Offense Can't Get on Track, Chiefs Lose 23-8

Sep 14, 2008, 5:00:00 AM

	1	2	3	4	Total
Raiders	6	0	7	10	23
Chiefs	0	0	0	8	8
Final

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by Bob Gretz

Too little offense, too late sunk the Chiefs in their rivalry battle with the Oakland Raiders, as they suffered another loss, this time 23-8 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs offense struggled through the game’s first three quarters and was unable to consistently stay on the field as the Oakland defense shutdown the running game, allowing only 55 yards. Defensively, the Chiefs struggled to control the Raiders running game, giving up 300 yards on the ground.

The Chiefs offense had the ball first and put together 10 snaps in their opening possession, including a pair of first downs and a nice 12-yard completion from QB Damon Huard to TE Tony Gonzalez. On several plays in the possession, Huard left the field and WR Marques Hagans took the direct snap at the quarterback position for a pair of running plays. Ultimately, the drive stalled and the P Dustin Colquitt punt set up the Raiders at their own 41-yard line.

In five plays they had moved into Chiefs territory, but Oakland had to settle for a 56-yard FG by K Sebastian Janikowski that gave Oakland an early 3-0 lead. It was the longest field goal by an opponent against the Chiefs in franchise history.

When the Chiefs got the ball back, a Huard pass was tipped and picked off by Oakland S Tyvon Branch who returned the interception 36 yards to the Chiefs nine-yard line. But the Kansas City defense held tight and forced another Janikowski FG, this one from 25 yards out and the Raiders led by a 6-0 margin as the first period came to an end.

The second quarter was controlled by the defenses, as both offenses couldn’t get anything going on a consistent basis. Combined the Chiefs and Raiders produced 85 yards in total offense on 26 plays over the 15 minutes of play. The Chiefs made a change at quarterback on their last possession of the first quarter as Tyler Thigpen replaced Huard, who suffered a mild head trauma. Thigpen picked up one of two first downs the Chiefs had in the second quarter with a six-yard scramble. RB Larry Johnson got the other with a five-yard run. Defensively, the Chiefs forced a turnover when the ball came out of RB Darren McFadden’s hands and S Bernard Pollard recovered the fumble. The Chiefs were unable to capitalize and the Raiders retained a 6-0 halftime advantage.

The game’s first touchdown came on Oakland’s second possession of the third quarter. Starting at its five-yard line, Oakland rode the strong legs of the rookie McFadden. He produced runs for 21 and 50 yards runs. After being spelled by RB Michael Bush, the first-round draft choice out of Arkansas returned to the huddle and on a third down-and-four play at the Chiefs 19-yard line, McFadden went wide right and got the ball over the goal line for the touchdown. The scoring drive went seven plays for 95 yards. The PAT kick by Janikowski gave Oakland a 13-0 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the period. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Raiders added another Janikowski FG, this one from 40 yards and a 16-0 lead.

That’s when the Chiefs put together their only scoring drive of the game. Starting at his own 20-yard line, Thigpen moved the team down the field, starting with a 30-yard completion to WR Dwayne Bowe on first down. The Chiefs then got a big third down conversion on a 10-yard completion from Thigpen to WR Devard Darling.

The touchdown came on a third-and-goal play at the Raiders two-yard line as Thigpen found TE Tony Gonzalez in the end zone. On the two-point play, Thigpen ran a bootleg right and threw to FB Mike Cox to make the score 16-8 in favor of the Raiders, keeping hope alive for Kansas City.

The Chiefs defense came back and forced another turnover, as Bush fumbled on a hit by S Jarrad Page and the ball was recovered by Pollard. Thigpen moved the offense into Raiders territory, but threw an interception to LB Kirk Morrison that ended the Chiefs hopes of a comeback.

The Raiders added a late touchdown as Bush scored on a 32-yard run that ended a six-play, 58-yard drive. Janikowski’s PAT kick gave Oakland its final 23-8 margin. Now 0-2, the Chiefs hit the road for week No. 3 of the 2008 NFL season next Sunday, visiting the Atlanta Falcons. Kickoff is Noon (Central).