The Carolina Panthers lost to the Chiefs Sunday in what was an emotional scene in Kansas City. The game was played a day after one of the Chiefs' starting linebackers killed his girlfriend and then himself.
Chiefs' linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend early Saturday morning, and then drove to the team's practice facility and killed himself in front of his coach Romeo Crennel and general manager.
The NFL told the Panthers that afternoon to still travel to Kansas City and left the decision to play the game up to the Chiefs. Crennel said he thought playing was the best thing for his team to do, and the Chiefs beat the Panthers Sunday 27 to 21.
Carolina Panthers' coach Ron Rivera says he told his players to expect an emotional performance from the Chiefs.
"They played an inspired football game," Rivera said in the post-game press conference. "They did some really good things, and we've got to give them credit because they suffered through a very difficult time but they came together and rallied as a team. So congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs, congratulations to Romeo Crennel and the folks there."
Rivera hugged Crennel at midfield after the game. The Panthers are now 3 and 9, and their next game is Sunday at home against the Atlanta Falcons.