Chiefs’ Starters Struggle on Offense in 20-10 Loss to Falcons

ATLANTA | That fresh start the Chiefs wanted will Have to Wait Until next week or Perhaps Another Time During Their exhibition schedule.

But it May Not come at all, judging by the work of Their starters in Friday night's 20-10 loss in the preseason Opener against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Chiefs trailed 3-0 by the time Their starters departed in the second quarter. 

"We clearly what should not have a bunch to work is in a lot of Different Areas," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. 

Playing Their reserves, the Chiefs Came back and Tied the game 3-3 at halftime. 

The Falcons Took control early in the second half. Backup quarterback Brodie Croyle was intercepted by Shann Schillinger on the first possession of the third to quarter. 

Schillinger's 29-yard return put the Falcons at the Kansas City 14 Five plays later Dimitri Nance scored on a 2-yard run and put the Falcons ahead for good. 

Also Nance scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter, Giving Atlanta a 17-3 lead. 

For much of the first half, the Chiefs looked suspiciously the way They did in last year's forgettable 4-12 season. The run-Defense was easy for the Falcons is Thurs solve the game's opening possession. 

Atlanta rushed for 44 yards in driving for Matt Bryant's 30-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. Linebacker Mike Vrabel ended the drive by Tackling running back Jason Snelling for no gain on a third to down-play. 

The Defense tightened starting from there, allowing no more points are two Additional Atlanta possessions. But the starting Offense generated little in four possessions. 

The Chiefs ran-three plays and punted the first time They had the ball and Turned the ball over on the next possession "when quarterback Matt Cassel was sacked and fumbled. 

Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster then Provided a spark, combining for 62 Rushing yards as the Chiefs Twice Worked Their Way into field-goal range. 

But EACH time, Ryan Succop missed a 53-yard field-goal Attempt. The first, coming on Cassel was sacked on the third is down, hit the left upright, and the second try went wide to the right. 

"This time of year, it's always a work in progress," Cassel said. "In the first preseason game, you're Trying a lot of new stuff and seeing personnel changes". Obviously, you do not want to start the game with a three-and-out, but their enthusiasm got me a no-Huddle situation, and that was definitely a positive for us. " 

Also The Chiefs lost a touchdown in the fourth quarter "when Javier Arenas' 99-yard Kickoff return was wiped out by a holding penalty by Justin Cole. 

"We can not take a sack on the Fringe That then puts the field goal into an area that's not a high Percentage KicKing spot for anybody," Haley said. "We can not not have a penalty is a Kickoff return of whatever it was, Wherever That ball they caught. 

"There were a bunch of things That me wish you had better control to Be That would not have helped us. A couple of early runs hmmmm, Did not it look like me were blocking anybody. Then it looked like me Came back and blocked some people.