Tribal Warfare
08-15-2009, 09:54 PM
Chiefs lose preseason opener 16-10 to Texans (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/1385788.html)
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Desperate for a new direction, the Chiefs changed their general manager, head coach and quarterback but things still looked suspiciously like last year in Saturday night’s preseason opener.
They fell 16-10 to the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium, ruining the debut of general manager Scott Pioli and coach Todd Haley.
The Chiefs were mostly lifeless on offense during a rainy first half. New quarterback Matt Cassel was unable to lead anything close to a scoring drive in four possessions. The Chiefs had only two first downs behind Cassel, one coming on a Houston penalty.
Cassel also committed a turnover when he fumbled a snap during one of the game’s rainy periods. He finished with three completions in six attempts for 29 yards before being replaced by Brodie Croyle in the second quarter with the Chiefs behind 10-0.
What little spark the Chiefs showed came with Croyle as their quarterback. Playing in a game for the first time since injuring his knee as the starting quarterback last October, Croyle took the Chiefs down the field in the last minute, 12 seconds of the first half.
Passes of 14 yards to Mark Bradley, 14 yards to Dwayne Bowe and 12 yards to Rodney Wright moved the Chiefs to the Houston 29. Rookie Ryan Succop kicked a 47-yard field goal on the final play of the half to give the Chiefs their points.
Croyle led the Chiefs beyond the 50-yard line twice in the third quarter. One drive ended when his fourth down pass was batted down at the line. The other was killed when Dantrell Savage fumbled and the Texans recovered.
Defensively, the Chiefs had two sacks in the first half, one by Maurice Leggett and another split by Tyson Jackson and Andy Studebaker. Otherwise, they couldn’t prevent Houston starting quarterback Matt Schaub from completing all seven of his passes or the Texans from scoring three times in the first half.
Houston had a two-yard touchdown run by Chris Brown and field goals of 23 and 42 yards by Kris Brown in building a 13-0 lead.
Brown later kicked a 30-yard field goal late in the third quarter to give the Texans a 16-3 lead after three periods.
Tyler Thigpen replaced Croyle in the fourth quarter and took the Chiefs on a scoring drive. Aided by a 22-yard pass to Rodney Wright, a 12-yard Thigpen run and three Houston penalties, the Chiefs moved to the Houston 1.
From there, Thigpen threw to Brad Cottam for a touchdown that cut Houston’s lead to 16-10 with 5:15 remaining.
Thigpen and the Chiefs got the ball back twice more. They punted after three plays the first time and Thigpen was intercepted on fourth down on the next possession.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Desperate for a new direction, the Chiefs changed their general manager, head coach and quarterback but things still looked suspiciously like last year in Saturday night’s preseason opener.
They fell 16-10 to the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium, ruining the debut of general manager Scott Pioli and coach Todd Haley.
The Chiefs were mostly lifeless on offense during a rainy first half. New quarterback Matt Cassel was unable to lead anything close to a scoring drive in four possessions. The Chiefs had only two first downs behind Cassel, one coming on a Houston penalty.
Cassel also committed a turnover when he fumbled a snap during one of the game’s rainy periods. He finished with three completions in six attempts for 29 yards before being replaced by Brodie Croyle in the second quarter with the Chiefs behind 10-0.
What little spark the Chiefs showed came with Croyle as their quarterback. Playing in a game for the first time since injuring his knee as the starting quarterback last October, Croyle took the Chiefs down the field in the last minute, 12 seconds of the first half.
Passes of 14 yards to Mark Bradley, 14 yards to Dwayne Bowe and 12 yards to Rodney Wright moved the Chiefs to the Houston 29. Rookie Ryan Succop kicked a 47-yard field goal on the final play of the half to give the Chiefs their points.
Croyle led the Chiefs beyond the 50-yard line twice in the third quarter. One drive ended when his fourth down pass was batted down at the line. The other was killed when Dantrell Savage fumbled and the Texans recovered.
Defensively, the Chiefs had two sacks in the first half, one by Maurice Leggett and another split by Tyson Jackson and Andy Studebaker. Otherwise, they couldn’t prevent Houston starting quarterback Matt Schaub from completing all seven of his passes or the Texans from scoring three times in the first half.
Houston had a two-yard touchdown run by Chris Brown and field goals of 23 and 42 yards by Kris Brown in building a 13-0 lead.
Brown later kicked a 30-yard field goal late in the third quarter to give the Texans a 16-3 lead after three periods.
Tyler Thigpen replaced Croyle in the fourth quarter and took the Chiefs on a scoring drive. Aided by a 22-yard pass to Rodney Wright, a 12-yard Thigpen run and three Houston penalties, the Chiefs moved to the Houston 1.
From there, Thigpen threw to Brad Cottam for a touchdown that cut Houston’s lead to 16-10 with 5:15 remaining.
Thigpen and the Chiefs got the ball back twice more. They punted after three plays the first time and Thigpen was intercepted on fourth down on the next possession.