Someone forgot to tell the Kansas City Chiefs that they were down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game Saturday at Gillette Stadium. Once again, Chiefs coach Andy Reid's game management played a role in a postseason loss -- in this case, a 27-20 defeat to the New England Patriots.
Trailing 27-13, the Chiefs drained 5 minutes, 16 seconds off the clock during a 16-play drive that eventually pulled them within one score. Reid declined to use any of his timeouts, even when his team was in a first-and-goal situation with 2:33 left to play.
Reid allowed 25 seconds to drain before the two-minute warning, had his team huddle on multiple occasions and ultimately used another 1:20 before Charcandrick West scored from 1 yard.
By that time, however, there was only 1:13 remaining in the game. That all but removed the possibility of stopping the Patriots' ensuing possession and getting the ball back via a punt, so the Chiefs had no option but to try a low-percentage onside kick.
It failed, and the Patriots ran out the clock to end the game.
This was not Reid's first brush with postseason game-management infamy. In Super Bowl XXXIX, his Philadelphia Eagles team was down 10 points to the Patriots in the fourth quarter. The Eagles then lumbered to a 13-play drive over 3:52 for a touchdown that cut the Patriots' lead to three points but didn't leave enough time to complete the comeback.
Saturday's gaffe evoked similar memories.
