Only three running backs have surpassed the 100-yard mark against the Denver defense in 2012. The last one to do it – the Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles — is coming to Denver on Sunday.
Denver has faced a handful of elite rushers in 2012 and has fared well enough to stand as NFL’s the third-ranked rush defense heading into Week 17.
But five weeks ago, Charles ran it 23 times for 107 yards against the Broncos. The Chiefs hope to feed them another heavy dose of Charles on Sunday.
“Jamaal has done a really nice job for us, has a chance to become a 1,500-yard rusher and that’s something that doesn’t happen every day,” Kansas City Head Coach Romeo Crennel said in a conference call. “Everybody can’t do that. He has good ability and he’s helped this team quite a bit.”
Charles is in rare territory in 2012. He leads the AFC in rushing yards per game by almost 9 yards and is also first in yards from scrimmage per game, more than 4 ahead of Ravens running back Ray Rice.
Last week against the playoff-bound Indianapolis Colts, the Chiefs rushed for 352 yards in a loss. They became the first team in NFL history to top 350 yards on the ground and lose the game.
While they were dominant on the ground – Charles averaged more than 10 yards per carry while rushing for 233 yards – there were other areas that led to their demise. Three turnovers, nine penalties and a missed field goal were contributors to the 20-13 loss.
“The key statistic as far as determining wins and losses is turnovers,” Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn said. “We had three turnovers, and you can’t ever do that in a game and expect to come away with a win. Unfortunately for us, two of those were in the red zone. One ended up in seven points for the other team, so one was taking points away from us, and the other was obviously giving them points on the other turnover. That’s a key for us every week: continuing to not turn the ball over, continuing to do the things we do in the run game and executing better in the passing game.”
Quinn is aware of the turnover problem, and so is his coach. The quarterback has started the last five games for Kansas City and played as the predominant quarterback in the last six. In Weeks 11, 12 and 13, Quinn turned the ball over just once.
In the last three games, the quarterback has thrown four picks. Crennel is looking to see improvement in the season finale against the Broncos.
“We turned the ball over last week and (Quinn) hadn’t been doing that since he started playing more,” Crennel said. “And so we’ve got to improve upon that turnover thing because, as I mentioned, that’s been one of the things that has been hurting us all year.”
Tags: Brady Quinn, Conference Call, Kansas City Chiefs, Romeo Crennel, Week 17
8 yards a Tote and still lost last week… Uggh Would suck so bad to be a Chiefs fan this year
Hey turtle………..Merry Christmas man.
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!
I got my favorite present yet………an away elite Peyton Manning jersey! Thanks Wifey! I’ll def be rocking it all the way to the Super Bowl…….that’s right, cause our Broncos will be repping the AFC!
Even though a win doesn’t change things for the Colts, I bet they want to head into the playoffs with a win against their division rivals…….and also get a big win for Pogano too. We will take down the number 1 seed and the playoffs will come through Denver!
GO BRONCOS!
The Colts are in a position to have to play the Texans 3 times in 6 weeks. A win for them changes the dynamic of the playoff scenario. As well as making it so they wouldn’t have to face the Texans again.
As it stands #1 Houston, #2 Denver, #3 NE, #4 Balt., #5 Indy, #6 Cincy
That means NE and Cincy play, while Indy and Balt. play.
NE wins and they come to Denver/Cincy wins and they head to Houston
If NE wins then the winner of the Indy/Balt game goes to Houston, otherwise we get either Indy or Balt.
on the other hand, if Indy beats Houston this week and the other teams we think we, actually win.
Denver becomes #1, NE #2, Houston #3, Balt. #4, Indy #5 and Cincy #6
Now the games are
Cincy @ Houston and Indy @ Balt.
A Houston win sends them to NE, while a Cincy win send them to Denver.
A Houston win sends the winner of Balt./Indy to Denver, otherwise we play Cincy.
Indy holds the cards to drastically changing the playoff scenario.
true dat RH………doesn’t change their seed but puts a wrench in the playoff matchups!
Hiya Kod! Merry Christmas and congrats on the Jersey!
Looks like Belichick is losing his edge.. The draft is paramount to stay competitive in this league, and it seems as if ‘ol Bill has mortgaged his future on several questionable acquisitions.. The Pats will also have to deal with a bigger than normal cap hit over the next few years, as a result from restructuring Brady’s contract… His actions are the definition of playing for today, and it’s finally catching up with him..
http://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Future/Patriots.htm
Not having a pick in the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds isn’t exactly trading away your future. The cap space thing may be a different story. Belicheck will do what he always does, trade back and get more picks.
I may have gone a tad bit overboard on “mortgaging his future,” but it’s sloppy, and just plain poor personnel decisions IMO. He’s had little success as a HC w/o Brady, and I’m calling the end to his reign when Tom retires. Heard it here first.
Whats the bet that Bill tries to acquire Alex Smith this off season? Belicheck has always tried to get veteran players if he can do it cheap. I think he plays the numbers game more often than the talent game.
As to his reign being over with Brady…their fates surely coexist but I don’t see a complete demise.
I don’t see Alex Smith wanting to go to the Pats, and with a light QB draft class, and less than stellar FA’s available, Smith can control his future. There are a lot of teams in need of a starting QB, and Smith and his agent will be in the drivers seat, and I don’t see them wanting to have anything to do with the “Patriot” way.
I’m not calling a complete demise of Belichick, but I do think we’ve seen his best. And lets face it, when was the last time they won? I wouldn’t be shocked if he retired at the same time as Brady, to not tarnish his legacy. If he sticks around, he needs another QB. They have Mallet, we have Osweiler. The race is on…..