Chiefs vs. Jets: 5 Things We Learned from Kansas City's 37-10 Loss

As another miserable Chiefs game comes to a close, fans are looking for answers to a number of questions.

What happened to the team that won the AFC West last season?

Why can't we get anything going on offense?

What are we going to do to fix things for next year?

Fans won't have answers to these questions for another couple months. Some answers won't even come until next summer when the Chiefs start training camp.

Today's 37-10 drubbing against the New York Jets should at least provide a rough idea to where the Chiefs stand. There's plenty of indicators in the tea leaves that made up what's become just one in a series of pitiful showings for Kansas City this season.

Those indicators point out some of the more serious issues and what will likely be in store for the Chiefs come January.

Undisciplined Play Killed Kansas City's Season

More than anything else, "undisciplined" is the word that best describes Kansas City's performance this season.

The Chiefs might not rank very high in penalties called, but what penalties are called and why display exactly how sloppy this season's been. False start and offside penalties regularly kill offensive drives and extend them for Kansas City's opponents. Holding calls destroyed big plays for the Chiefs.

Then there were times such as midway through the third quarter of today's game against the Jets. Six minutes into the second half, Kansas City put the Jets deep in their own territory. After a pair of Jets penalties and a Shonn Greene run, New York faced 2nd-and-12 on their own 8-yardline.

Then Jovan Belcher picked up a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer. Next, referees called Demorrio Williams and Tyson Jackson for defensive holding; the Jets gained five yards and a first down there.

Disappointed at not being included in the action, Todd Haley tacked on another 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. 

After two short running plays, Brandon Flowers and Kendrick Lewis posted back-to-back pass interference calls. The penalties moved the Jets from the 50-yardline to Kansas City's 4.
Three pays later, and the Jets scored their fifth touchdown of the game.

Kansas City had a similar series like this against Detroit in Week 2 with similar results.

More than a lack of discipline, times like this display a lack of professionalism for the Chiefs. As much as it frustrates Chiefs fans, it must frustrate Clark Hunt even more.

Kansas City's Quarterback Position Is Broken...

Even before the Chiefs lost Matt Cassel to injury, their quarterback situation lacked serious stability.
Despite only one strong season with Kansas City, the Chiefs chose to back up Cassel with journeyman Tyler Palko and rookie Ricky Stanzi.

When Palko came in for Cassel against the Broncos and performed well, I claimed the Chiefs would do well despite Palko's inexperience.

Since then Palko's done nothing but prove me wrong.

Palko lacks the ability to move on following a bad play or indeed provide any credible threat in the passing game.

The Chiefs scored only two touchdowns since elevating Palko to the starting role. Both touchdowns are plays that really should not have happened, though. The first came off a tipped Hail Mary pass; Chicago's defense made that play happen more than anyone else.

Then today against New York, Jerheme Urban pulled in an amazing catch despite three Jets defenders surrounding him.

Urban deserves all the credit for that reception, but it's a pass that should have never happened. Palko threw that ball into heavy traffic, and it should have been intercepted.

With a defined starting quarterback and a rookie prospect, the Chiefs should have worked toward landing a solid veteran for their No. 2 quarterback. Kansas City needed someone who could step onto the field and play mistake-free football.

Instead, they went with Palko, who is obviously insufficient to his current task.

...so Is the Chiefs' Offensive Line

Palko's job admittedly would be much easier if the Chiefs had any semblance of a running game or if he had any time to find his receivers.

As I've noted before, though, Kansas City's offensive line can't hold their blocks or open holes for their running backs.

As of late, both the interior and exterior line lack the ability to create opportunities on offense. Jackie Battle and Thomas Jones perform their best work up the middle, but the inside line hasn't generated the needed push to create space. Ironman Casey Wiegmann finally reached the end of the line with his ability.

Battle had no chance in the fourth quarter with the Chiefs on their own 1-yardline. The Jets dog-piled Battle two yards into the end zone for a safety.

The tackle position provides the most glaring deficiency, though. Branden Albert's play has only been passable, while Barry Richardson's is downright abysmal. The line surrendered a total of four sacks against the Jets' defense, and Kansas City's running backs gained only 2.3 yards per carry.

The Chiefs must look long and hard for better options on their line if they want to stop having games like today's.

Justin Houston Solves Kansas City's Outside Linebacker Problem

Justin Houston provides one of the few bright points to this season.

In two weeks, Houston's produced four sacks and nine tackles. He led the team in tackles last week against Chicago.

The third-round steal in this year's draft is starting to show the promise that initially gave him a first-round grade before a positive pre-combine drug test caused teams to reconsider.

Kansas City needed a viable pass-rushing threat to complement All-Pro Tamba Hali. After Mike Vrabel's retirement, the Chiefs' next option was Andy Studebaker. Studebaker is a high-effort player who plays well in spot work and special teams, but lacks the natural ability Houston brings to the game.

Houston demonstrated some of that talent in the preseason and often came just short of making big plays throughout the season.

Houston's started to close that gap now, and the Chiefs can breathe easier knowing they should finally have their pass-rushing duo for years to come.

Todd Haley Has No Chance of Staying in Kansas City

Thirteen games into the season, the Chiefs failed to reach double-digits five times. Four teams held them to only field goals, and they suffered losses of greater than 20 points four times.

Kansas City's defense and special teams regularly miss tackles, their offensive line is outmatched and both sides continually receive game-breaking penalties.

I mentioned earlier in the season that when this many issues exist, the blame lies in the coaching rather than the players.

That statement still holds true today, and the buck stops at Todd Haley.

Haley's inflammatory manner might have coaxed one win out of Matt Cassel with their sideline spat, but it certainly didn't help today with today's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. His attitude cost Kansas City a skilled offensive coordinator in Charlie Weis, which also lost the Chiefs their offensive line coach when they promoted Bill Muir to coordinator.

The only positive point of Kansas City's season is the development of their receivers. Their trio of Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin shows great promise and could provide the scariest receiving threat in the NFL if they can lock Bowe into a contract extension.

Beyond that, though, very little positive things bear Haley's stamp. He will need a new job in three weeks, and Kansas City will begin their search for a new coach.