2004: Chargers Rally to Defeat Chiefs in Back-and-Forth Game

The fortunes of the San Diego Chargers had changed dramatically since the 4-12 finish of 2003 as they met the Kansas City Chiefs on November 28, 2004. Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer’s team had won four straight games and was at 7-3 and even with Denver atop the AFC West. QB Drew Brees (pictured at right), considered a disappointment following his first three seasons, was breaking out in a big way, as was second-year TE Antonio Gates, while RB LaDainian Tomlinson continued to be a top rusher and receiver out of the backfield. The coaching of first-year defensive coordinator Wade Phillips brought about a significant improvement with the defense.  

The Chiefs were on an opposite trajectory. Having been a 13-3 playoff team in 2003, Kansas City had lost its last three games and was struggling with a 3-7 record. Under Head Coach Dick Vermeil, the offense was still productive, led by QB Trent Green and TE Tony Gonzalez, although star RB Priest Holmes was out with a knee injury. The defense was at the root of the club’s problems and ranked among the league’s least effective units.

There were 77,447 fans in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium on a 35-degree day. The Chargers had the first possession and put together a promising drive as WR Eric Parker gained 20 yards on a first-play end-around and Drew Brees completed three passes and had a 14-yard run. However, the drive stalled at the Kansas City 11 and Nate Kaeding’s 29-yard field goal attempt was unsuccessful.

The Chiefs punted following a short series and San Diego struck quickly. Brees threw to Parker for a 55-yard gain to the KC two and, two plays later, LaDainian Tomlinson scored a touchdown from a yard out. Kaeding added the extra point and the visitors were in front by 7-0.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Chiefs starting field position at their 40, and they went 60 yards in six plays. Trent Green had passes to Tony Gonzalez (pictured below) for 12 and 27 yards and RB Derrick Blaylock, the stand-in for Priest Holmes, ran for a five-yard TD. Lawrence Tynes converted to tie the score at 7-7.

The Chargers punted following their next possession and a penalty on the return had the Chiefs starting from their own six yard line. As the game moved into the second quarter, consecutive carries by RB Larry Johnson picked up 18 yards and, with Green passing effectively and Johnson runs mixed in, Kansas City advanced methodically down the field. Green completed five of his passes, two of them to Gonzalez for 22 yards and the longest covering 16 yards to TE Jason Dunn. The 13-play, 94-yard drive culminated in Johnson’s six-yard touchdown run up the middle. Tynes added the point after and the home team had a 14-7 lead.

The Chargers responded with a long drive of their own that covered 70 yards in 12 plays. They converted three first downs, all on passes by Brees, including a 17-yard toss to Parker on third-and-seven that set up Tomlinson’s three-yard carry for a TD. Kaeding’s kick tied the score at 14-14.

Green passed Kansas City down the field on the next series and Tynes kicked a 28-yard field goal that put the Chiefs back in front by three. With time running out in the first half, Brees threw to WR Kassim Osgood for a 27-yard gain to the KC 43 and two short completions to Tomlinson picked up another nine yards, but Kaeding missed on a 52-yard field goal attempt and the home team took a 17-14 lead into halftime.

Kansas City WR Dante Hall started the third quarter off with a 77-yard kickoff return, but he fumbled at the end without being hit and the Chargers gained possession at their five yard line. They managed to reach their 45 before having to punt and the Chiefs punted it back following a three-and-out series. On San Diego’s first play from midfield, Parker took off for a 38-yard run to the KC 12 and, while the Chargers couldn’t reach the end zone, Kaeding tied the score with a 25-yard field goal.

The teams exchanged punts before the Chiefs began to move effectively in the closing minutes of the period. Green completed three straight passes, the first to WR Johnnie Morton for 18 yards, and a throw to Gonzalez in a third-and-nine situation gained 23 yards to the San Diego 31. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Blaylock broke away for a 22-yard touchdown. Tynes missed the extra point, but Kansas City was back in front at 23-17.

Brees passed the Chargers back down the field, completing six throws along the way. The longest was to WR Keenan McCardell for 23 yards and the last to Antonio Gates for an 18-yard TD. Kaeding added the extra point and San Diego was in the lead by a point at 24-23. It didn’t last long, however, as Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, this time maintaining his grip on the football for the full distance. Green threw to WR Eddie Kennison for a two-point conversion and KC was back on top by 31-24.

The Chargers ran into problems with penalties on their next series, one of which wiped out a 51-yard pass play to Gates. However, backed up to their 19 and facing second-and-22, Brees threw to Osgood for a 65-yard pickup to the KC 16 and, three plays later, he connected with Gates for an 11-yard TD. Kaeding added the PAT and, with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation, the score was again tied at 31-31.

San Diego got the ball back when a third-and-11 pass by Green was intercepted by LB Donnie Edwards, who returned it 13 yards to the Kansas City 32. The Chargers reached the 17 before Brees was sacked by CB William Bartee and LB Scott Fujita for a loss of seven yards on third down, but Kaeding kicked a 43-yard field goal and the visitors had a three-point lead.

The Chiefs regained possession with 2:15 left on the clock, but after Green threw to Blaylock for six yards on first down, the next three passes fell incomplete. San Diego held on for a 34-31 win.

“Everybody got their money’s worth today,” summed up San Diego’s Coach Schottenheimer. “It was quite an exciting game.”

The Chargers, in ending a seven-game losing streak at Kansas City, led in total yards (498 to 310), first downs (25 to 20), and time of possession (36:46 to 23:14). The Chiefs turned the ball over twice, to none suffered by San Diego, and while the Chargers were penalized more times (9 to 5), Kansas City’s infractions came at more inopportune times.

Drew Brees completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. With his two long carries, Eric Parker led the Chargers with 58 rushing yards and also caught three passes for another 78 yards. LaDainian Tomlinson (pictured at left) gained just 46 yards on 21 attempts that included two TDs but also had 10 pass receptions for 57 yards. Antonio Gates gained 92 yards on his 7 catches that included two for scores and, thanks to the one long gain, Kassim Osgood matched the yardage total on his two receptions.

For the Chiefs, Trent Green was successful on 21 of 34 throws for 208 yards with no TDs and one interception. Tony Gonzalez caught 8 passes for 105 yards. Derrick Blaylock rushed for 75 yards on 8 carries that included two touchdowns and Larry Johnson ran the ball 10 times for 43 yards and a TD. Dante Hall averaged 38.8 yards on six kickoff returns, one of which resulted in a touchdown and another that came close.

The Chargers went on to win their next three games, and four of their last five, to finish first in the AFC West with a 12-4 record. They lost their Wild Card playoff contest to the New York Jets in overtime. Kansas City reeled off four wins following the loss to the Chargers but lost the season finale in the rematch at San Diego to place third in the division at 7-9.

Drew Brees ranked second in the AFC with a 104.8 passer rating, gaining 3159 yards with 27 TD passes against just seven interceptions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl, as were both LaDainian Tomlinson, who ran for 1335 yards and a league-leading 17 rushing touchdowns, and Antonio Gates, who caught 81 passes for 964 yards (11.9 avg.) and 13 TDs, and both of them also were consensus first-team All-NFL selections.

Tony Gonzalez topped the NFL with 102 pass receptions, which accounted for 1258 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl. Trent Green topped the league in pass attempts (556) and the conference in completions (369) and passing yards (4591). His 27 TD passes were a career high.

2006: NFC Wins Turnover-Filled Pro Bowl

The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 12, 2006 marked the 27^th consecutive game in the series to be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Coaches were John Fox of Carolina for the NFC and Denver’s Mike Shanahan for the AFC.

There were 50,190 fans in attendance and they sat in a steady rain that began to fall as the game commenced and didn’t let up until the second quarter. The tone for a sloppy first half was set in the opening series when the AFC was twice penalized for false starts. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning threw to WR Marvin Harrison, a teammate with the Colts, for a 33-yard gain but the AFC ultimately had to punt.

Following a punt by the NFC from its end zone, the AFC had good field position for its next possession but Manning, again intending a pass for Harrison, was intercepted by Chicago CB Nathan Vasher, who returned it 30 yards. Five plays later, the NFC returned the favor when QB Matt Hasselbeck of the Seahawks was picked off by Denver FS John Lynch. The AFC then drove 45 yards in seven plays that featured three runs by RB Edgerrin James of the Colts that covered 22 yards and three completions by Manning, the last to Miami WR Chris Chambers for a 16-yard touchdown. The score was not without controversy as Chambers came down with only one foot in bounds, but it was ruled a catch due to the defender, CB DeAngelo Hall of the Falcons (pictured below), pushing the receiver out of bounds even though it appeared on the replay that Chambers was not touched. Cincinnati’s Shayne Graham added the extra point.

As the game entered the second quarter, the teams exchanged punts. The NFC put together a 10-play, 73-yard series as Atlanta QB Michael Vick completed three passes, the longest to WR Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals for 32 yards, although Vick fumbled a third down snap to force a field goal attempt. Arizona’s Neil Rackers was successful from 32 yards to narrow the score to 7-3.

The AFC responded with a 62-yard drive in 11 plays and resulted in a 31-yard Graham field goal. Vick tossed an interception and Manning threw two more as the first half wound down. The third Manning interception of the game was by Dallas SS Roy Williams, who returned it 11 yards and then lateraled to Hall who picked up 57 yards to give the NFC the ball at the AFC 20. The NFC used up 18 of the last 20 seconds of the half to run three plays, the last of which was a Vick throw to Atlanta teammate TE Alge Crumpler for a 14-yard TD. Rackers added the point after and the score was tied at 10-10 at halftime.

Following a trade of punts to start the third quarter, Carolina QB Jake Delhomme passed the NFC into AFC territory, but he fumbled when sacked by DT Casey Hampton of the Steelers and DT Marcus Stroud of the Jaguars recovered at the AFC 49. However, three plays later a pass by Kansas City QB Trent Green was intercepted by LB Derrick Brooks of the Buccaneers (pictured at top), and he returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. Rackers added the PAT and the NFC held a 17-10 lead.

The AFC had to punt following its next possession but got the ball right back thanks to a fumble by WR Santana Moss of the Redskins at the end of a 20-yard run that was recovered by Denver CB Champ Bailey. In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the AFC went 68 yards in 10 plays as Green completed three passes and RB Larry Johnson, also of the Chiefs, had a 20-yard carry. Green ran for the last yard and a TD and, with Graham kicking the point after, the score was again tied at 17-17.

The NFC drove 59 yards in 13 plays before facing a fourth-and-two situation after a Hasselbeck pass to Atlanta RB Warrick Dunn picked up 14 yards to the AFC four on a third-and-16 play. While the crowd booed the decision to settle for a field goal, Rackers connected from 22 yards to put the NFC back in front by 20-17 with 6:29 remaining to play.

The next two AFC possessions ended with QB Steve McNair of the Titans fumbling the ball away, with Philadelphia LB Jeremiah Trotter recovering the second at the AFC 18. A Vick bootleg on a third-and-17 play picked up the necessary yardage for a first down at the eight, and the series ended with Rackers kicking a 20-yard field goal to make it a six-point game with 1:13 remaining on the clock.

McNair came out passing for the AFC and two completions got the ball to the NFC 49. But the next three throws fell incomplete and McNair was sacked on the last play of the game. The NFC won by a final score of 23-17.

There were 10 turnovers in all, with six by the AFC. The AFC’s turnovers came on four interceptions and two fumbles, and while the NFC fumbled six times, only two led to turnovers in addition to two interceptions. The NFC gained the most total yards (279 to 260) while the AFC had the edge in first downs (19 to 18).

Matt Hasselbeck completed 10 of 17 passes for 85 yards and no touchdowns while giving up one interception. Michael Vick was four of 12 for 69 yards and a TD while also being picked off once and ran for 17 yards on two carries. Carolina WR Steve Smith had 8 catches for 46 yards. RB Tiki Barber of the Giants led the NFC with 33 yards on 11 rushing attempts. Derrick Brooks, playing in his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl, was named MVP of the game due to his key interception for a touchdown.

For the AFC, Peyton Manning was successful on 13 of 26 throws for 139 yards and a touchdown, but gave up three interceptions while Trent Green went to the air 11 times and had five complete for 39 yards and one interception. Kansas City TE Tony Gonzalez had 5 pass receptions for 36 yards and Marvin Harrison gained 74 yards on his four catches. Larry Johnson rushed for 33 yards on 8 carries.

 “It all goes to the players because there isn’t a lot of scheming,” said Coach Fox of the NFC. “They went out and made plays.”

The win for the NFC, which had lost four of the previous five contests, tied the series at 18-18 since it had gone to the AFC vs. NFC format following the 1970 season.

2004: Neither Team Punts as Colts Defeat Chiefs in Divisional Playoff Game

The Kansas City Chiefs were back in the playoffs and hosting a postseason game for the first time in six years as they faced the Indianapolis Colts on January 11, 2004 in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. In their third season under Head Coach Dick Vermeil, the Chiefs won their first nine games on the way to a 13-3 record and first place in the AFC West. QB Trent Green passed for 4039 yards and 24 TDs and RB Priest Holmes scored a then-record 27 touchdowns while rushing for 1420 yards and gaining 2110 yards from scrimmage. TE Tony Gonzalez was, like Holmes, a consensus first-team All-Pro who caught 71 passes for 916 yards and 10 TDs, although the wide receivers were capable but unexceptional. WR Dante Hall received All-NFL recognition for his outstanding kick returning, in one stretch returning kicks for touchdowns in four straight games. The defense was an area of concern, however, ranking just 29^th overall in the league and twice yielding 45 points in late-season losses.

The Colts were in the playoffs for the second straight year with Head Coach Tony Dungy at the helm and the fourth time in five seasons. The key to success was sixth-year QB Peyton Manning (pictured above), a consensus MVP and first-team All-Pro after passing for 4267 yards and 29 TDs with only 10 interceptions. WR Marvin Harrison gained a Pro Bowl selection and both Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley were productive. RB Edgerrin James missed three games with a back injury but still rushed for 1259 yards and caught 51 passes. The defense was less impressive but respectable. Indianapolis topped the AFC South with a 12-4 tally and handily won their Wild Card playoff game the week before by a 41-10 score over Denver without punting once.

There were 79,159 fans in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium. The Colts took the opening kickoff and advanced 70 yards in 10 plays. Peyton Manning completed a pass to Marvin Harrison for 13 yards in a third-and-nine situation and Edgerrin James (pictured below) had a 15-yard run along the way. A Manning throw to WR Brandon Stokley was completed for a 29-yard touchdown and Mike Vanderjagt added the extra point.

Kansas City responded with a drive that included seven carries by Priest Holmes for 52 yards and Trent Green threw to Tony Gonzalez for 16 yards. But after getting first-and-goal at the Indianapolis six, the Chiefs were unable to reach the end zone and Morten Andersen kicked a 22-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 score.

The Colts came back with a six-play, 76-yard series. Manning passed twice to Harrison for gains of 13 and 38 yards and James ran around end for 13 yards in between, as well as 11 yards for a TD. Vanderjagt’s point after put the visitors in front by 14-3.

A 46-yard kickoff return by Dante Hall was nullified by a holding penalty, but in a series that extended into the second quarter, the Chiefs advanced 77 yards in 12 plays. Green completed five passes, including tosses to WR Eddie Kennison for 25 yards and WR Marc Boerigter for 21 to reach Indianapolis territory. Green ran for nine yards on a third-and-five play and a throw to WR Johnnie Morton picked up 14 yards to the seven. Hall caught a pass from Green for a nine-yard touchdown and, with Andersen’s extra point, the score was narrowed to 14-10.

Still, the Chiefs couldn’t stop the Colts, who drove 71 yards in nine plays. James had an 18-yard run and Manning completed four passes, including to WR Reggie Wayne for 17 yards, TE Marcus Pollard for 21, and RB Tom Lopienski for a two-yard TD. It was the only time that the rookie Lopienski touched the ball in his two-year NFL career and Vanderjagt’s PAT put the Colts up by 11 points at 21-10 with 4:34 remaining in the first half.

Starting from their 31 following the kickoff, the Chiefs gained 22 yards right away on a pass from Green to Gonzalez and two more throws to the tight end picked up eight and nine yards, although a longer completion was nullified by offensive pass interference. The possession stalled at the Indianapolis 13 and Kansas City came up empty when the normally-reliable Andersen missed on a 31-yard field goal attempt. The score remained unchanged at halftime.

The Chiefs had the ball first in the third quarter, but Holmes fumbled at the end of a 48-yard run and CB David Macklin recovered for the Colts at the Indianapolis 22. With James and RB Dominic Rhodes running effectively and Manning completing passes of 11 yards to Stokley and nine to Wayne, the visitors moved into KC territory and, after LB Shawn Barber stopped James for a loss of five yards on third down, Vanderjagt kicked a 45-yard field goal to increase the Indianapolis margin to 24-10.

The Chiefs, benefiting from a 27-yard kickoff return by Hall that had them starting from their 45, drove 55 yards in eight plays, six of them runs by Holmes (pictured at right), the first of which picked up 24 yards and the last reached the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. Andersen’s conversion made it a seven-point game.

The Colts went largely to the air on their next series as Manning completed five passes, three of them to Wayne, including the last that was for a 19-yard TD. Vanderjagt kicked the extra point, but it was a seven-point game once more shortly thereafter when Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Andersen added the PAT and the score was 31-24.

The game entered the fourth quarter and the Colts remained unstoppable on offense. Manning converted a third-and-three situation with a pass to Wayne for 17 yards and followed up with a throw to Harrison for a gain of 27 to the KC 30. Manning completed three more passes to get the ball inside the ten, and James finished the drive off with a one-yard carry for a TD. Vanderjagt again converted to put the visitors up by 38-24.

A long series by the Chiefs followed. Starting from their 24, Kansas City picked up a first down thanks to defensive holding on a third-and-six play and converted a fourth-and-six situation with a pass from Green to Kennison for 19 yards. Green had four more completions as the Chiefs chipped away. Facing fourth-and-five at the Indianapolis seven, Green again connected with Kennison for six yards to get a first-and-goal at the one, and from there Holmes went up the middle for a touchdown. Andersen’s extra point once more made it a one-touchdown contest.

The clock was down to 4:16 remaining in regulation as the Colts again took over on offense. Manning threw to James for 16 yards and a first down, and James ran for another first down to keep the ball away from the Chiefs as the time ticked away. Rhodes was stopped for one yard on a fourth-and-three play, but the ball was at the Kansas City 27 and there were just eight seconds left to play. Green completed one last inconsequential pass and Indianapolis came away the winner by a final score of 38-31.

For the first time in NFL playoff history neither team punted and, equally unprecedented, the Colts managed to play two consecutive postseason games without punting. The teams combined for 842 total yards, with the Colts gaining 434 to Kansas City’s 408 and also leading in first downs (27 to 24) and time of possession (32:13 to 27:47). The Chiefs gained 196 yards of their total on the ground, while Indianapolis had 292 net passing yards. There was only one sack, which was by the Chiefs, and one turnover, also by Kansas City. 

Peyton Manning completed 22 of 30 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns, with none intercepted. Edgerrin James ran for 125 yards and two TDs on 26 carries. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne each had 6 catches, for 98 and 83 yards, respectively, and Wayne scored once.

For the Chiefs, Trent Green was successful on 18 of 30 throws for 212 yards and a TD with no interceptions. Priest Holmes had 176 rushing yards on 24 attempts that included two touchdowns and also pulled in five passes for 32 more yards. Tony Gonzalez gained 55 yards on his four pass receptions and Eddie Kennison contributed 50 yards on three catches. Dante Hall (pictured at right), in addition to two receptions for 19 yards and a TD, had 208 yards on seven kickoff returns that also included a touchdown.

“I am hot right now, we’re hot as an offense,” said Peyton Manning.

The Indianapolis offense was cooled off in the AFC Championship game the following week in a 24-14 loss to New England. The Chiefs fell back to 7-9 in 2004 and, while they rebounded to 10-6 in Dick Vermeil’s last year before retiring, did not reach the postseason again until 2006.

2005: Eagles Rally to Beat Chiefs

The Philadelphia Eagles, defending NFC Champions, were 2-1 as they faced the Kansas City Chiefs on October 2, 2005. Under Head Coach Andy Reid, the pass-heavy Eagles featured QB Donovan McNabb (pictured at right), who had put together back-to-back 300-yard passing games the previous two weeks, and had other formidable offensive weapons in WR Terrell Owens and RB Brian Westbrook. However, McNabb was suffering from a sports hernia, among other ailments, and the Eagles were also without dependable PK David Akers due to a groin pull and would be going with untested Todd France in his place.

Kansas City was coached by Dick Vermeil, a former NFC-winning coach with Philadelphia, and was also coming into the game at 2-1. 35-year-old QB Trent Green directed the attack and WR Eddie Kennison was the best of the wide receivers while TE Tony Gonzalez was a premier tight end. RB Priest Holmes still led the ground game, although Larry Johnson, in his third year, was waiting in the wings. The defense was vulnerable against the pass.

The Chiefs took the opening kickoff and drove 63 yards in nine plays. Trent Green completed three passes, two of them to Eddie Kennison for 15 and seven yards, and Priest Holmes rushed six times for 31 yards, the last three for a touchdown. Lawrence Tynes added the extra point.

The Eagles drove just past midfield before having to punt and Kansas City again put points on the board thanks to a series highlighted by Green throwing to Kennison (pictured below) for a 49-yard gain. Tynes kicked a 38-yard field goal and the Chiefs were ahead by 10-0.

Kansas City got the ball right back on the ensuing kickoff when CB Roderick Hood fumbled and LB Kris Griffin recovered for the Chiefs at the Philadelphia 27. Three plays into the second quarter, Green once again connected with Kennison, this time for an eight yard TD. Tynes converted to stretch the home team’s margin to 17-0.

The teams traded punts before the Eagles, starting at their 24, put together an effective drive. Donovan McNabb completed four straight passes, two of them to Terrell Owens, to reach the KC 23 before the advance stalled and the 40-yard field goal attempt by Todd France, his first in the NFL, was blocked by DE Eric Hicks. On the ensuing series, the Eagles got a break on defense when CB Sheldon Brown intercepted a pass by Green that was intended for Kennison and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. The try for a two-point conversion failed, and the Chiefs quickly turned the tables when WR Dante Hall returned the kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Tynes added the extra point and the Kansas City lead was 24-6.

The Eagles punted following their next series but took advantage of another KC turnover when RB Larry Johnson fumbled and DT Sam Rayburn recovered at midfield. The visitors went 50 yards in five plays, the last two of which were McNabb completions to Owens for 28 yards and then a seven-yard touchdown. France added the extra point to narrow Kansas City’s lead to 24-13, and that was the score at the half.

Philadelphia had first possession in the third quarter and drove into Kansas City territory, with McNabb completing three passes, but the series stalled at the 26 and France kicked a 44-yard field goal. Neither team threatened again until, with fewer than four minutes remaining in the period, McNabb connected with Owens for a 30-yard gain to the KC 30 and, two plays later after a sack, followed up with another pass to Owens for 28 yards to the three. From there, TE Mike Bartrum had a catch for a three-yard touchdown and the Eagles added a two-point conversion when McNabb completed a throw to Westbrook, tying the score at 24-24.

The Chiefs had a short series and punted, and as the game headed into the fourth quarter, Philadelphia drove to another score. McNabb had four completions, including one for an 18-yard gain to RB Lamar Gordon and another to WR Greg Lewis for 34 yards to the Kansas City 25. The Eagles again had to go for a field goal, and France was successful from 37 yards to put the visitors in front by 27-24.

It quickly got worse for the Chiefs when Hall fumbled the kickoff return and RB Reno Mahe recovered for Philadelphia at the KC 25. McNabb threw to Owens for 14 yards and to TE L.J. Smith, who made an outstanding catch for seven, and two plays later he hit Smith again for a one-yard TD. France added the extra point that put the Eagles ahead by ten.

The next possession by the Chiefs ended with Green being picked off by Brown once again, who returned it 20 yards to the KC 41. McNabb picked away at the Chiefs once more, completing four consecutive passes, and while the drive stalled at the eight, the Eagles again came away with points on a 26-yard field goal by France with 3:31 to play.

In the waning minutes, Green passed the Chiefs down the field and they came away with a 15-yard completion to Hall for a touchdown. Tynes added the extra point to make it a six-point game, but the onside kick was recovered by Mahe to seal the 37-31 win for the Eagles.

Philadelphia had the edge in total yards (396 to 353) and first downs (25 to 19). The Eagles managed only 28 rushing yards but gained 368 net passing yards. McNabb was sacked once while Philadelphia recorded three sacks. The Chiefs also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by the Eagles.

Donovan McNabb completed 33 of 48 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns, giving up one interception. Terrell Owens (pictured below) had 11 catches for 171 yards and a TD and L.J. Smith contributed 9 receptions for 67 yards and a score. Brian Westbrook ran for only 15 yards on 9 attempts but had 6 catches for 33 yards. On defense, Sheldon Brown accounted for two interceptions that he returned for 60 yards and a touchdown. The fill-in placekicker Todd France was successful on three of four field goal attempts and both of his extra points.

For the Chiefs, Trent Green was successful on 19 of 30 throws for 221 yards and two TDs, but with two interceptions. Eddie Kennison caught 7 of those passes for 109 yards and a touchdown and also had a 23-yard run. Priest Holmes ran for 84 yards on 18 carries that included a score and had five receptions for 24 yards. Dante Hall contributed four catches for 45 yards and a TD (which tied the then-NFL career record of six) and averaged 29.3 yards on eight kickoff returns that included a touchdown.

“He’s unbelieveable, man,” said Kansas City CB Patrick Surtain of McNabb. “The second half, they got on a roll and it was like they were doing anything they wanted.”

Things did not go so well for McNabb and the Eagles the rest of the way. Feuding broke out between the quarterback and Terrell Owens, who was ultimately suspended from the team. McNabb finally succumbed to the sports hernia, which required surgery, and missed the last five games. Philadelphia plummeted to a 6-10 record and last-place finish in the NFC East after having won the division four straight times. The Chiefs rebounded to win their next two games on the way to a 10-6 record and second place ranking in the AFC West, although they failed to qualify for the playoffs in Dick Vermeil’s last season.

Donovan McNabb, who became the first quarterback in franchise history to pass for over 300 yards in three successive games with his performance in Kansas City, ended up throwing for 2507 yards and 16 touchdowns in his injury-shortened season. Terrell Owens caught 47 passes for 763 yards (16.2 avg.) and six TDs before he was banished. L.J. Smith had a career-high 61 catches for 682 yards (11.2 avg.) and three scores.

Todd France lasted three games with the Eagles and was successful on six of seven field goals as well as all five of his extra point attempts. He later played for Tampa Bay in what was his only NFL season. Already having seen action with NFL Europe, he went on to kick in the Arena Football League.

2002: Odd Penalty Caps Wild 4th Quarter as Chiefs Edge Browns

The Kansas City Chiefs were coming off a disappointing 6-10 record in their first year under Head Coach Dick Vermeil as they opened the 2002 NFL season at Cleveland on September 8. QB Trent Green had been a disappointment in his first year with the club in ‘01, but RB Priest Holmes (pictured above), signed away from the Ravens, was outstanding and the team finished strong (5-4 after a 1-6 start).

The Browns were also led by a second-year coach in Butch Davis, formerly of the Univ. of Miami. After two lackluster seasons following the return of the reformed Browns as an expansion team in 1999, they had improved to 7-9 in 2001. QB Tim Couch had shown flashes of the form that was anticipated when he was taken as the first overall pick of the ’99 NFL draft, but due to injury would be sitting out the opening game against the Chiefs – backup QB Kelly Holcomb was filling in. 

There was a crowd of 72,938 on hand at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns got a break on the third play from scrimmage when a pass from Trent Green was intercepted by DB Daylon McCutcheon and returned 24 yards to the Kansas City six yard line. Cleveland couldn’t get into the end zone in three plays but Phil Dawson kicked a 20-yard field goal for the early lead.

The Chiefs came right back and went 73 yards in eight plays. Green immediately threw to FB Tony Richardson for 23 yards and, on a second-and-18 play, he connected with WR Eddie Kennison for 19 yards. Green threw to star TE Tony Gonzalez for a 17-yard touchdown and, with Morten Andersen’s successful extra point, a 7-3 advantage.

Cleveland responded with a 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive that featured the running game and three short passes. Dawson booted another field goal, this time from 32 yards, and the score stood at 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the Browns took just two plays to go 80 yards. Kelly Holcomb threw to WR Kevin Johnson for 22 yards and then to WR Dennis Northcutt for a 43-yard TD. But the Chiefs put together another scoring series that featured Green completing a pass to Kennison for 64 yards to the Cleveland seven. Two plays later Priest Holmes ran five yards for a touchdown and Andersen’s extra point put KC back in front by 14-13.

In what was becoming a back-and-forth struggle, the Browns again drove to a score, going 71 yards in five plays. Holcomb connected on passes to TE Mark Campbell for 18 yards and Johnson for 12. A completion on an option pass from Johnson, a former college quarterback, to WR Quincy Morgan was good for a 33-yard TD and 20-14 halftime lead.

Cleveland started off the third quarter with a long drive of 14 plays covering 80 yards. The Browns converted two third downs along the way as Holcomb completed seven passes, the last to WR Andre’ Davis for a touchdown from four yards out. Dawson’s PAT made it a 13-point advantage for the home team.

The Chiefs narrowed the margin in their next possession. Green converted a third-and-seven situation with a completion to WR Johnnie Morton for 15 yards and, two plays later, found Gonzalez for a 30-yard gain to the Cleveland 11. Penalties backed the visitors back from there but they came away with a 33-yard Andersen field goal.

With the score at 27-17, the teams traded punts heading into the fourth quarter. The Browns put together another scoring drive early in the period as they went 50 yards in eight plays. Holcomb completed passes to Morgan for 23 yards, Johnson for 10, and three yards to WR Andre King. Dawson kicked a 34-yard field goal that made it 30-17.

Kansas City struck back quickly, spurred by a 46-yard kickoff return by WR Dante Hall. Green threw to Kennison for 15 yards and Gonzalez for 14 before Holmes ran 26 yards for a touchdown. Andersen’s extra point made it a six-point game, and on the next series the Chiefs recovered a fumble at the Cleveland 15. Holmes immediately ran for a TD from that distance and Andersen put Kansas City in front by 31-30.

With just over eight minutes left in the game, the Browns, whose lead had so quickly evaporated, got the ball back and took five plays to move 66 yards and go back on top. Four of those plays were Holcomb pass completions, the last to Morgan for a 44-yard touchdown.

The Chiefs came right back with another scoring drive of their own. Green threw to Kennison for 22 yards and Gonzalez for 10 and Holmes had a 23-yard run. It was Holmes running the last seven yards for his fourth touchdown (which tied the franchise record). With a one-point lead, Kansas City decided to go for two points but Green’s run came up short. Still, the Chiefs were again ahead by a point at 37-36 and the clock was down to 3:05.

Following the kickoff, the Browns took over at their 32 and Holcomb (pictured above) connected on three straight passes, the last to Johnson for 25 yards to the KC 31. Keeping the ball on the ground, and burning their timeouts, the Browns reached the 23 from where Dawson booted a 41-yard field goal. It was Dawson’s 19^th consecutive successful field goal and Cleveland was yet again in front at 39-37 with only 29 seconds left to play. The Browns were penalized for taunting, which had them kicking off from their own 15.

After Hall’s 19-yard kickoff return, the Chiefs started at their 35. Green ran up the middle for 12 yards and then tossed an incomplete pass. On the next play, Kansas City’s receivers all headed for the end zone for a final “Hail Mary” desperation pass, but Green was flushed from the pocket. It seemed as though Green had been sacked with no time remaining – or so LB Dwayne Rudd thought. With his back to the play, he removed his helmet and tossed it some 15 yards down the field in celebration. However, Green had not been sacked and instead quickly lateraled to OT John Tait, who thundered 28 yards to the Cleveland 25 before being forced out of bounds.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was assessed on the Browns and the ball was moved half the distance to the goal. With no time left on the clock, Andersen kicked a 30-yard field goal and, in bizarre fashion, the Chiefs came away with a 40-39 win.

Kansas City outgained the Browns (470 yards to 411) and the teams were even in first downs at 24 apiece. The Chiefs were much more effective running the ball (194 yards to 59) while Cleveland had the edge in net passing yards (352 to 276). There was only one sack (of Holcomb by Kansas City LB Duane Clemons) and each team suffered a single turnover. However, the Chiefs were penalized 9 times, at a cost of 87 yards, to four flags thrown on Cleveland for 38 yards – although it was the one penalty by the Browns at the end that made the difference.

Trent Green had a solid outing, completing 20 of 29 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Priest Holmes rushed for 122 yards and four TDs on 22 carries and also led the club with 6 catches, for 19 yards. Eddie Kennison gained 120 yards on his four pass receptions and Tony Gonzalez added 87 yards on 5 catches that included a TD.

For the Browns, Kelly Holcomb was successful on 27 of 39 throws for 326 yards and three touchdowns with none intercepted. Quincy Morgan was the top receiver with 9 catches for 151 yards and two scores while Kevin Johnson, in addition to throwing a TD pass, contributed 8 receptions for 96 yards. RB Jamel White was the leading ground gainer with just 42 yards on 12 attempts.

“I shouldn’t have taken it (his helmet) off,” said a dejected Dwayne Rudd (pictured at right) regarding the climactic penalty. “It’s against the rules. I thought we had won.“

“I’m sick,” added Coach Butch Davis. “To have something like that happen at the end is inexcusable.”

“This was just luck,” exulted Tony Gonzalez. “The coaches might call it preparation or whatever, but to me it’s luck and I’ll take it every time.”

The Chiefs lost their next two games but finished up at 8-8, although that still put them at the bottom of the AFC West. Cleveland recovered to finish the season strong, end up second in the AFC North, and reach the playoffs as a Wild Card team at 9-7. The lost a close game to division-rival Pittsburgh in the first round.

Trent Green had a solid season, completing 61.1 percent of his passes for 3690 yards with 26 touchdown and was intercepted only 13 times. He also led the NFL in yards per attempt (7.9) and percentage of TDs (5.5) as his passer rating improved from 71.1 in 2001 to 92.6.

Priest Holmes continued to excel until he was knocked out of the last two games of the year with a hip injury. As it was, he ran for 1615 yards on 313 carries (5.2 avg.), caught 70 passes for 672 more yards, and scored league-leading totals of 24 touchdowns and 144 points.  He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press as well as receiving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors.

While Tim Couch returned as starting quarterback for the Browns, he was looking over his shoulder at Kelly Holcomb for the remainder of the season. Couch continued to battle with inconsistency while Holcomb, in four games, passed for 790 yards and 8 touchdowns with four interceptions. Starting in the playoff game against the Steelers as the result of another injury to Couch, Holcomb passed for 429 yards in defeat. The career backup would ultimately prove to be a solid understudy who was not a viable long-term option as a starting quarterback.

2007: Long Kris Brown Field Goals Propel Texans Over Dolphins

The Houston Texans were 2-2 as they faced the Miami Dolphins at Reliant Stadium on October 7, 2007, having won their first two games of the season but then lost the next two. In their second year under Head Coach Gary Kubiak, the club had made changes, most notably acquiring QB Matt Schaub from Atlanta and 30-year-old ex-Packer RB Ahman Green. Schaub started off well, especially in combination with WR Andre Johnson in the first two winning contests, but when Johnson went down with a knee injury and Green was also slowed by injury, the Texans ran into trouble.

The Dolphins, coached by Cam Cameron following the departure of Nick Saban for Alabama, had lost all four of their games to date. They had also brought in a new quarterback in the offseason, ex-Chief Trent Green, who beat out Cleo Lemon for the starting job in the preseason. While second-year RB Ronnie Brown was a bright spot, there were few others.

The Texans had the first possession of the game and proceeded to drive 78 yards in 11 plays. Schaub misfired on his first two passes but then converted a third-and-ten situation with a completion to WR Kevin Walter for 16 yards. A personal foul penalty on Miami DE Jason Taylor turned a second-and-17 play into a first down along the way. Schaub connected with WR Andre’ Davis for 49 yards to the Miami two and while it took four straight handoffs to RB Ron Dayne to finally score, Houston had the early lead.

The Dolphins responded with a scoring series of their own after rookie WR Ted Ginn Jr. returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards. Green scrambled around end for a 23-yard gain to highlight a 46-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard Jay Feely field goal to narrow Houston’s margin to 7-3.

Miami got the ball back quickly when a deflected Schaub pass was intercepted by CB Andre Goodman. Goodman returned the pickoff 18 yards to give the Dolphins excellent field position at the Houston 25. On the next play, a scary situation that turned ugly occurred when an aborted handoff was fumbled and Ginn, recovering, attempted to reverse field and advance. Green was knocked unconscious while attempting to block. While lying motionless on the field, the player he blocked, Houston DE Travis Johnson, taunted him and drew a 15-yard penalty (as well as plenty of negative comments afterward). Green was taken off the field on a stretcher and was finished for the day (and, ultimately, the year).

Cleo Lemon came into the game at quarterback and the Dolphins drove to a three-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Brown. With the successful extra point, they were ahead at the end of the first quarter by a score of 10-7. 

Early in the second quarter, and following a punt by the Texans, Miami scored again. Brown started the series with a 22-yard run and it was followed by a Lemon pass to Ginn that covered 36 yards. The Dolphins made it to the Houston 22 from where Feely booted a 40-yard field goal to make it 13-7.

The Dolphins got the ball back again in good field position when Schaub fumbled while being sacked by Taylor and DE Rodrique White recovered at the Houston 41. Seven plays and 26 yards later, Miami added to its lead as Feely was successful on a 33-yard field goal.

With time running down in the first half, the Texans put together an eight-play scoring drive. Schaub completed passes of 16 yards to Davis and 20 yards to RB Samkon Gado and, after the series stalled at the Miami 36, Kris Brown (pictured at top) boomed a 56-yard field goal to make it 16-10 at the half.

On Miami’s second play of the third quarter, FS C.C. Brown intercepted a pass by Lemon to give Houston good field position at the Miami 46. Seven plays later Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal to pull the Texans to three points behind. Following a punt by the Dolphins, Houston again drove to a long field goal attempt by Brown from 54 yards. It was successful to tie the contest at 16-16.

Miami moved back in front early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 10-play, 40-yard series that ended with Feely connecting on his fourth field goal, from 48 yards. The Texans came back with a 64-yard drive in 14 plays. They converted two third downs along the way, including a third-and-13 situation when Schaub threw to TE Owen Daniels (pictured below) for 15 yards. Another Schaub-to-Daniels pass gained 24 yards to the Miami four, and while the Texans couldn’t punch it in from there, Brown came through with his fourth field goal of the contest from 20 yards to again tie the score at 19-19.

The Dolphins took over possession with 5:25 left on the clock and short passes by Lemon got the ball into Houston territory. But after reaching the 38 yard line by the two minute warning, Lemon threw two incomplete passes and Miami punted. The 35-yard kick had the Texans starting their next series at the three.

On second down, Schaub passed to Daniels for a 19-yard gain to get out of the hole. Two plays later he hit Daniels again for 14 yards and then WR David Anderson for 19 yards to the Miami 44. The Texans having taken their second timeout, Schaub passed to Walter for six yards and then spiked the ball at the 38. The clock ran down to one second before Houston took its final timeout and Brown came through with a 57-yard field goal to give the Texans a 22-19 win.

Houston outgained the Dolphins (352 yards to 285) and had the edge in first downs (20 to 17). However, they hurt themselves with two turnovers, to one suffered by Miami. They also failed to run the ball effectively, gaining just 74 yards on 28 carries, and had difficulty reaching the end zone.

Kris Brown kicked five field goals in as many attempts, with a record three of them coming from 54 yards or longer, including the game-winner. All of that came after he had injured his foot on the opening kickoff. Matt Schaub completed 20 of 34 passes for 294 yards but with no touchdowns and one intercepted. Owen Daniels caught 6 passes for 96 yards while Andre’ Davis contributed 79 yards on his 4 receptions and Kevin Walter added 5 catches for 67 yards. Ron Dayne rushed for 40 yards and a TD on 16 carries.

For the Dolphins, Ronnie Brown was the offensive star with 23 rushes for 114 yards and a TD and a further 39 yards on 5 pass receptions. After replacing Trent Green, Cleo Lemon was successful on 15 of 27 throws for 151 yards and had one intercepted. WR Marty Booker was the top receiver with 45 yards on 5 catches. Jay Feely, overshadowed by Kris Brown, nevertheless had a good day as he booted four field goals in four attempts. Ted Ginn Jr., (pictured below) who caught one pass for 36 yards, also averaged 35.2 yards on his five kickoff returns.

The Texans lost their next three games but ultimately ended up at 8-8 for the first non-losing season in franchise history. It still placed them last in the highly-competitive AFC South (all three teams ahead of them went to the playoffs). Miami suffered through a dreadful 1-15 campaign, not pulling out a win until its fourteenth game.

Kris Brown was successful on 25 of 29 field goal attempts (86.2 %), including all five from over 50 yards. Injuries hindered Matt Schaub, who appeared in 11 games and passed for 2241 yards with 9 touchdowns as well as 9 interceptions.

Trent Green, who had missed half of the ’06 season after suffering a concussion in the opening game, never played again for the Dolphins in 2007, although he did play as a backup for the Rams in 2008, his last season. Ronnie Brown, who played so well for a poor team, went down with a season-ending injury in the seventh game. He rushed for 602 yards on 119 carries (5.1 avg.) and caught 39 passes for 389 yards.

2002: Green & Gonzalez Star as Chiefs Upset Dolphins

In their second season under Head Coach Dick Vermeil, the Kansas City Chiefs were 1-2 on September 29, 2002 as they hosted the Miami Dolphins. QB Trent Green (pictured above) had been considered a disappointment after coming over from the Rams with great expectations as the club went 6-10 in 2001. All-Pro TE Tony Gonzalez and RB Priest Holmes brought great talent to their positions. Defense was a concern, and while the team had scored 94 points in its first three contests, it had also given up 103.

Miami, coached by Dave Wannstedt, had been to the playoffs in each of the preceding five seasons. Coming off an 11-5 record in ’01, they were off to a 3-0 start and benefiting from the performance of RB Ricky Williams, who had been obtained during the offseason from New Orleans and seemed finally ready to play to his full potential (394 rushing yards in the first three contests). QB Jay Fiedler was competent and WR Chris Chambers was coming off a promising rookie year.

Things started out well for the Dolphins as WR Albert Johnson returned the opening kickoff 49 yards and they drove 52 yards in four plays. Fiedler tossed a pass to Williams that gained 29 yards to the Kansas City one and the quarterback took it up the middle himself for the last yard and the early lead.

The Chiefs responded with a solid 73-yard drive in 11 plays that featured Green passing to Gonzalez for 30 yards in a third-and-six situation to the Miami 38. Green completed three other passes, including the nine-yard touchdown throw to Gonzalez. With Morten Andersen’s extra point, it was a tie game.

It didn’t stay that way for long. On the second play of Miami’s next possession, Williams fumbled and LB Marvcus Patton recovered for the Chiefs. Green tossed a pass to Gonzalez for a short gain but, following two incompletions, Andersen booted a 50-yard field goal to make it 10-7.

The Dolphins came right back with a methodical drive of 12 plays that covered 56 yards and extended into the second quarter. Fiedler completed all six of his passes and Olindo Mare kicked a 42-yard field goal to again tie the score. However, KC came back quickly as Green threw to Gonzalez once more for a 32-yard gain on first down and Priest Holmes finished the four-play series with a 25-yard touchdown carry. In a span of 1:21, the Chiefs were back in front at 17-10.

Four plays into the next series, Fiedler was intercepted by CB Eric Warfield and Kansas City capitalized four plays after that with another Green TD pass, this one to WR Johnnie Morton from eight yards out. The teams traded punts before Williams took off on a 30-yard carry into KC territory and the Dolphins added three points on a Mare field goal from 29 yards.

Following a short possession by the Chiefs, Miami put together another scoring drive of 49 yards in nine plays. Fiedler was successful on seven throws and, on the last play of the first half, Mare kicked a 25-yard field goal to narrow Kansas City’s lead to 24-16.

The Chiefs added points on their first possession of the third quarter, going 80 yards in seven plays that culminated in Green going yet again to Gonzalez for a 42-yard touchdown. But Miami responded quickly as Fiedler threw to WR Oronde Gadsden for 20 yards and Chambers for 38 on back-to-back passes. The four-play series covered 77 yards and ended with Williams running for a three-yard touchdown. Kansas City was ahead by 31-23.

The teams traded punts but the Chiefs were in Miami territory at the end of the period primarily thanks to a Green pass to Holmes that gained 24 yards. Early in the fourth quarter, Green connected with Gonzalez for a six-yard touchdown and, with the successful PAT, a 38-23 lead.

Once again the Dolphins responded quickly, going 63 yards in five plays. WR James McKnight started things off with a 19-yard carry on an end-around play and Fiedler threw to Gadsden for 21 yards. Following a 12-yard keeper by Fiedler, he tossed a six-yard TD pass to FB Rob Konrad and another successful extra point again made it an eight-point contest at 38-30.

Miami got the ball back at its 29 after a short Kansas City possession, but on the third play Fiedler was intercepted by safety Greg Wesley, who returned it 42 yards to the Miami 16. Holmes ran the ball three times and Andersen kicked a 24-yard field goal to make it 41-30.

Two plays after the kickoff, Wesley again intercepted a Fiedler throw and the Chiefs again capitalized two plays after that with Green throwing his fifth scoring pass of the game, of three yards to TE Billy Baber that was set up by a 17-yard completion to Gonzalez. It proved to be game-clinching. Any last hopes for the Dolphins were snuffed out when Wesley picked off a Fiedler pass for the third time on the next series and Kansas City won impressively by a score of 48-30.

The teams combined for 849 yards of offense with the Chiefs gaining the most (450 to 399) while Miami had more first downs (28 to 25). The Dolphins turned the ball over five times, however, while KC suffered none.

Trent Green completed 24 of 34 passes for 328 yards with the five touchdowns and no interceptions. Priest Holmes gained just 52 yards on 23 carries that included a TD and also caught 6 passes for 63 yards. Tony Gonzalez (pictured below) was the receiving star with 7 catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns.

For the Dolphins, Jay Fiedler was successful on 29 of 45 throws for 310 yards and a TD while also tossing four interceptions, which were especially devastating in the second half. Ricky Williams ran the ball 14 times for 66 yards and a touchdown and had 60 more yards on a team-leading 7 pass receptions. Chris Chambers gained 102 yards on 6 catches.

The big point total proved to be nothing unusual for the Chiefs as they went on to be the highest-scoring team in the NFL with 467 points. However, giving up too many points assured that they failed to win consistently and Kansas City ended up on the bottom of the AFC West at 8-8. Still, the stage was set for a major improvement in 2003. Miami came back to win its next two games, but then lost three straight on the way to a 9-7 finish for third place in the AFC East and out of the postseason for the first time since 1996 – a dry spell that would last until 2008.

Trent Green improved greatly from his 2001 performance, ranking fourth in the league in passing (92.6 rating) while throwing for 3764 yards and 26 touchdowns. He led the NFL in yards per attempt (7.9) and his interceptions dropped from a league-leading 24 in ’01 to 13.

Even though his numbers were down from those of previous years, Tony Gonzalez was still considered to be the best all-around tight end in the league and earned a fourth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl by catching 63 passes for 773 yards (12.3 avg.) and seven touchdowns. Priest Holmes ran for a career-high 1615 yards and also earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as he led the league in touchdowns (24) and scoring (144 points).