Chiefs-Dolphins Game Log

Dec 21, 2008, 3:30:54 PM

by Josh Looney

PRE-GAME, 10:00 AM

Welcome once again to glogland. I can’t describe how cold it is out there today…we’re talking brutally cold. Wind chills are expected to reach the negative 20s. The all-time low temp/wind chill in Arrowhead was -30 degrees on 12/18/83 vs. Denver. The record watch is on.

PRE-GAME, 10:20 AM
Not only is it ridiculously cold outside, the field is frozen solid. Somebody needs to tell the cheerleaders it’s time to trade-in those white tennis shoes for some cleats. I’ve counted five wipeouts in less than 30 minutes.

PRE-GAME, 10:33 AM
INACTIVES…
CHIEFS
31 Maurice Leggett
34 David Macklin
45 Michael Merritt
67 Barry Richardson
70 Alfonso Boone
71 Andrew Carnahan
80 Jeff Webb
92 Wallace Gilberry

DOLPHINS
9 John Beck is 3rd QB
14 Chris Hannon
52 Channing Crowder
61 Shawn Murphy
71 Lionel Dotson
74 Quentin Moses
75 Nate Garner
90 Rodrique Wright

PRE-GAME, 11:00 AM
It’s no secret that there was some serious buzz at Arrowhead this week with the announcement that a new general manager will take over the franchise reigns next season. I’ll leave this subject alone aside from one comment: Carl Peterson cared about the success of this franchise as much as or more than anyone and that’s saying something as we know how much you, the fans, love the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s said that the only constant in the NFL is change and the Chiefs will surely be seeing much of that in the coming months.

PRE-GAME, 11:24 AM
I’ve never bought into the whole “south teams can’t play in the cold” argument. The Dolphins are in the thick of the AFC playoff race and if you’re one that believes they will lay down simply because its frigid cold outside than you couldn’t be more wrong. Where did that realm of thinking come from anyway? I mean, QB Chad Pennington played college football at Marshall and a ton of other NFL players that play for south teams grew up in cold weather climates…that argument has never made much sense to me.

PRE-GAME, 11:35 AM
Is it just me or are you sick of the non-stop Christmas music that’s been playing for the past 30-plus days? Look, I’m no scrooge, but when you hear the same five songs on loop for over a month even Christmas songs start to trigger the patience. I swear, if I hear “simply having a wonderful Christmas time,” by Paul McCartney one more time…

PRE-GAME, 11:50 AM
Tony DiPardo and the TD Pack Bank will be making their last Arrowhead appearance today. Thanks, Tony, for 40-plus seasons of “Thumbs Up Enthusiasm.” DiPardo was just presented with a plaque-mounted trumpet for his unwavering support of the Chiefs. Once again, thanks Tony.

PRE-GAME, 11:59 AM
I was in the tunnel with Miami before they were introduced to the Arrowhead crowd and it’s safe to say that this group will not come out flat like San Diego did last week.

1st Q, 14:42, KC 0, MIA 7
Like I said…Miami won’t be flat today…RB Patrick Cobbs takes the opener to the KC 31 and WR Ted Ginn reverses on the first play from scrimmage for a 31-yard TD run. The Chiefs better find some intensity to match that of the Dolphins quickly.

1 play, 31 yards, 0:18

1st Q, 12:59, KC 0, MIA 7
This one looks like it has the potential to get ugly in a hurry. After a nice kickoff return by WR Kevin Robinson the Chiefs moved the ball across mid-field, but a miscommunication between QB Tyler Thigpen and TE Tony Gonzalez on an out route to the left results in a 55-yard CB Andre Goodman INT to the KC 19.

1st Q, 12:40, KC 0, MIA 7
As if things couldn’t go anymore wrong early, they just did. S Bernard Pollard scooped up a RB Ronnie Brown fumble on a screen pass on the Dolphins first play after the INT, but the Chiefs turnover was nullified when DE Jason Babin was flagged for hitting QB Chad Pennington below the knee.

1st Q, 11:52, KC 0, MIA 7
Quote of the Day: Referee Jeff Triplett – “The clock is frozen on 14 seconds.“

1st Q, 11:43, KC 0, MIA 10
With their backs against the wall the KC defense comes up huge by limiting Miami to a 34-yard K Dan Carpenter field goal. Carpenter booted the ice cold rock directly into the wind that the chip-shot kick nearly came up short.

4 plays, 2 yards, 1:07

1st Q, 10:55, KC 0, MIA 10
There is a crazy-man sitting in the uppermost corner of Arrowhead…this guy is dressed somewhat like Dracula, somewhat like The Incredible Hulk. Either way…looks like a Raiders fan in disguise to me.

1st Q, 10:15, KC 7, MIA 10
KC slides right back into this one with a quick strike as RB Larry Johnson sells a beautiful play-fake (one play after he ripped off a 25-yard run) and WR Devard Darling simply outruns two Miami d-backs on a streak for a 33-yard TD catch from Thigpen. That play brought the Arrowhead crowd back to life and seems to have provided a much-needed jolt to the Kansas City sideline…up top Dracula is dancing.

3 plays, 65 yards, 1:20

1st Q, 7:27, KC 7, MIA 10
Every time Pennington completes a deep pass you likely hear someone say, “wow, that should have been picked,” but more times than not that pass that “should have been picked” ends up as a completion. What Pennington lacks in arm strength he more than makes up for in arm strength.

1st Q, 6:52, KC 7, MIA 10
Pollard is on a fumble recovery spree today…problem is both times he has recovered fumbles, they get nullified by the officials. Earlier his recovery was reversed by Babin’s hit on Pennington and now the officials rule that FB Lousaka Polite’s knee was down at the KC 40 before Pollard scooped the football and took into Fins territory. Regardless, the plays was on third down and the Fins have to punt.

1st Q, 4:25, KC 7, MIA 10
Play after play Thigpen is attempting to throw deep on CB Andre Goodman. It’s obviously in the Thigpen’s game plan to exploit this cornerback, but Goodman has answered the challenge thus far with a few impressive pass breakups and an INT.

1st Q, 0:14, KC 7, MIA 10
Rather than attempting a 46-yard FG and fighting the elements, Herm Edwards opts to go for it on third-and-five. The decision pays off with a Thigpen-Bowe connection inside the Miami Red Zone. After starting off the game about as poorly as possible the Chiefs have an opportunity to finish off the first quarter with a lead.

2nd Q, 14:05, KC 14, MIA 10
Edwards again passes up a field goal opportunity on fourth-and-one from the Miami eight-yard line as he brings in the heavies. Despite the loaded backfield Thigpen drops back and guns a TD toss to Gonzo for the lead. Credit Edwards with two risky decisions that both paid off that drive.

17 plays, 80 yards, 7:47

2nd Q, 11:33, KC 14, MIA 17
The lead doesn’t last long as Pennington caps off a quick, penalty-aided drive with a beautiful pass into the back of the end zone to TE David Martin. That was the type of throw that nobody can catch except for the guy that is targeted…a brilliant throw by Pennington.

5 plays, 72 yards, 2:32

2nd Q, 10:40, KC 14, MIA 17
T Damion McIntosh just made the two best downfield tackles I’ve seen in quite some time. RB Jamaal Charles busts a short pass 75-yards to the MIA two-yard line, but it was McIntosh who pancake blocked two Dolphins defensive backs in successive blows to spring Charles loose…it was like watching a video game.

2nd Q, 10:32, KC 21, MIA 17
LJ punches it in from one-yard out and the back-and-forth game continues. If you like offense, this is the game for you. If you like defense…

2 plays, 77 yards, 1:01

2nd Q, 6:12, KC 21, MIA 24
The Chiefs are blitzing, playing man, dropping into zone…none of it matters. Pennington continues to pick the Chiefs apart through the air as he connects with TE Anthony Fasano this time from 14-yards. Guess what else…another lead change.

7 plays, 66 yards, 4:24

2nd Q, 5:36, KC 21, MIA 24
We may have just had a game-changing play. With neither defense being able to stop the opposing offense, turnovers are huge. Robinson coughs up the football on the return at the KC 31 and Pennington will bring his hot-hand out for another go.

2nd Q, 4:07, KC 21, MIA 24
Referee Jeff Triplette is just full of zingers today…after making his “the clock is frozen comment” earlier the game the Tripster (as his friends like to call him) was tripped up by his own feet when back-peddling before a play. Wow…look for that one on YouTube in the morning.

2nd Q, 2:00, KC 21, MIA 24
It was Tony Sparano’s turn to make a fourth-down call and, like Edwards, he decides to go for it on fourth-and-short from the KC six-yard line. Unlike Edwards, however, the risk backfires as Pennington misses on a fade route and KC’s defense gets a huge stop in the shadows of their goalpost.

2nd Q, 0:50, KC 28, MIA 24
It’s a game of swings and KC has the momentum following that big fourth-down stop. It looked as if the Chiefs would just run out the clock, but a 32-yard pass to Darling and a 27-yard Thigpen draw play set up Thigpen for an eight-yard TD run. 52 first-half points today!

8 plays, 95 yards, 1:26

2nd Q, 0:22, KC 28, MIA 24
Nobody is gun shy in this one as Miami takes a timeout between passing plays at the MIA 45. Can we break 100 total points today?

2nd Q, 0:00, KC 28, MIA 24
S Jarrad Page picks off his career-high fourth INT of the season to thwart Miami’s late first-half scoring push. Incredibly, the Chiefs don’t just sit on the football and decide to throw it around the field a bit. It all ended on a wobbling hail mary pass from Thigpen that fell incomplete around the Miami 10. What an interesting first half of football.

HALFTIME: Frisbee Dogs! Yes!

3rd Q, 14:53, KC 28, MIA 24
As the fourth quarter winds down in Cleveland, we’re just under way in the second half here in Kansas City. The on-field camera men are not happy about the length of the first half. KC will start on their own 22.

3rd Q, 13:26, KC 28, MIA 24
LJ breaks a nice 33-yard run to the MIA 39 and he’s quietly approaching the 100-yard mark on the day despite only having nine touches.

3rd Q, 11:04, KC 28, MIA 24
LJ officially tops the 100-yard mark on 10 carries after Gonzalez completely sealed the left edge. What a difference we’ve seen from the Chiefs since that goal line stand.

3rd Q, 9:11, KC 31, MIA 24
The Chiefs have to settle for a 27-yard K Connor Barth field goal, those three points are critical as the lead is now at seven. One or two defensive stops may prove to be the difference in this one.

9 plays, 69 yards, 5:49

3rd Q, 6:46, KC 31, MIA 31
A 44-yard reverse from Cobbs out of the wildcat formation sets up a four-yard TD scamper for RB Ricky Williams and we’re all tied up. The good things is that the KC offense isn’t showing any signs of their season-long third quarter draught.

5 plays, 60 yards, 2:25

3rd Q, 4:40, KC 31, MIA 31
Thigpen is having a career day through the air as his 292 yards passing are his best as a pro. It looks as if the Chiefs are on pace to have a 300-yard passer (Thigpen – currently 292), 100-yard rusher (LJ – currently 108) and 100-yard receiver (Charles – currently 93). That hasn’t happened since the Chiefs hosted Seattle in 2006 (Huard, LJ and Kennison/Gonzalez). 

3rd Q, 3:55, KC 31, MIA 31
Speaking of records, Gonzalez now has 1,000 yards receiving on the season…the first TE in NFL history with four 1,000-yard seasons.

3rd Q, 3:45, KC 31, MIA 31
And after all those passing stats, Thigpen throws an INT on the Miami six. This is going to be another one of those games where who wins it is who has it last.

3rd Q, 0:00, KC 31, MIA 31
Wow…we went over six minutes with no points on the scoreboard! An entertaining fourth quarter awaits…

4th Q, 14:13, KC 31, MIA 31
A rare punt is forced and Kansas City will take over the football at the KC 37. The punt tally is at two for Miami and none for KC.

4th Q, 12:41, KC 31, MIA 31
Back-to-back punts traded by both squads…what game are we watching? Miami football on the MIA 22.

4th Q, 7:16, KC 31, MIA 31
Pennington is back at it, finding the short routes that made him successful through the first two quarters. He has the Fins at the KC 36 on a critical long, clock-eating drive. Holding Miami without points here would be huge.

4th Q, 5:01, KC 31, MIA 31
The Chiefs defense looks tired as Miami is now at the KC 20 and has held the football for over seven minutes and is on the 11th play of this drive.

4th Q, 4:08, KC 31, MIA 38
A third-down screen pass to TE Anthony Fasano from 14-yards out finishes off the scoring drive. The good news is that the Chiefs have plenty time to put together a nice drive that could once again put them in a position to win. Another two-point conversion try? I think it will happen should KC get into the end zone this next drive.

13 plays, 85 yards, 8:33

4th Q, 4:08, KC 31, MIA 38
Well…this is the ballgame right here. KC calls timeout and will face a fourth-and-two from their own 26. With two timeouts left plus the warning you could punt, but with the play of both offenses I think you have to go for it here.

4th Q, 3:35, KC 31, MIA 38
Edwards agrees and opts to go for it on a bootleg, but Thigpen slips and gives the football back to Miami at the 20. Barring turnovers, that should do it.

4th Q, 4:08, KC 31, MIA 38
Miami runs it up the gut three times for a first down and the final stoppage of the game. It’s the two-minute warning and the Chiefs are out of timeouts.

4th Q, 1:45, KC 31, MIA 38
Ricky Williams FUMBLES! Demorrio Williams recovers! The booth will review, but it looks like it’s going to be Kansas City Ball! Business is picking up!

4th Q, 1:45, KC 31, MIA 38
The booth confirms the fumble. First-and-ten Kansas City on their own seven yard line. 93 yards to a tie. The frozen faithful that stayed until the end are in for a fantastic finish.

4th Q, 1:45, KC 31, MIA 38
Thigpen throws incomplete twice to start the drive. It’s third-and-ten quickly.

4th Q, 1:36, KC 31, MIA 38
Thigpen moves in the pocket and is rocked by Dolphins LB Joey Porter and DE Philip Merling. An interception on fourth-and-long by Miami S Renaldo Hill sends the Chiefs to a seven-point defeat.

MIAMI 38, KANSAS CITY 31 - FINAL