KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - The Baltimore Ravens were too tough a test for Kansas City on Sunday, but quarterback Matt Cassel said the lopsided defeat should not take away from what he called a great season for the Chiefs franchise.
"This one hurts, it really does sting. I felt going into the game that we had a great chance to win, we had a great week of practice and it really came down to the second half and turnovers," said Cassel, who was intercepted three times in the 30-7 loss. "We all know in playoff football you can't turn the ball over and it starts with me."
The Chiefs finished the regular season 10-6 to win the AFC West, going from worst to first following a miserable 4-12 campaign, and Cassel said that should be remembered.
"I would have loved to have come in and thrown for 300 yards and walked out of here with a victory but it also doesn't take away from the fact that we did have a great season," said Cassel, who finished the game with 70 yards.
Head coach Todd Haley agreed the loss should not overshadow a positive regular season campaign for a franchise that has struggled in recent years.
"We got a lot of great experience for a lot of guys who haven't been a part of this. They can take from this what they need to know - which is to understand that in these big games it is about playing your best football," said Haley.
(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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