover for the Chiefs this season was a fumble recovered by linebacker Tamba Hali following a strip-sack. One wasn’t enough for the Chiefs, as the team went above and beyond for three. Cornerback Sean Smith caught an interception and returned it for 34 yards. Free safety Husain Abdullah caught the second interception and ran it to the house.
• Abdullah and Justin Houston were forces to be reckoned with. Abdullah had eight tackles, one quarterback hurry, one interception and defended three passes. Houston sacked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady twice and put up six solo tackles and one assist.
“Any time you can touch a hall of fame quarterback, it’s a great feeling,” Houston said. “I was very excited.”
EXTRA CREDIT:
Arrowhead Stadium regained the title of loudest outdoor stadium over CenturyLink Field. Monday night’s crowd knocked the old record of 137.6 out of the park. The crowd registered 142.2 decibels.
“I never thought I would be fired up for decibel levels,” coach Andy Reid said after the game.
LOWS:
• The Chiefs terribly mismanaged the clock on the last drive before halftime. A lucky break from an illegal use of hands penalty on the Patriots allowed the Chiefs to tack on a field goal with one second left. Without the penalty, the halftime score would have been 14-0 instead of 17-0.
• Running back/wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas sat out his fourth straight game due to a hamstring injury. Fans are wondering when he’ll enter a game this season and so far there’s no telling as to when that might be.
• The offensive line gave up two sacks, totaling quarterback Alex Smith’s times sacked count to 13 on the season. Smith is on pace to be sacked 52 times this season, which would tie for 28th all-time in a single season since times sacked became an official statistic in 1969.
• Early in the night, Charles ran into teammate wide receiver Junior Hemingway, who was providing blocking for Charles to the edge, a few yards out of bounds. With Charles coming off an injury, mishaps like that could be costly. Fortunately for the Chiefs, nothing happened with this incident.
• Wide receiver Donny Avery went out with a groin strain during the game. There wasn’t much more information on his injury, but Reid said the staff will be watching him.
