Chiefs Get First Win, Beat Redskins 14-6
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Public Transportation Returns to Arrowhead on Gamedays

SKINS MILK THE 90-MINUTE RULE
October 18th – 12:05 PM EST

Chiefs officials were anything but pleased with Washington’s decision to keep the tarp on the field right up to the 90-minute mark. By rule, the home team must begin removing the tarp 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Let’s just say that the grounds crew in DC didn’t display a sense of urgency when the clock struck 11:30 AM EST.

No rain has fallen this morning in Washington, but a wet week and new turf has made the playing surface downright horrendous. Kickers and skill position players are having visible issues with footing during pregame warm-ups. Expect a sloppy high-scoring contest filled with turnovers or a low-scoring game in which both teams struggle to move the football. The trend in this one could go either way, but it’s certain that the playing surface and weather conditions will play a part in today’s final outcome.

To top things off, all of the water sitting on the tarp was poured towards the Chiefs sideline. There is about three inches of water surrounding the bench area. Get those galoshes ready.

INACTIVES ARE IN
October 18th – 10:27 AM EST

CHIEFS

14           WR Quinten Lawrence
15           QB Matt Gutierrez (3rd)
20           CB Donald Washington
44           S Jarrad Page
76           T Branden Albert
85           TE Jake O’Connell
87           TE Brad Cottam
97           LB Pierre Walters

REDSKINS
3              P Hunter Smith
25           CB Kevin Barnes
39           RB Anthony Alridge
51           LB Robert Henson
60           T Chris Samuels
75           T Chad Rinehart
84           WR Marko Mitchell
94           DT Anthony Montgomery
 
NO THIRD FOR WASHINGTON

A CHANGE AT PUNTER
October 18th – 10:30 AM EST

The Redskins announced yesterday evening that they have signed punter Glenn Pakulak to their 53-man roster. Washington released DE Renaldo Wynn to supplement the signing.

Last week against Carolina, Pakulak punted five times for a 42.4-yard average and a 35.6-yard net average. Pakulak was released on Monday and signed with the practice squad.

The signing obviously means that P Hunter Smith is still bothered by a groin injury and will not be active today.

RICHARDSON PROMOTED
October 17th – 5:35 PM EST

Chiefs promote T Barry Richardson from practice squad, release LB Justin Rogers.

ALBERT OUT FOR KC
October 17th – 4:03 PM EST

Chiefs T Branden Albert did not travel with the team today and will not play vs. Washington on Sunday. Look for Wade Smith to log the start at left tackle in Albert’s place.

ADD ANOTHER FOR WASHINGTON
October 17th – 10:10 AM

Add another name to the Redskins list of walking wounded on their offensive front.

The Washington Redskins added G Chad Rinehart (shoulder) to the team’s injury report. Rinehart is questionable for Sunday’s game.

AVOIDING THE TWO FOR ONE
October 17th – 7:11 AM

The Chiefs head into the NFL’s version of a soap opera this weekend in Washington. Seriously, Days of Our Lives may not have as many story linesstorylines as this Redskins team. As Washington battles their own issues involving job uncertainty, feuding teammates, a mum defensive coordinator, a mash unit on the offensive front and a highly-regarded Hall of Famer mocking team leadership; the Chiefs have their own issues to worry about.

FedEx Field will be far from drama-free on Sunday and it’s anyone’s guess as to how the Redskins will handle the distractions created from the free flow of external affairs. Washington CB DeAngelo Hall said just this past week that this Redskins locker room is walking on very thin ice when it comes to hitting the panic button.

This Redskins team has a decision to make and they’ll take one of two paths. They’ll either crumble to the effects of the outside distractions, or they’ll pull together as a team and become stronger from the experience. For the Chiefs, just like when QBs Brett Favre and Mike Vick made their NFL returns, we’ll be there to see it all.

Lost in the mix of Redskins talk, however, is the internal conflict that this Chiefs team faces as they head eastbound. Remaining winless after dominating a Raiders team earlier in the season and coming fresh off of an emotional overtime loss to Dallas last weekend can take its toll on a team.

You’ve heard of a “trap game,” when a team comes off a huge victory over another high-class opponent or rival and then has to head on the road to face below average squad. The emotional high from the previous week sometimes causes the superior team to overlook and struggle or lose against the inferior team the following weekend.

Then there are the games we hear referred to as “quality of life games.” Basically, these games aren’t must-wins, but victory would certainly be a big step for your team going forward, thus improving your “quality of life” for the next stretch of weeks to come.

There are also “must win” games, “lame duck” games and a slew of other sayings relative to the type of situation a certain team or coach faces.

Finally, there is the situation that the Chiefs are currently facing. This situation is when a team loses a tight, emotional game against a team that many thought should have won in a rout. Teams in this situation came together, even though they were some of the only few that thought they had a realistic chance at victory, and they lay it all out on the line. The ending result is close contest, to the wire, but just not enough for victory. The underdog is left reeling and hurting.

I call these games the “Two for One’s.”

Simply put, the Chiefs can’t turn one loss into two this weekend in Washington. There is no time to dwell on defeat or victory. Each loss should be treated the same whether it was by blowout or in the final moments. The same can be said for victory. By the time practice rolls back around the next week, the only thing that should matter is the game at hand.

“It was a loss that hurt a bunch,” Haley said. “Good team in Arrowhead, but that I thought we had a chance to win. It did not end up that way and those are the ones that are difficult to swallow.

“I think (we) pulled together and overcame adversity, overcame some injuries in some key spots to score a touchdown and tie the game and give us a chance to potentially win the game,” Haley continued. “I think that’s something we definitely as a team have to build on. I think that it’s critical that we recognize positives in the game.”

Don’t let one loss become two. It’s easier said than done.

“Obviously that Cowboys loss was very tough for us,” RB Larry Johnson said. “There were instances where we were putting it together and doing some good things. Hopefully that time will come against the Redskins. The biggest thing is getting this win.”

To get that win, the Chiefs will need to start off quickly, pouring more adversity onto a team that is already up to their necks in controversy. The extra weight of an early two-score lead may be just enough to suffocate Washington.

“That’s what we’re always trying to do,” OL Wade Smith said. “Sometimes things don’t work out like that, but we’re doing everything we can to try and do that.”

Additionally, the Chiefs face a unique opportunity to turn a volatile crowd against the home team, thus creating a Chiefs home atmosphere on the road. Already this week in Washington, there have been reports of an orchestrated boycott to keep fans from going to the game or purchasing tickets to the Redskins-Chiefs matchup. The “boo birds” that do choose to attend the game will be teetering on the verge of chaos, becoming much more than that.

An early lead could pay huge dividends for the Chiefs on Sunday. But more importantly, don’t let one loss lead to two.

To borrow a quote from Hank Stram that was re-posted in the Chiefs Fan Forums by Matriculating – “Yesterday is a canceled check. Today is cash on the line. Tomorrow is a promissory note.”