Four and out: Surprises from the NFL in Week 2

Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by New York Jets player Quinton Coples (98). Coples was called for a penalty on the play. New York Jets defeat the Indianapolis Colts 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) runs the ball against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Broncos won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Kansas City Chiefs snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Kansas City Chiefs spared fans the intense emotion of an enthralling victory by handing the ball over to the Denver Broncos in the final minutes of their Thursday night game. It isn’t as if Charles said, “Here you go,” but in effect, through poor ball security, he might as well have.

As surprising as the last-minute loss to the Broncos was, the fact that Charles’ game-losing fumble was not his only mistake of the contest comes as less of a shocker. That was his second fumble of the evening, and one that proved much costlier than his first. The lesson: 125 yards of rushing do not help your team if you are going to give up the ball twice to the opponent.

It is worth noting that Charles is not fumble-proof. He had five fumbles in 2012, and four in both 2013 and 2014. At this rate, Charles is on track to cough up the ball 32 times this year, but from his abject despair, regret, guilt and overall feelings of worthlessness (just inferring this from his body language and heart-felt apology after the game), these two fumbles could very well be his last of 2015.

Charles did cost his team the game, but he has a track record of being a reliable producer on the offense. He has just entered his eighth NFL season and is coming off three of his strongest years during which he totaled nearly 4,000 yards.

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