Chiefs-Rams Game Log

Aug 28, 2008, 10:42:28 PM

by Josh Looney

PRE-GAME, 3:58 PM

Here were are at Arrowhead Stadium for yet another edition of some Governor’s Cup action. That beautiful bronzed trophy sat in the Arrowhead offices (its preferred home, so I’m told) for quite some time until last pre-season when St. Louis took it back across I-70. The Chiefs will try to gain back the trophy rights tonight in an early 6:00 PM start.

PRE-GAME, 4:30 PM
The public focus on tonight’s game will surely shine towards the recently highly-publicized battle between Nick Novak and Connor Barth for the Chiefs kicking duties. The two are neck-and-neck (or foot-and-foot) thus far and a miss or make tonight could elevate one over the other. Both have looked solid in warm-ups this far…should be a great battle.

PRE-GAME, 4:45 PM
Quote of the Week: This one belongs to QB Brodie Croyle in response to a question asked by NBC’s Lance Veeser.

LV: “Brodie, do you even know what the trophy is called that you are playing for tomorrow?“
BC: “Shaaa. Yeah. The Governor’s Cup. I’m all about that.”

PRE-GAME, 4:59 PM

T Branden Albert is in participating in full-pads during warm-ups. I still doubt we’ll see him play tonight, but it’s an encouraging sign none-the-less.

PRE-GAME, 5:07 PM
Inactives are in…Chiefs - WR Maurice Price, CB Tyron Brackenridge, LB Demorrio Williams, DE Alfonso Boone and WR Will Franklin

Rams…S Oshiomogho Atogwe, RB Brian Leonard, CB Fakhir Brown, RB Stephen Jackson, LB Will Witherspoon, C Brett Romberg, T Orlando Pace, WR Dante Hall and WR Drew Bennett

PRE-GAME, 5:15 PM
QB Trent Green returns will start under center tonight for the Rams in his second visit to Arrowhead since leaving Kansas City in 2007. He’s actually made a start at Arrowhead each of the last eight seasons (2001-06 as a member of the Chiefs, 2007 pre-season with the Dolphins and now the 2008 pre-season with the Rams).

PRE-GAME, 5:30 PM
You know, Green really doesn’t look strange in a Rams uniform as we all remember him donning those colors pre-Kurt Warner, but he does look awfully different wearing #12 rather than his trademark #10.

PRE-GAME, 5:43 PM
We are in the middle of SEVERE RAIN AND HAIL at Arrowhead…no signs of letting up. UPDATE: Start has been delayed to 7:05 PM. UPDATE 2: Looks like an abbreviated warm-up by the teams and start at approximately 7:30 PM.

1st Q, 14:45, KC 0 STL 0
We’re finally under way here at Arrowhead…exactly 1.5 hours behind schedule. A special apology to all the Democrats that were hoping to juggle the DNC and the Chiefs game (that’s why we were supposed to start early at 6:00 PM in the first place).

Now to the field…and it’s not very good news. RB Dantrell Savage fumbles the opening kickoff and the Rams will start deep in Chiefs territory. Savage is a rookie free agent trying to make this football team and fumbles won’t help.

1st Q, 13:33, KC 0 STL 3
The good news is that KC’s defense holds strong (thanks to a big play behind the line by LB Pat Thomas) and holds the league’s highest paid kicker to a field goal.

4 plays, 5 yards, 1:27

1st Q, 13:00, KC 0 STL 3
KR BJ Sams, who is in a dog fight with Savage for the team’s return duties, just saw his stock rise with a return near the KC 40. He couldn’t have picked a better time to break the big return.

1st Q, 8:46, KC 7 STL 3
The Chiefs first offensive drive is like clockwork, reminiscent of the opening drives at Chicago and vs. Arizona earlier this pre-season. RB Kolby Smith, filling in for LJ, did most of the work and capped off the drive with a 14-yard TD run.

The fans are standing here at Arrowhead. I’m actually pretty impressed at how many fans stuck out the weather delay tonight.

7 plays, 62 yards, 4:47

1st Q, 7:06, KC 7 STL 3
It was a short and sweet return for QB Trent Green as QB Brock Berlin has replaced the former Chiefs signal caller. Berlin is battling Bruce Gradkowski for the Rams 3rd QB spot.

I’ve been impressed with the Chiefs rookie corners all pre-season and they’ve come to play when challenged early. Much like QB Kurt Warner tried to do with CB Brandon Flowers earlier this pre-season, Berlin tested CB Brandon Carr deep on his first toss. Carr went stride-for-stride, just as Flowers did, breaking up the deep attempt.

1st Q, 6:47, KC 7 STL 3
When you pick up the Wall Street Journal tomorrow look for Thursday’s Biggest Stock Gainers in the financials…at the top of the list you’ll find KR B.J. Sams. He followed his long kick return with a 34-yard punt return to mid-field, which toyed with going the distance.

1st Q, 1:49, KC 14 STL 3
Who needs to pass when they can’t stop the run? KC grinds out their second-consecutive impressive drive via the ground attack and Smith adds his second TD of the evening, even though RB Jamaal Charles did most of the leg work on this one. Over the first two offensive possessions, Chiefs runners have racked up 75 yards.

9 plays, 56 yards, 4:58

2nd Q, 14:30, KC 14 STL 3
It’s been all Chifes since Savage’s fumbled kickoff return as S Bernard Pollard gets what I can a “hustle turnover.” As RB Travis Minor was wrapped up and going to the ground, Pollard came in and ripped the ball out just before the Minors touched down…very impressive.

And we’ve got a new QB on duty for the Chiefs with Damon Huard replacing Croyle.

2nd Q, 14:22, KC 21 STL 3
The Chiefs are flat out rolling the Rams right now. Huard comes in and hooks up with (seemingly) everybody’s favorite Chief WR Bobby Sippio.  Adam Teicher, what’s your email address for all those Sippio fans to write you at?

2 plays, 31 yards, 0:29

2nd Q, 10:12, KC 21 STL 3
Probably the most underrated special teams player in the NFL, S Bernard Pollard, blocks a Rams punt (even though it will show up as a 12-yard punt in your stat log).

You think the boys felt they had something to prove tonight?

2nd Q, 3:22, KC 21 STL 3
QB Tyler Thigpen, or Thiggy as we like to call him here on the glog, has relieved Huard. Huard exits the game with a 152.1 QB rating (1-1-11, 1 TD, 0 INTs).

2nd Q, 0:10, KC 21 STL 10
The Rams put together a nice little 66-yard scoring drive to end the half that ended with a 20-yard strike to WR Dane Looker. If you take away that last drive, KC outgained the Rams 133 to 49.

11 plays, 66 yards, 1:59

HALFTIME: We’ve got a shortened 8-mintue halftime tonight due to the weather delays. The on-field action hasn’t stopped, however, as two heated rivals in the Blue Valley North Mustangs and Blue Valley Northwest Huskies 3rd and 4th grade football teams are doing battle. I’m predicting a Huskies win.

3rd Q, 14:40, KC 21 STL 10
It’s a big night for WR Bobby Sippio as he’s doing everything from catching TDs, to making special teams tackles, to helping the trainers tape ankles. Rumor has it that John McCain will name Sippio as his running mate this evening. McCain/Sippio ‘08 in a landslide over the Kansas City market.

3rd Q, 11:48, KC 21 STL 10
And it’s pouring down rain once again here at Arrowhead. I think this should drive out a good portion of the remaining crowd.

3rd Q, 10:06, KC 21 STL 10
Can Josh Brown kick in a driving rain storm? Not today at least. He goes wide right on the 40-yard attempt. I have a feeling that both sides will be running the football for the majority of the second half.

3rd Q, 6:19, KC 21 STL 10
Just as quickly as it fell, the rain has left the area for the time being.  A punt by the Chiefs gives the football back to the Rams at the STL 20.

3rd Q, 3:14, KC 21 STL 10
Originally handicapped by the rain, Gradkowski is making his bid to be the Rams 3rd QB as he hooks up with TE Nick Cleaver on the game’s longest passing play to date (30 yards to the KC 39). A score here makes this thing a whole new ballgame.

3rd Q, 0:00, KC 21 STL 10
In the regular season you kick a field goal on 4th-and-short down 11 from the 19, but this is the pre-season and the Rams decide to go for it. The decision pays off as we’re looking at a potential tight fourth quarter if the Rams can punch one in this drive.

4th Q, 14:12, KC 21 STL 17
The Rams are able to cap off the critical scoring drive with a 2-yard RB Lance Ball run. After being down 21-3, the Rams have made this an entirely new ballgame. Although it’s just the pre-season, KC definitely doesn’t want to squander their dominant first half effort.

12 plays, 80 yards, 7:07

4th Q, 12:18, KC 21 STL 17
A three-and-out for KC doesn’t help matters and it appears that St. Louis has the momentum as they’ll get their first opportunity since the first quarter to take a lead.

4th Q, 9:30, KC 21 STL 17
After registering a big three-and-out, KC gets the football back but stalls out around the STL 40. The good thing to come out of this drive is the field position battle as Colquitt pins the Rams inside their own 10.

A field goal attempt would have been about a 55-yarder. I wonder if we had any kickers pleading for an opportunity to kick that one as a 55-yard make on a soggy field would have likely carved their respective name onto the 53-man roster next week.

4th Q, 6:20, KC 21 STL 17
A big pick by S Dajuan Morgan sets the Chiefs up at the Rams 40. Boy, I think we really got away with one there. It really looked like Morgan trapped the football, but Thiggy hustled his troops to the line and got the snap off before Rams head coach Scott Linehan could challenge.

4th Q, 5:06, KC 21 STL 17
Morgan’s pick goes for null as KC can’t convert on a fourth-and-five in no-mans land. STL ball with yet another opportunity to take the lead. The skies have opened up once again as well.

4th Q, 3:10, KC 21 STL 17
Three-and-out are the new theme. Chiefs get the ball back at their own 32…lets see if they can run this thing out.

4th Q, 2:00, KC 21 STL 17
RB Dantrell Savage picks up a pivotal third-and-five. The play gives the Chiefs 1st-and-ten from the St. Louis 37 at the two-minute warning.  QB Thigpen is going to kneel this thing the rest of the way.

4th Q, 1:14, KC 21 STL 17
Since the game is being kneeled out, I thought I would comment on the professionalism shown by the Chiefs cheerleaders tonight. Nary a coat in sight, just clear rain slickers. It’s refreshing to see.

4th Q, 0:00, KC 21 STL 17 - FINAL
Chiefs win. We’ll see you next Sunday for the season-opener at New England. Game time is at 12:00 p.m. central time.