Tribal Warfare
09-19-2010, 09:46 PM
Flowers powers Chiefs with interception return (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/19/2235325/flowers-powers-chiefs-with-interception.html)
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
CLEVELAND | Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers’ first career touchdown on an interception return came against an eventual Hall of Fame quarterback, Brett Favre.
His second touchdown came against a career reserve, Seneca Wallace.
“I’ll still take it, though,” Flowers said.
Flowers’ 33-yard interception return for a touchdown was too valuable for the Chiefs to throw back. It sparked the Chiefs to a 16-14 win over Cleveland that lifted their record to 2-0 for the first time since 2005.
It also gave the Chiefs their second touchdown of the season scored by someone other than their offense. Dexter McCluster returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown in last week’s win over San Diego.
That’s important to help a struggling offense, which Sunday generated only three Ryan Succop field goals.
“We’re going to have to score in some unconventional ways,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “The thing I’m excited about is that we do have some playmakers in some of those spots that can do that. Part of us trying to become a good team will be being opportunistic. It looks like we’ve shown more ability to do that.”
Flowers’ touchdown highlighted a big Chiefs defensive effort. The Chiefs, who allowed 286 yards to Cleveland running back Jerome Harrison in last year’s loss to the Browns, limited Cleveland to 73 rushing yards.
Cleveland’s offensive production was mainly limited to two long pass plays, one a 65-yard pass from Wallace to Joshua Cribbs when the Chiefs were fooled by Wallace’s fake handoff on third and 1.
The other was a short pass that tight end Ben Watson turned into a 44-yard gain when he ran around Chiefs safety Eric Berry after making the catch. That play set up the Browns’ other touchdown.
Otherwise, the Chiefs smothered the Browns, who played without injured starting quarterback Jake Delhomme. Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, fired as Cleveland head coach two years ago, received a measure of revenge.
“He’s a very humble guy,” Flowers said. “He didn’t speak on it one time. But we knew deep down he wanted to come out here and get a win.”
Berry is the only significant playing addition to what last season was a lousy defense. While he allowed the big play to Watson and was fooled on Wallace’s fake handoff, Berry was a big factor in the run defense Sunday. He twice made tackles for a loss.
Crennel appears to be making a big impact as well.
“He just has everybody on defense believing,” Flowers said. “Whatever he calls, we just go out there knowing that’s the best call for this play.”
Flowers had a big game in the season opener against the Chargers, and repeated the performance against Cleveland.
He jumped a pass intended for Chansi Stuckey in the second quarter and was never threatened on his way to the end zone.
“We did a great job, the whole secondary, making the quarterback think we were in one coverage and we moved to a different coverage,” Flowers said. “When I saw the fullback break to the flat, I knew he was going to try to make a quick read. I didn’t think twice about it.
“Everybody just has to make the play when it presents itself. Whether it’s on special teams, when our returner gets a seam, he has to take it to the house. When a (defensive back) gets his hands on the ball, he has to come down with it.”
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
CLEVELAND | Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers’ first career touchdown on an interception return came against an eventual Hall of Fame quarterback, Brett Favre.
His second touchdown came against a career reserve, Seneca Wallace.
“I’ll still take it, though,” Flowers said.
Flowers’ 33-yard interception return for a touchdown was too valuable for the Chiefs to throw back. It sparked the Chiefs to a 16-14 win over Cleveland that lifted their record to 2-0 for the first time since 2005.
It also gave the Chiefs their second touchdown of the season scored by someone other than their offense. Dexter McCluster returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown in last week’s win over San Diego.
That’s important to help a struggling offense, which Sunday generated only three Ryan Succop field goals.
“We’re going to have to score in some unconventional ways,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “The thing I’m excited about is that we do have some playmakers in some of those spots that can do that. Part of us trying to become a good team will be being opportunistic. It looks like we’ve shown more ability to do that.”
Flowers’ touchdown highlighted a big Chiefs defensive effort. The Chiefs, who allowed 286 yards to Cleveland running back Jerome Harrison in last year’s loss to the Browns, limited Cleveland to 73 rushing yards.
Cleveland’s offensive production was mainly limited to two long pass plays, one a 65-yard pass from Wallace to Joshua Cribbs when the Chiefs were fooled by Wallace’s fake handoff on third and 1.
The other was a short pass that tight end Ben Watson turned into a 44-yard gain when he ran around Chiefs safety Eric Berry after making the catch. That play set up the Browns’ other touchdown.
Otherwise, the Chiefs smothered the Browns, who played without injured starting quarterback Jake Delhomme. Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, fired as Cleveland head coach two years ago, received a measure of revenge.
“He’s a very humble guy,” Flowers said. “He didn’t speak on it one time. But we knew deep down he wanted to come out here and get a win.”
Berry is the only significant playing addition to what last season was a lousy defense. While he allowed the big play to Watson and was fooled on Wallace’s fake handoff, Berry was a big factor in the run defense Sunday. He twice made tackles for a loss.
Crennel appears to be making a big impact as well.
“He just has everybody on defense believing,” Flowers said. “Whatever he calls, we just go out there knowing that’s the best call for this play.”
Flowers had a big game in the season opener against the Chargers, and repeated the performance against Cleveland.
He jumped a pass intended for Chansi Stuckey in the second quarter and was never threatened on his way to the end zone.
“We did a great job, the whole secondary, making the quarterback think we were in one coverage and we moved to a different coverage,” Flowers said. “When I saw the fullback break to the flat, I knew he was going to try to make a quick read. I didn’t think twice about it.
“Everybody just has to make the play when it presents itself. Whether it’s on special teams, when our returner gets a seam, he has to take it to the house. When a (defensive back) gets his hands on the ball, he has to come down with it.”