The Chiefs were forced to play the day after their linebacker tragically murdered his girlfriend and then shot himself in front of his coach and GM. Under the shadow of tragedy, the lowly team from Kansas City found a way to persevere.
Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel stand together before the game. The two men had been with Javon Belcher when he committed suicide.
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The defense that Belcher had anchored for the last three years took a moment to themselves in the tunnel before kickoff.
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Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt embraced Pioli before the game.
Hunt said of the last 24 hours: "I spent the evening last night at the team hotel with them. I wanted to be there with the team, with the coaches, to let them know I love them and support them and know what they're going through, and particularly the guys who were present in the parking lot when Jovan took his life. I know this has to be incredibly difficult."
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Hunt also embraced Crennel before the game.
Hunt added: "We lost two members of the Chiefs family. Kasandra (Javon's girlfriend) was part of our Chiefs women's organization, and had done things in the community with the CWO group. They have a daughter now, Zoey, who is an orphan. I can't imagine how difficult that's going to be for her."
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