Chief Victory Is No Contest

Whether it was the worst, second-worst or 10th-worst loss in their team’s history hardly mattered to the glassy-eyed players in the Arizona dressing room.

“I don’t know if that makes it any more frustrating,” Cardinal defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch finally said. “It just doesn’t get any more frustrating.”

The Kansas City Chiefs, with a defense ranked last in the NFL, shut out the injury-weakened Cardinals, 49-0, Sunday. It’s believed to be the most lopsided loss for a franchise that has played in three different cities, and in parts of three different centuries. It also was the biggest margin in the NFL since the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Houston Oilers, 61-7, on Dec. 17, 1989.

“You’ve got to feel bad for those guys,” Chief guard Brian Waters said.

Dante Hall had a team-record 90-yard punt return for a touchdown for the Chiefs (6-6), who handed the Cardinals (4-8) with their sixth consecutive loss.

Kansas City’s Priest Holmes scored two touchdowns and had 169 total yards, personally eclipsing the 122 net yards of the Cardinals.

Jake Plummer, who threw three of the four Cardinal interceptions, was replaced late in the third quarter by Josh McCown.

The Cardinals’ previous worst loss was on Oct. 12, 1941, when the Chicago Cardinals lost to the Chicago Bears, 53-7. Records aren’t available between 1898, when the Cardinals were founded, and 1920.

“Any time you’ve got a one-sided loss like that, it has to go directly to the head coach,” said Arizona Coach Dave McGinnis. “And that’s exactly what I told my players.”

It was the second-most lopsided victory for the Chiefs, behind only their 59-7 victory over Denver on Sept. 7, 1963.