Week 13 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 28, Cleveland Browns 31

What you need to know

Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City saw their playoff hopes take a serious blow while losing their second match this season to an Ohio team. This year, the Chiefs have had trouble winning against teams that they were expected to beat. Kansas City went to Cleveland being picked to win easily. Chiefs’ coach, Herman Edwards, stated he was nervous going on the road against a talented team that was coming off an embarrassing loss. Prior to this game, the Browns looked like a team in trouble. However, for most of this day, they were able to move the ball without any serious opposition.

Despite knocking out the Browns’ starting quarterback by the end of the first half, the Chiefs could not stop the Browns’ passing attack. The Chiefs’ defense was never able to stop the Cleveland offense when it mattered.

Trent Green appears to be fully recovered from the head injury he suffered in the first game of the year. He threw for his first touchdown of the year and then added three more scoring tosses later in the contest. He finished three yards short of 300 yards through the air with the four touchdowns, but it was not enough to secure a Chiefs‘ win.

Larry Johnson led the powerful rushing attack of the Chiefs again, gaining over 110 yards on the ground and an additional 26 yards through the air. He did not find the end zone as all scoring drives for the Chiefs were completed with passes to Eddie Kennison or one of the tight ends. In particular, Tony Gonzalez had excellent statistics. He was targeted effectively and often as he pulled in nine passes for 105 yards and two scores.

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel was receiving serious criticism after the Browns were embarrassed at home last week by their cross-state rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. Having won only three of eleven contests before beating Kansas City this week, the Browns were in trouble. They are not playing for the post season, but they have been able to show some good signs of life this season.

Their defense still barely showed up, although they did manage a few opportune stops of the Chiefs’ offense. On this date, their offense was on fire. They put together an impressive passing and rushing game, while particularly shining in the passing department.

Charlie Frye started the game as their quarterback. He was highly effective picking apart the Chiefs’ secondary. The Chiefs’ line kept arriving just a second too late to stop Frye. Unfortunately Frye did keep getting nasty hits right after releasing the ball. He sat out one offensive series at the beginning of the second quarter with an injury to his right wrist. He was in for the second series of the quarter though and again looked very effective. He finished the first half completing an impressive 11 out of 13 (85%) passes for 122 yards and one touchdown. He’ll be evaluated further with his wrist – there were some reports (unconfirmed at the time this recap was written) that his wrist could be broken. The second half began with Frye wearing a heavy coat and with his right hand wrapped. Kansas City saw some reason to be hopeful as Cleveland was forced to go with their second string quarterback, Derek Anderson. Luckily for the Browns, Anderson showed the poise and accuracy you one would expect from a seasoned veteran. Anderson passed for 171 yards and two touchdowns, but the play that probably clinched this game for the Browns was in overtime when Anderson ran around the right side breaking tackles for a 33 yard game on a second and 15 play. That put the Browns into field goal range and it was soon all over in Cleveland with Phil Dawson kicking the game winner.

What you ought to know

QB Trent Green, Pass: 24 - 32 - 297 - 4 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0

It might be too late to win the selection this year, but with fantasy playoffs just ahead, Green looks like he is back to his Pro Bowl form. He totaled nearly 300 yards and collected his first four passing touchdown scores for this year. He is not showing any ill effects from the head injury he suffered in the first game of the year against Cincinnati. Green had a couple passes that sailed on him late in the contest and did throw for one interception, but he appears to be a fantasy point producer again.

RB Larry Johnson, Rush: 28 - 110 - 0, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (2 targets)

Johnson compiled another game with over 100 yards rushing. He also caught both passes that Green threw his way. He did not score any touchdowns. There could be some speculation that with Green’s return to form, their may be more emphasis on the passing attack. As teams now realize that the Chiefs again have the potent air game, there is also the possibility that they will not stack the box so heavily against Johnson.

RB Michael Bennett, Rush: 3 - 14 - 0, Rec: 4 - 33 - 0 (4 targets)

Bennett performed well again as a back-up to the steady pounding of Larry Johnson. He is a great change of pace to Johnson and a very dependable receiver out of the backfield. He caught all four passes thrown his way.

WR Eddie Kennison, Rec: 7 - 117 - 1 (10 targets)

Kennison was a favorite target for Green from the outset. He quietly caught seven of the ten balls thrown his way for 117 yards and a touchdown. Kennison should be a strong performer the rest of the way with Green at the controls.

WR Samie Parker, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (2 targets)

Parker gathered in one of only two balls thrown his way. He did not receive much attention as Green stuck with his tried and true favorite receivers.

WR Dante Hall (1 targets)

Hall did not have any offensive yards gained for this contest and was mostly bottled up on returns.

TE Tony Gonzalez, Rec: 9 - 105 - 2 (11 targets)

Gonzalez is truly performing at a Hall of Fame level. He should receive serious consideration for another pro bowl bid. The television game announcers gushed that Gonzalez’s place in Canton is all but assured. He had another spectacular game pulling in nine of the eleven passes thrown his way for over 100 yards and two touchdowns. Like so often is the case, even his impressive final statistical line is not as incredible as what he does to the linebackers and members of the secondary who try to stop him. He regularly gains extra yards by running over or through or carrying defenders.

TE Kris Wilson, Rec: 1 - 6 - 1 (3 targets)

Utilized occasionally as a fullback and often as a tight end, Wilson had a good game despite not producing gaudy numbers. His one catch was a sure-handed shoestring grab for a touchdown.

PK Lawrence Tynes 0 - 0 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 4 points

Tynes produced every time he was called upon. He never had an opportunity for a field goal but he was successful on all four extra point attempts.

KC Rush Defense

The Kansas City rush defense looked good often, stopping rush attempts behind the line or at the line of scrimmage. They gave up far too many big plays and allowed 150 yards on the ground. They were not ready for a good mixed attack from the Browns.

KC Pass Defense

The Chiefs’ pass defense was extremely unsuccessful. They were picked apart first by the starting quarterback, Charlie Frye. Then, after Frye was gone from the game due to an injury to his hand, they were victimized by the back-up Cleveland quarterback, Derek Anderson. They collected one sack and one interception but gave up three touchdowns through the air and almost 300 yards. They made a previously beleaguered starting quarterback and his back-up look like all world candidates

QB Derek Anderson, Pass: 12 - 21 - 171 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 44 - 0

Anderson was brought in as a back-up for one series in the second quarter when Frye appeared to have multiple injuries. That apparently was all of the warm-up and practice he needed with the first unit. At the beginning of the second half, Anderson was thrust into the starter’s slot for the remainder of the contest. He answered the call convincingly accumulating 171 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while running twice for 44 yards. He orchestrated a win for the Browns against a playoff contender.

QB Charlie Frye, Pass: 11 - 13 - 122 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0

Frye had an impressive showing in his limited duty. He completed 85% of his passes and threw for one touchdown in less than a half of playing. He was often hit just after releasing one of his pinpoint passes. Consequently he finished the game standing on the sidelines with his hand wrapped. He left the stadium with his wrist heavily wrapped so look for reports Monday as to how serious the injury is. There were some rumblings that he may have broken his wrist but these have not been confirmed at the time this recap was written.

RB Reuben Droughns, Rush: 14 - 70 - 1, Rec: 5 - 48 - 0 (6 targets)

Droughns averaged five yards per carry and collected 118 total yards on the ground and through the air. He had a good game as an important part of a very balanced attack. He scored one rushing touchdown during the contest. He was a very efficient receiver hauling in five of the six balls he was targeted.

RB Jason Wright, Rush: 11 - 25 - 0, Rec: 2 - 70 - 0 (3 targets)

Speedy Jason Wright was brought in for a change of pace to the more punishing Droughns. He was usually stopped for little or no gain on the ground but was a good receiving target with two catches for 70 yards.

RB Lawrence Vickers (1 targets)

Fullback Vickers was targeted once but had no catches. He had no carries for this contest.

WR Joe Jurevicius, Rec: 6 - 75 - 0 (8 targets)

Jurevicius appeared to be the obvious favorite receiver for the two Browns’ signal callers. He rewarded their trust, catching six of the eight passes sent his way. He was really good at pulling in anything close to him with very sure hands.

WR Braylon Edwards, Rec: 3 - 36 - 1 (6 targets)

Edwards had a good game picking up three completions, including one for a touchdown.

WR Josh Cribbs, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0

Cribbs saw most of his chances on special teams, but was called on for one trick play as the quarterback. He received the football in the shotgun position from the center and immediately ran up the middle for nine yards.

WR Dennis Northcutt (1 targets)

The often dangerous punt returner, Dennis Northcutt, was not a factor in this game. His punt returns were negligible and he failed to account for any offensive yardage.

TE Steve Heiden, Rec: 5 - 27 - 2 (5 targets)

Heiden made the most of his time in the action. He caught all five passes thrown to him and accounted for two receiving touchdowns.

TE Darnell Dinkins, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets)

Dinkins had mixed results for the day. He had a good catch on the only pass targeted to him. However, on one short kick by the Chiefs, Dinkins picked it up and started running. He appeared to be uncomfortable with this unaccustomed role and after gaining 20 yards, he fumbled the ball and Kansas City recovered.

TE Kellen Winslow Jr, Rec: 1 - 26 - 0 (3 targets)

The announcers talked about how Winslow and Gonzalez had a good natured bet prior to the game about who would have the better game. Gonzalez obviously won in the final analysis, but Winslow’s one catch was the significant and crucial first step to their game winning drive.

PK Phil Dawson 1 - 1 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points

Dawson had enjoyed a perfect day converting all four extra point attempts when the day just got better. On his only field goal attempt for the game, he was successful on a 33 yard kick that won the game for the Browns in overtime.

CLE Rush Defense

The Cleveland rushing defense allowed 125 yards, but they kept Larry Johnson out of the end zone. That can be construed as somewhat of a success for the rushing defense.

CLE Pass Defense

The pass defense managed to pick off one of Trent Green’s passes and sacked Green twice but they allowed almost 300 yards while surrendering four touchdowns through the air. After giving up one of those scores on the first Chiefs’ first series of the fourth quarter, the passing defense stopped Green for the rest of the way and that made the difference, giving the victory to Cleveland.