Chiefs at Broncos - Week 2 - Record: 0-2

The four keys to this game happened

1. During the game last week.
2. At the end of the very first Chiefs drive today.
3. At the end of the very last Chiefs drive today.
4. At the coin flip for overtime.

What happened during those times?

1. Trent Green was injured. I am convinced that with him in there we would have been able to capitalize on all the opportunities we had today. Looking at the way the Broncos were playing so weakly, I just know he would've beaten them. Even though Damon Huard did pretty well, you could tell that we were just too damn timid to do anything that would take it to the Broncos. Just a testament to how good a quarterback Green is.

2. We did have a terrific first drive, getting all the way up against the Broncos goal line when Larry Johnson fumbled. Playing in Denver you just can't for two seconds give up a chance to score an early touchdown. Sure enough Denver got its field goals to tie in regulation in the second half when both our offense and defense seemed to wilt in that high altitude. With that initial score under our belts we could've controlled the entire game.

3. What in blazes were we doing, the score 6-6, with a couple good long minutes left in regulation and a first down at our own 31 ready to get an easy 50 yards to get into easy field goal range and get the win? We bumbled and bambled and diddled around until we had to punt. When the announcers said we seemed to be playing for overtime, I about wanted to die. Well, we lost the game, so what difference would it have made if we went for it and they intercepted a pass or something so we could lose in regulation?! At least we would've really tried.

4. Sure enough, the Broncos won the toss. Thuh end. Lights out at that point. Deep into an exhausting game, our defense (which I should say still played extraordinarily well) gave up some big plays and their Hall-of-Fame kicker summarily came in to end it.

I can only hope that Herm Edwards takes a long look at his game calling over the next two weeks and actually works to try to win games. To his credit, again, he didn't have Trent Green. But let Damon Huard try to win it for goodness sake. At least then we can't say you didn't try.

I must add that one reason we shut the Broncos down was because of the terrific play of our-- ta-da!-- punter. Colquitt got off great punts, two of which he got inside the 5 yard line.

Bengals at Chiefs - Week 1 - Record: 0-1

What a disasterous start to the season. Yes, Trent Green got clocked on a play that took him off the field on a strecher, and preliminary reports are that he is okay, all things considered. But his shocking departure was a metaphor for this game.

Can anyone for two seconds think that Kyle Turley can replace Willie Roaf? Last year it was clear that the one critical factor in how we won games versus how we lost games was whether or not Roaf was in there and doing well. It was that pronounced. This game featured Trent Green running all over the place like a soda cup on the Harbor Freeway. Sorry, but as good as he is, he can't do squat with that.

Listen, you can take all the components of a team and debate about which ones are the ones that will bring you the most success. As far as what I've seen and heard from the people in the know, here they are in order of importance:

1. Offensive line.
2. Defensive line.
3. Quarterback.
4. All the others.

As great as Larry Johnson is and can be, he won't go anywhere if no one is leading the way down the field. Sure enough, he only got 68 yards today. Everyone remembers Emmitt Smith of the Super Bowl Cowboys in the mid-90's, but people forget that his offensive line was probably the best in NFL history. Nothing against Smith, but my grandma could've run backwards on her hands behind that line. I think we're really in trouble unless we get our OT situation fixed.

We were doomed from the outset in this contest. Green fumbled the ball on the very second play of scrimmage, setting the tone. Dante Hall never muffs a kick, but he did today, setting up their first score. And blasted this highly drafted punter-- you can't get off a 29 yard punt from your own 8 and expect one of the best QB's in the league to fail to capitalize.

The one bright spot was that our defense played decently given the holes they were put into. They gave up only one TD drive-- otherwise they effectively shut them down. I might add that backup QB Damon Huard played with some guts off the bench. That solid showing is a bit reassuring in case Green can't make it back for a while. No matter what, we all hope the best for Green whatever happens.