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Weak First Half Dooms Chiefs in 37-10 Loss to Jets

Sports

December 11th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Todd Haley could have spent the rest of Sunday pointing out everything his Kansas City Chiefs did wrong – just in the first half. Coming off two strong defensive performances, the Chiefs couldn’t get out of their own way in a 37-10 loss. They couldn’t get in the Jets’ way, either, falling behind 28-3 by halftime. “The first half, when we can’t get a first down and are terrible keeping the other team from getting a first down, that will not be a good half,” Haley said. “They did a great job in the red zone,” he added about the Jets. “They were more prepared and just played better, period.” Through two quarters, New York (8-5) led Kansas City 253-4 in yards, 16-1 in first downs, and 20:34-9:26 in time of possession. Not a formula for success for the Chiefs (5-8).

The second half wasn’t much better, marked mostly by penalties. In the most brutal stretch, the Chiefs were penalized five times for 81 yards during the Jets’ final touchdown drive. One of those was an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Haley. Kansas City finished with 11 penalties. Tyler Palko was sacked five times, a week after the quarterback earned his first victory as a starter at Chicago. He was 3 for 8 for 11 yards in the first half. He finished 16 of 32 for 195 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Dwayne Bowe dropped a would-be touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter for Kansas City. Mark Sanchez threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores as the Jets improved their lot in the AFC playoff race. The Jets were helped by that inept Chiefs offense, and KC couldn’t stop New York’s rushing game, either.

Notes: Chiefs K Ryan Succop badly botched an onside kick attempt that traveled 3 yards early in the fourth quarter. … Chiefs S Jon McGraw left in the second quarter with an injured left ankle and didn’t return. … New York’s five sacks were a season high. … Chiefs RB Thomas Jones had just 12 yards on five carries, but passed Eddie George and Tiki Barber for 22nd on the NFL’s career list.