 |
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
Total
|
Kansas City
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
6
|
Cincinnati
|
3
|
10
|
0
|
3
|
16
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Chiefs Finish Worst Season in 49-Year History
Regular Season Game #16
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Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen throws a pass against the Bengals.
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Dec. 28- While Herm Edwards talked like he'll be back as the Kansas City Chiefs' coach for at least one more year, running back Larry Johnson began trying to talk his way out of town.
Pacing the sideline in a bright red jacket and cap, Edwards watched the Chiefs' season -- and, perhaps, his days in charge of them -- end with another dismal showing Sunday. The Cincinnati Bengals completed their late-season surge with a 16-6 victory that sent both struggling teams into an offseason of big decisions.
The Chiefs (2-14) have more to make.
The worst season in their 49-year history ended with another disjointed performance under Edwards, who urged the franchise to plunge headlong into a rebuilding mode. His rookie-filled team has lost 23 of its past 25 games and has at least one major change ahead.
General manager Carl Peterson is leaving after 20 years with Kansas City. His successor will have a say in whether the Chiefs replace Edwards, who insists that the team's future isn't as glum as it looks and that he's planning to continue like he'll be part of it.
"It's absolutely business as usual," Edwards said. "I'll be in the office all week, and I'll be around. We'll evaluate our team and go from there."
Johnson had some advice on one of the team's personnel decisions.
The running back who signed a five-year contract extension before the 2007 season decided that he no longer fits in Kansas City. He carried the ball just 10 times for 18 yards Sunday, finishing the season with 874 yards in Kansas City's spread offense.
"It has everything to do with the environment," Johnson said. "The city is tired of me, and the organization and I have run our course together. It's time to move on for me. There could be 100 changes. It's time for me to go."
The Bengals (4-11-1) most likely will stay the course after their latest losing season. Coach Marvin Lewis has two years left on his contract, and there's no general manager to replace -- owner Mike Brown makes the important decisions.
The Bengals closed the season with three straight wins, two of them against teams that seemed to care less than they did. They shut out the Cleveland Browns 14-0 and had little trouble with the lackluster Chiefs, who crossed midfield only once in the first three quarters.
The game likely served as a preview of next year's offense for Cincinnati, which was missing both tackles and wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to injury. Cedric Benson, who's a free agent after the season, scored on a 2-yard touchdown run and ran for 111 yards.
"Of course, there will be other organizations interested," said Benson, who had three 100-yard games with the Bengals.
Houshmandzadeh also is a potential free agent, leaving the Bengals with major decisions on offense. They could use their franchise tag to keep him for one more year, a move he wouldn't like.
"I feel like I don't mind staying here," said Houshmandzadeh, who led the team with 92 catches for 904 yards and four touchdowns. "I would like to stay here, but I don't want to stay here if I get franchised because it's just a one-year deal. I know that, they know that. It's not a long-term thing."
The Bengals sold 63,984 tickets for the game, setting a franchise record with their 44th consecutive sellout. The crowd got so bored that it did the wave in the fourth quarter. Some of the loudest cheers came for a halftime scrimmage between a youth football team and mascots for local sports teams, including the Bengals' mascot.
The kids won that one.
The overriding question in the Chiefs-Bengals game was which team wanted it less. Apparently, it was the Chiefs. Kansas City had the ball five times in the first half and managed only two first downs, setting a tone.
"I thought early in the football game, we didn't have energy," Edwards said. "And you have to play with energy. We generally play with a lot of energy, and we didn't have that in the first half."
The Chiefs didn't get closer than the Bengals' 37-yard line until their final drive, which ended with Tony Gonzalez's 5-yard touchdown catch with 2:20 left. Then, the speculation began.
"You look at what Atlanta, Miami and Baltimore did (this season), there's no reason we can't do the same," Gonzalez said. "But if a new GM comes in and wants to start over, the last thing I want to hear is rebuild. I'm in my 13th year, and I still enjoy the game."
Individual Statistics
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Kansas City Passing:
Tyler Thigpen 19 of 36 for 191 yards and 1 touchdown
Cincinnati Passing:
Ryan Fitzpatrick 18 of 30 for 129 yards
Kansas City Rushing:
Larry Johnson 10 carries for 18 yards
Jamaal Charles 3 carries for 9 yards
Tyler Thigpen 2 carries for 4 yards
Cincinnati Rushing:
Cedric Benson 25 carries for 111 yards and 1 touchdown
Andre Caldwell 4 carries for 49 yards
Ryan Fitzpatrick 7 carries for 29 yards
James Johnson 3 carries for 15 yards
Kansas City Receiving:
Dwayne Bowe 10 receptions for 103 yards
Tony Gonzalez 5 receptions for 53 yards and 1 touchdown
Mark Bradley 2 receptions for 21 yards
Devard Darling 2 receptions for 14 yards
Cincinnati Receiving:
Andre Caldwell 5 receptions for 34 yards
James Johnson 3 receptions for 20 yards
Cedric Benson 2 receptions for 19 yards
Chris Henry 2 receptions for 19 yards
Nate Lawrie 2 receptions for 11 yards
Glenn Holt 1 reception for 10 yards
Reggie Kelly 2 receptions for 9 yards
Ben Utecht 1 reception for 7 yards
Kansas City Tackles-Assists-Sacks:
Rocky Boiman 6-4-0, Brandon Carr 5-0-0, Derrick Johnson 5-6-0, Brandon Flowers 4-0-0, Tamba Hali 4-3-0, Jarrad Page 3-2-0, Bernard Pollard 3-3-0, Demorrio Williams 3-3-0, Jason Babin 2-2-1, Glenn Dorsey 2-5-0, Alfonso Boone 1-0-0, Ron Edwards 1-0-0, DaJuan Morgan 1-0-0, Patrick Surtain 1-0-0, Tank Tyler 1-1-0
Cincinnati Tackles-Assists-Sacks:
Leon Hall 8-0-0, Dhani Jones 5-3-0, Chris Crocker 2-0-0, Jamar Fletcher 2-0-0, Chinedum Ndukwe 2-3-0, Mike Doss 1-0-0, Kyries Hebert 1-0-0, Brandon Johnson 1-2-0, Antwan Odom 1-2-1, Domata Peko 1-1-0, John Busing 0-1-0, Orien Harris 0-1-0, Rashad Jeanty 0-1-0, Corey Mays 0-1-0, Pat Sims 0-3-0
Kansas City Fumble Recoveries:
None
Cincinnati Fumble Recoveries:
Dhani Jones 1 for 0 yards
Kansas City Interceptions:
None
Cincinnati Interceptions:
None
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