Jamaal Charles looks for room against Arizona. He finished with 91 yards rushing (photo/NFL)
The Chiefs (7-6) are tied with four other AFC wild-card hopefuls looking up at San Diego, Pittsburgh and Baltimore after a 17-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, who improved to 7-0 at home this season. Meanwhile the Chiefs have dropped three straight. Jamaal Charles scored two touchdowns, but also got injured in the game. Head coach Andy Reid called it an ankle sprain.
It’s pretty clear how much the Chiefs suffer when Charles isn’t 100%. Charles had a 63-yard carry for a TD, his longest of the season, the Chiefs 17th on the ground this season. Charles’ run was the longest the Cardinals defense has allowed this season. He scored a second touchdown in the game on an 18-yard pass from QB Alex Smith. , marking his fourth multi-touchdown performance of the 2014 season. Charles has scored a touchdown in eight consecutive games, tying the third-best mark in franchise history.
Charles had 91 yards on the day, but only 15 on five carries in the second half.
However, the offense can’t get a touchdown pass to their wide receivers. They have yet to find a wideout in the endzone. Smith completed 26 of 39 passes for 293 yards with one TD.
A call went against the Chiefs with less than five minutes to play when Arizona coach Bruce Ariens challenged a call that went against tight end Travic Kelce. He fumbled after a 19-yard reception to the Arizona 22. The officials ruled that Kelce lost the ball before he rolled on his back and got to his feet. Kelce grabbed the ball back, but apparently not soon enough.
