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Chiefs limp into matchup with Falcons

Sep 16, 2008 - 3:24 PM KANSAS CITY (0-2) at ATLANTA (1-1), 1:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Kansas City Chiefs have picked right up where they left off last season.

The embattled Chiefs visit the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday mired in an 11-game regular-season losing streak.

Kansas City (0-2) lost its final nine games of 2007 and, after a decent showing in a 17-10 loss at New England in the season opener, was run over by the Oakland Raiders, 23-8, last weekend.

Injuries and discontent also are cropping up for the Chiefs, who were steamrolled for 300 yards rushing by Oakland.

Starting quarterback Brodie Croyle is out with a separated shoulder suffered against the Patriots, and backup Damon Huard was knocked out of the game vs. the Raiders with "head trauma."

The injuries forced the Chiefs to turn to Tyler Thigpen, a seventh-round pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2007 who could be in line for his first NFL start.

Thigpen had a rocky outing against Oakland, completing 14-of-33 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also was sacked three times.

"(Thigpen is) a young quarterback - green," understated Chiefs coach Herman Edwards said. "He was put in a tough spot. I thought he did a good job in the two-minute at the end where he took the team down and made some throws.

"But it's a work in progress and it puts a burden on him when you can't run the ball. That's too difficult for anybody. But he did some good things and made some throws."

Star running back Larry Johnson also complained about his limited role in the offense against the Raiders after rushing for 22 yards on just 12 carries.

"I'm somebody that needs to warm up to get going," Johnson said. "It just didn't happen for me today because of personnel changes. I've always needed 20-30 carries, that's always been me. It's tough not being able to get in a rhythm."

The Falcons (1-1) at least know who their quarterback will be, but rookie Matt Ryan was treated rudely by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in last weekend's 24-9 loss.

Failing to build on his steady season-opening performance against Detroit, Ryan finished 13-of-33 for for 158 yards and two interceptions. He also was sacked twice.

Ryan did not get much help from the running game. Michael Turner, who set a franchise record with 220 yards against the Lions, was held to 42 yards in 14 carries by the Bucs.