Tony Gonzalez
Tony Gonzalez erased the NFL record for touchdown catches by a tight end and the Chiefs rolled up an impressive - for them - 354 total yards Sunday en route to a 27-20 victory over the downward-spiraling Cincinnati Bengals.
The eight-time Pro Bowler of the Kansas City Chiefs caught a three-yard pass from Damon Huard in the first quarter against Cincinnati on Sunday, breaking the record of 62 touchdown receptions set by Shannon Sharpe from 1990-03.
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Damon Huard's injured shoulder held up fine in practice Wednesday and he will be Kansas City's starting quarterback Sunday against Cincinnati.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars suddenly have a big-play offence to accompany their smothering defence. It was the defence that sent an embarrassed Kansas City home muttering to itself.
Team Report
as of Tuesday, October 09, 2007 4:17 PM.
(Sports Network) - It's getting to where Kansas City may just be better off taking a knee in lieu of running the ball. On Sunday, the Chiefs rushed for a pathetic 10 yards against a suffocating Jacksonville Jaguars defense. It was the second-lowest total in franchise history. Kansas City's lackluster - or "no-luster" - offensive performance resulted in what would have been a 17-0 home shutout loss if not for a meaningless Brodie Croyle-to-Samie Parker touchdown pass on the game's final play.
"We can't seem to get a surge into the line," said Herman Edwards of his team's rushing woes. "It seems like there are always guys making plays in (our) backfield. And when you can't run, your play-action passing game obviously goes awry."
Star tailback Larry Johnson is not entirely to blame. After all, along the same lines of Edwards' thought, Johnson is running behind a front five that never did find an adequate replacement for retired left guard Will Shields or retired left tackle Willie Roaf (big-money free agent acquisition Damion McIntosh has struggled with knee injuries thus far). Consequently, Johnson's numbers on the season are alarmingly shallow: after gaining 12 yards on nine carries against the Jags, he now has 275 yards rushing in five games, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Reeling fantasy football enthusiasts may want to look away at this next line: L.J. is currently on pace for 880 rushing yards on the season.
Johnson did not speak with the media after Sunday's loss, though teammate Brian Waters shed some light on things.
"We just aren't doing our jobs, and it's every aspect," said the three-time Pro Bowler. "When you run the ball, it's more than just the line. It's the tight ends. It's the fullbacks. And it's the running back. As a group, we haven't been doing very well. We're one block away here. We're one cut away here. Our techniques and fundamentals are just breaking down play by play."
QUARTERBACK CHANGE LOOMING?
Starting quarterback Damon Huard was knocked out of Sunday's loss with a bruised right throwing shoulder. Second-year man Brodie Croyle filled in on the final two drives and helped lead the offense to its only score on the afternoon. Should Huard be unable to go this week against Cincinnati, the question now becomes - Is the starting quarterback job Croyle's to lose?
If Huard is healthy, there is no reason he shouldn't still be the man under center in Kansas City. After all, it was decided just prior to the season that the 34-year-old presents the Chiefs with the best opportunity to win, and it isn't likely that the callow Croyle has made significant leaps and bounds in a reserve role through five weeks.
The Chiefs are in no hurry to make a decision publicly.
"Damon is still trying to get the MRI done late this afternoon, so we'll see where he's at as far as playing," Edwards said at his Monday press conference. "I don't know what he can do. I'll know more probably tomorrow or Wednesday, whether he can throw or not."
KENNISON RE-INJURED
Veteran wide receiver Eddie Kennison returned to action against Jacksonville after missing a little over a month with a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, Kennison pulled a Ken Griffey Jr., which is to say he pulled his hamstring again. His status for this week's matchup against the Bengals has yet to be determined.
WHO'S HOT
Tight end Tony Gonzalez had eight catches for a season-high 100 yards in Week 5. It marked the 19th time in Gonzalez's brilliant career that he has reached the triple-digit plateau for receiving yards in a game. Only two other tight ends have had more 100-yard outings than the former California Golden Bear: Kellen Winslow Sr. (24) of the Chargers and Jackie Smith (22) of the Cardinals and Cowboys. Both Winslow and Smith are in the Hall of Fame.
WHO'S NOT
It doesn't take much guts or creativity to kick a man when he's down, but, to be honest, it doesn't take much energy either. So, in the spirit of cutting corners, here goes: Larry Johnson is currently not hot.
NEXT UP
For the second week in a row Kansas City will face a team coming off a bye when they stay home to face the 1-3 Cincinnati Bengals.
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