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| Other Week 9 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI at CHI | BAL at CIN | CAR at NO | DAL at PHI | DET at SEA | GB at TB | HOU at IND | KC at JAX |
| MIA at NE | PIT at DEN | SD at NYG | TEN at SF | WAS at ATL | |||
Week 9 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 24
Kansas City Chiefs
| QB Matt Cassel, Pass: 23 - 39 - 262 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0 |
You might think that Cassel played well from the final score and his stat line, but he didn't. The Chiefs only found the end zone late in the fourth quarter when they were already down 18 points. They moved the ball well on the first drive by feeding Jamaal Charles, and then they abandoned him until the fourth quarter, when they started moving the ball again. Cassel threw a lot of short passes to try to establish makeable down/distances, but the Jags caught on and started blitzing and playing more aggressive in the second half, putting Cassel under consistent pressure. Cassel was at his best in the end of half hurry-up offense, getting the Chiefs close enough for a long FG attempt in the first half, and two garbage time TDs in the second half. He was able to hit Chris Chambers with a lollipop deep ball when he got behind the safety for one TD, and a lollipop deep ball to Dwayne Bowe set up the second TD, a play Cassel kept alive and then found Chambers on in the front corner of the end zone. At this point, the Chiefs offense has no identity and Cassel looks like a very talented, but limited top-end backup masquerading as a starter.
| RB Jamaal Charles, Rush: 6 - 36 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Charles got touches on three of the first four plays and made good gains out of them, but then the Chiefs inexplicably went to a RB rotation that cooled Charles off. He got more touches in the fourth quarter did well with, too. He ran hard between the tackles and even got a few yards after contact. He caught the ball well as a receiver out of the backfield and showed good urgency getting upfield to make positive plays out of his receptions, especially on his two-point conversion. Charles burst is translating on runs between the tackles and when he tries to get the corner. He deserves more work, and should get it if the Chiefs coaching is rational.
| RB Kolby Smith, Rush: 4 - 17 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Smith got some touches, including in the red zone, but he looked slow and not very creative on his runs. He did have one nice inside, but his average at best burst and quicks kept him from breaking a big gain. He is clearly a backup quality RB, not a diamond in the rough.
| RB Dantrell Savage, Rush: 2 - 4 - 0, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Savage got in for a few touches, but looked like a not very shifty or fast scatback.
| WR Lance Long, Rec: 8 - 74 - 0 (11 targets) |
Long emerged as the Welker-esque underneath quick passing outlet for Cassel in this game. He sat down in spots close to the line of scrimmage and made sure-handed catches. Long showed no fear working the middle, and he also helped out Cassel by getting open on a broken play that ended up being his best gain of the day. Long made a good leaping catch took a hit to bring the ball in, and he also got targets in the red zone and end zone. While the Chiefs are trying to establish order on offense, expect Cassel to lean on Long, making Long a decent sleeper in PPR leagues.
| WR Dwayne Bowe, Rec: 4 - 74 - 0 (10 targets) |
Bowe caught the first pass of the game, and then he was MIA until the fourth quarter. The Jags pressure and the Chiefs short passing game kept Bowe from getting involved. He is clearly frustrated, as Bowe got called for offensive pass interference on a throwaway by Cassel that had no chance of being completed. Bowe caught a deep 50/50 ball late in the game by out-muscling the defensive back to salvage a decent fantasy day. He was also wide open for a TD on the second desperation drive, but Cassel missed him badly. He will continue to produce below his immense talent level until this team gets a lot sharper on offense.
| WR Chris Chambers, Rec: 3 - 70 - 2 (4 targets) |
Chambers had a strong debut for the Chiefs, even though he wasn't heard from until the game was out of hand. He showed he still has deep speed by getting behind Sean Considine on his long TD catch, and he got in a good spot for Matt Cassel in the front of the end zone after Rashean Mathis slipped trying to cover him on the second desperation drive. He doesn't have as much value as his stat line indicates, but he has more than he did a few days ago.
| WR Mark Bradley, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (4 targets) |
Bradley had a bad drop, but also had a nice run after the catch during one of the desperation drives. He's not getting his starting job back from Chris Chambers.
| TE Sean Ryan (2 targets) |
Ryan badly dropped his target, and Cassel didn't go back to him for the rest of the day.
Jacksonville Jaguars
| QB David Garrard, Pass: 18 - 27 - 264 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 9 - 29 - 0 |
Garrard played nearly flawless football to lead the Jags to a win that wasn't nearly as close as the final score. He pulled a Houdini to escape one sure sack, and he avoided pressure on multiple plays, leading to the throwaways that made up most of his incompletions. When he wasn't throwing the ball away, Garrard was very accurate, whether on the move or in the pocket, and he was spotting open receivers downfield with regularity. Most of his stats came on two busted coverage throws to Mike Sims-Walker, but he wasn't asked to do too much, as the Jags led for most of the game. The offensive line mostly did a good job of giving Garrard time to throw, and he took advantage of it. He continues to be a much better play at home, even though the Jags barely draw a crowd for their games.
| RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Rush: 29 - 97 - 1, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (4 targets) |
The Chiefs found out that you can keep Jones-Drew down for most of the game, but not all of the game. He was met at or near the line of scrimmage on at least ten of his carries, but Jones-Drew soldiered on, getting yards by keeping his legs churning on more than one carry, including his TD run. Jones-Drew showed off his skill as a receiver downfield on a few catches, but mostly he was slamming the ball between the tackles to keep the Chiefs defense honest and set up the coverage lapses that led to the Jags big plays. MJD found a little more room on his outside carries, but for the most part, he fought for every yard during this courageous effort.
| RB Rashad Jennings, Rush: 2 - 29 - 1, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets) |
Jennings only got a few touches, but he made the most of them. He looked very smooth as a receiver, and showed a burst that we hadn't seen before on his long TD run. Jennings also used a strong stiff-arm to fend off a would-be tackler, and he showed a great will to get to the end zone when he met another Chief inside the five. He is looking like a strong handcuff to MJD after this eye-opening performance.
| WR Mike Sims-Walker, Rec: 6 - 147 - 1 (8 targets) |
Don't think that Sims-Walker and Garrard dominated this game. Sims-Walker had the good luck of going uncovered on two plays that accounted for over 75% of his yards and his score. He did still look strong, fast, and confident, but against competent secondaries, he will have to earn his production. Sims-Walker did have 20+ yard catch early nullified by penalty, and he is still the #1 in this passing offense.
| WR Torry Holt, Rec: 4 - 37 - 0 (9 targets) |
Holt fumbled trying to stretch for a first down early in this one, but recovered to play his usual role of helping the Jags move the chains with short, precise routes and strong catches. His value has plateaued at bye week/injury option in only very deep PPR leagues.
| WR Mike Thomas, Rush: 1 - 18 - 0, Rec: 1 - -2 - 0 (1 targets) |
Thomas had a nice gain on an end around, but he was met behind the line of scrimmage on his one quick target. He did have an impact on the game when his long punt return set up the last Jags TD that ended up being the margin of victory.
| WR Jarett Dillard, Rec: 1 - 33 - 0 (1 targets) |
Dillard only had one catch, but it was a beaut. He was bracketed by a linebacker and a safety on a third-and-very-long, but Garrard threaded the needle, and Dillard made the leaping catch for a conversion and 33-yard gain. Each time Dillard has touched the ball, he has shown that he has skills that could lead to a bright future with the Jags.
| TE Marcedes Lewis, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (2 targets) |
Lewis had one early catch, but it is clear that he has been pushed out of the game plan after having too many early season drops.