Haley Positive Despite 0-2 Start

The cloud of negativity is still hovering over Arrowhead Stadium. Even head coach Todd Haley is still reeling from Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Raiders.

“The hurt isn’t gone,” Haley said Tuesday. “The disappointment isn’t gone from Sunday. Still fighting through that.”

However, if you’re contemplating a change in attitude, there are some positives to take away from Sunday. The Chiefs effectively moved the ball all day. Whether it was Larry Johnson charging forward for an extra yard or Bobby Wade securing a ball over the middle, Kansas City’s offense produced yardage. That wasn’t lost on Haley.

“I thought offensively, the fact that we were able to put 25 first downs together and move the football consistently was an encouraging sign,” he said. “Any time you rush for 170-plus yards, I think that’s a pretty encouraging sign against a pretty good front four and seven.”

The Chiefs’ defense also rebounded from giving up 501 net yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, and stymied Oakland’s offense for most of Sunday’s game.

“I got nothing but good to say about defense and stopping the run,” said Haley. “That’s a legitimate running attack which has pounded out some yards here in the past and on a bunch of other teams, and to hold those guys to where we did I thought was a positive, positive sign.”

Another positive sign was the Chiefs’ receiving corps. Dwayne Bowe and Bobby Wade combined for 11 receptions, 156 yards and a touchdown. That was an especially pleasant surprise given all the moving and shaking the Chiefs have done at the receiver position this offseason. Wade just arrived in Kansas City last week. If he continues to produce, Haley’s maneuvering will have paid off in the long run.

Of course, maybe the most positive thing from Sunday’s loss is that it was just Week 2. There are still 14 games to play, and Haley realizes that.

“Were 0-2 in the first quarter of the season,” he said. “That’s the way I look at the season. That’s the way I’d like my team to look at the season is in quarters. Kind of the way I was taught a long time ago, and right now were 0-2. We’ve got two games left in this quarter starting this week at Philly. We’ve got to figure out a way to get a couple back.”

Visiting Philadelphia, where Brian Westbrook and DeSean Jackson are injured and Donovan McNabb is wielding a clipboard instead of a football might not be such a bad place for Kansas City to try and pick up their first win.