Game Day

Texans vs. Chiefs Saturday, August 15, 2009 7:00 PM
1 2 3 4 Total Texans 7 6 3 0 16 Chiefs 0 3 0 7 10 Final

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by Brad Gee

Kansas City – The Todd Haley era officially began on a rainy evening at Arrowhead. While the Chiefs outgained the Texans in total yardage by a 307-to-280 margin, it was Houston that prevailed on the scoreboard by a 16-10 margin.

The New Arrowhead lived up to its hype as a vast array of improvements wowed the partisan crowd. The Chiefs defense gave the fans a moment to cheer on the game’s opening drive. Houston won the toss to open the game, but Kansas City dispatched the Texans from the field as CB Maurice Leggett sacked QB Matt Schaub for an 11-yard loss on third down, forcing a punt.

In his debut in a Chiefs uniform, QB Matt Cassel connected with WR Terrance Copper for a 12-yard gain to give Kansas City its initial first down of the evening. Kansas City was forced to punt as P Dustin Colquitt booted a 51-yard bomb to pin the Texans at their own six-yard line.

Houston was unfazed by the poor field position, registering four first downs on its next possession to get into scoring territory. A 16-yard pass from QB Matt Schaub to RB Chris Brown, followed by a 15-yard penalty for a horse-collar tackle was the big play of the drive. On third and one from the Chiefs two-yard line, Brown punched the ball in for a TD to cap a 12-play, 94-yard scoring drive, giving the Texans a 7-0 advantage.

Then, Mother Nature made her presence felt with a steady rain which continued through the first half. The Chiefs were forced to punt on their final possession of the first quarter.

The Chiefs had possession going into the second quarter, but went three and out. After a booming Colquitt punt of 52 yards, S Jarrad Page knocked down a QB Dan Orlovsky pass to stall Houston’s next drive. On the ensuing possession the Chiefs fumbled a first-down snap giving the Texans the ball at the Kansas City 24-yard line. Orlovsky connected on an 11-yard pass to WR David Anderson, setting up a 23-yard K Kris Brown field goal to give Houston a 10-0 lead.

QB Brodie Croyle made his 2009 debut, entering the game with 5:40 to play in the second quarter. Kansas City was forced to punt for the fourth time of the half on Croyle’s first possession under center. Houston then drove seven plays for 41 yards setting up Brown’s second field goal of the half, this time from 42 yards out to give Houston a 13-0 advantage.

Croyle rallied the Chiefs in the two-minute drill, connecting with WR Dwayne Bowe for 14 yards. Two plays later, found WR Rodney Wright to set up Succop’s first NFL FG attempt. Succop’s 48-yard FG capped a nine-play, 49-yard drive to cut the Texans advantage to 13-3. Houston held the ball for 18:43 in the first half compared to a time of possession of 11:17 for Kansas City.

After receiving the second-half kickoff, the Chiefs offense began to move with Croyle at the helm. Four different receivers caught passes including a 22-yard catch by WR Mark Bradley and a 17-yard pickup from Bowe. Bowe led all receivers on the evening with five catches for 70 yards. The Texans held strong, stopping KC’s drive at their 24-yard line after the Chiefs failed to convert on a fourth-and-two.

Houston went three-and-out after Chiefs LB Demorrio Williams batted down Orlovsky’s pass. The Chiefs offense continued to make progress down the field, but a fumble by RB Dantrell Savage put an end to Kansas City’s scoring threat. Savage finished with eight carries for a team-high 39 yards.

Playing conditions worsened from continuous rain, but the Chiefs defense held firm, forcing Houston to its third field goal of the night as Brown’s 30-yard FG with 0:21 left in the third quarter gave Houston a 16-3 lead.

QB Tyler Thigpen took over for the Chiefs final possession in the third quarter. After the teams exchanged punts on their first possessions in the fourth quarter, Thigpen sparked the offense using his legs rushed twice for 22 yards on a 10 play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard touchdown pass to TE Brad Cottam. The Chiefs trailed Houston 16-10 with less than five minutes to play.

After holding the Texans on their ensuing possession, Kansas City’s offense couldn’t stay on the field and was forced to punt. The Chiefs defense forced Houston three-and-out, giving the Chiefs one final opportunity.

Kansas City had the ball at its own 24-yard line with 1:30 to play. Thigpen and company moved the ball out to the 47-yard line, but a Chiefs fumble moved the ball back to the 35. Thigpen’s desperation heave on fourth-and-22 was picked off by CB David Pittman, sealing the Texans victory.

The Chiefs return to training camp in River Falls on Sunday and will face the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome on Friday.