Chiefs Fall in Carolina, 34-0

Oct 05, 2008, 5:00:00 AM

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	7	14	10	3	34
Final

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by Bob Gretz

Kansas City was dominated in all three phases of the game and never mounted a serious scoring threat in a 34-0 loss by the hands of the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

The Kansas City offense managed just 28 total yards in the first half and 77 yards after three quarters. QB Damon Huard throwing two INTs and losing a fumble on a sack. Defensively, the Chiefs could not stop Carolina RB DeAngelo Williams, who ran for 123 rushing yards and ran for 25 more, scoring a trio of first-half touchdowns. At the end of three quarters, the Panthers offense under the direction of QB Jake Delhomme had amassed over 400 yards.

The teams traded possessions at the start of the game. Carolina’s second chance with the ball started on the Chiefs 46-yard line and Delhomme drove the offense in seven plays to a touchdown. Most of the damage was done on the ground with the duo of Williams and rookie RB Jonathan Stewart.

It was Williams who got the scoring run, going 10 yards up the middle untouched for the Carolina TD. K John Kasay added the PAT kick and the Panthers had a 7-0 lead with 5:10 to play in the first quarter.

When the Chiefs got the ball back, they were unable to manage a first down. But, on a third down-and-16 yards to go play, Huard hooked up with TE Tony Gonzalez for a six-yard gain. That play gave Gonzalez the career receiving yardage record for tight ends in NFL history, surpassing TE Shannon Sharpe (10,060).

At the end of the first quarter the Panthers offense began a nice drive, rolling into the second period and pushing the ball to the Chiefs 15-yard line. But Stewart fumbled on a run over the right side when he was hit by DT Glenn Dorsey. The ball was recovered by DT Tank Tyler.

The Chiefs offense went three and out on its next possession and with another offensive chance, Carolina again went on a drive into Kansas City territory. The big play was a 38-yard catch and run from Delhomme to WR Steve Smith. Six plays later, Delhomme dropped a short pass to the right side to Williams, who was not covered by a blitzing Chiefs defense. He ran 26 yards for his second TD of the game. Kasay’s PAT kick pushed the score to 14-0 in favor of Carolina.

Kansas City’s offense again couldn’t sustain a drive and punted the ball away to the Panthers, who began their possession at the Carolina 17-yard line. Delhomme marched them down the field, chewing up 6:07 of the second quarter clock on an 11-play drive. It ended with another Williams TD, this one a 32-yard run on a draw play in a third-and-eight situation. Another Kasay PAT kick gave the Panthers a 21-0 lead at halftime.

The Chiefs offense got the ball first in the third quarter, but turned the ball over on their first snap when Carolina DE Julius Peppers knocked the ball out of QB Damon Huard’s hands on a pass rush. The Panthers DT Damione Lewis recovered the ball and gave the Panthers possession at the Kansas City 28-yard line.

On a third-and-goal play from the Chiefs five-yard line, S Jarrad Page picked off a Delhomme pass intended for WR Steve Smith. The officials on the field ruled that Page did not get both feet inbounds on the catch, but the Chiefs challenged and an instant replay review overturned the call and gave Kansas City possession.

However, the Chiefs were picked off on their very next play as Carolina LB Jon Beason stepped in front of a pass intended for LB Jon Beason. Four players later, Kasay kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Panthers a 24-0 lead.

That lead grew by seven points thanks to another Kansas City turnover. The Chiefs drove the ball into Carolina territory but on a second-and-five play, Huard threw long Bowe cut off his route. The pass was intercepted by CB Ken Lucas and returned 43 yards.

Three plays later, Delhomme hit WR Mushin Muhammad for a 47-yard TD pass that with Kasay’s PAT kick made the score 31-0 as the third quarter came to an end. Early in the fourth quarter, Kasay added a 43-yard FG at the end of a six-play, 40-yard drive.

Now 1-4, the Chiefs will be on their bye week next weekend. They will return to action on Sunday, October 19 when they host the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is Noon.