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Week 7 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 12, Oakland Raiders 10
What you need to know
| Kansas City Chiefs |
The Kansas City Chiefs survived a hard fought defensive battle and came away with their ninth straight win over the Oakland Raiders. Eight of those wins have come by seven points or less. Except for a few big plays on both sides of the ball, this was a contest of field position provided by special teams and the defenses. Both teams saw excellent punting and repeated defensive stops. There were only 24 total first downs in this match up, but there were 17 punts. Darren Colquitt was tremendous punting the ball while helping the Chiefs maintain field position.
This game saw the incredible return of Kansas City running back legend Priest Holmes. He had not played since sustaining a serious neck injury on a hit from San Diego's Shawne Merriman on Oct. 30, 2005. After trading Michael Bennett to the Buccaneers during the past week, Holmes participated in the Chiefs' practices and then was activated for the game. He was serviceable in his first game back providing limited relief for Larry Johnson. It remains to be seen how much he still can provide the offense but it was amazing that he was out there at all. In addition to being out of football for two years, he turned 34 a couple weeks ago.
Larry Johnson is definitely back to being the mainstay of the offense for Kansas City. He accumulated 112 yards and one touchdown rushing the ball while catching six short passes. He started slow but was producing better as the game wore on. He had one extra long run of 54 yards.
The addition of Dwayne Bowe, who had 84 yards receiving, continues to provide the Chiefs with the extra offensive threat they have long needed. Bowe's presence has really helped Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez, who captured four passes for 66 yards. Damon Huard basically played the game to keep it close and not make any serious mistakes. His statistics were nothing special.
| Oakland Raiders |
The Oakland Raiders lost a tough one at home. They are suffering through a long losing streak of nine games against Kansas City. Their defense performed very well except for a couple of big plays, a 58 yard pass play and a 54 yard run given up. Otherwise the defense did everything it could to keep the offense within reach. Shane Lechler led the way for the special teams as he had an incredible day punting the ball, helping the defense keep it close.
The Raiders' rushing game never got untracked finishing with only 55 yards. The trio of Lamont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, and Justin Fargas was stopped by the Chiefs' defense, finishing well under three yards per carry.
Daunte Culpepper had a rough start as Jared Allen harassed him many times and sacked him twice. He started opening up and getting some nice passing stats late in the game, but he threw an interception for the Raiders' last offensive play of the game. That ended Oakland's hopes for this game.
What you ought to know
| QB Damon Huard, Pass: 16 - 31 - 177 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - -2 - 0 |
Huard has this game on his record as a win. He played conservatively and did enough to keep close while not making too many mistakes. He did throw one interception, while completing 16 of 31 passes for 177 yards. It was not an inspiring effort from him. It sometimes seems like he plays as well as he is allowed to. He needs to open up more than he did in this contest.
| RB Larry Johnson, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 24 - 112 - 1, Rec: 6 - 21 - 0 (10 targets) |
Johnson continues his way back from a poor showing early in the season. He again had a slow start, but picked it up as the contest wore on. He finished with 112 yards on the ground on 24 carries, scoring one touchdown. He caught six short passes and he even got to throw one option pass which went high and wide past the receiver in the end zone.
| RB Priest Holmes, Rush: 4 - 9 - 0, Rec: 1 - -6 - 0 (1 targets) |
Welcome back Priest. Holmes made a remarkable return to active status as a running back in the NFL. He had been completely out for two years since taking a vicious hit from Shawn Merriman in October of 2005. In his first action in two years, he had limited chance but he was able to provide occasional relief for Larry Johnson. That was an acceptable first game back from a serious injury.
| WR Dwayne Bowe, Rec: 3 - 84 - 0 (5 targets) |
A case could easily be made for rookie Dwayne Bowe as the most exciting player on the field. He has fantastic ability hauling in throws anywhere near him. He caught three passes for 84 yards, but his most impressive feat was stripping the ball from a defender on an overthrown pass, thus preventing an interception.
| WR Samie Parker, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
Parker caught the only ball thrown in his direction and also was utilized on one run for positive yardage. He is not producing serviceable fantasy numbers, but he is a nice extra option for Kansas City.
| WR Jeff Webb (2 targets) |
Jeff Webb did not catch either pass thrown to him. He provided no yardage totals in this game and had no fantasy value.
| TE Tony Gonzalez, Rec: 4 - 66 - 0 (11 targets) |
Gonzalez was Huard's favorite target during this match. He only collected four of the ten passes thrown for him by Huard, but he gained 66 yards as he hauled defenders with him before being tackled. He was also the end zone target for Larry Johnson's wide and high pass. Gonzalez provided a scare when he went down hard after a hit and took time to walk off the field, but he was back later with no reported problem.
| TE Kris Wilson, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (4 targets) |
Wilson was in on a lot more plays than the statistics show. He is starting to show more ability as a lead blocker and his presence is helping Johnson and Huard.
| PK Dave Rayner 2 - 3 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 6 points |
Rayner had one blemish on his statistics. He made two of the three field goals he attempted, connecting on 41 and 31 yard kicks, but missing a 30 yard attempt. He connected on his only extra point attempt.
| KC Rush Defense |
The Chiefs rush defense was exceptional. They never let the Raiders develop any ground game. Thy held Oakland to only 55 yards on the ground from 24 carries and did not allow a score. It was an excellent defensive performance.
| KC Pass Defense |
The Kansas City pass defense had a very good performance. Jared Allen has established himself as one of the premier defensive ends and as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Allen did limp off the field after a play in the first half, but he was soon back showing no ill effects. His two sacks gave him eight sacks for the year which leads the league. They harried Daunte Culpepper throughout the contest. They did have one costly letdown during the game. After the Chiefs' kicker, Dave Rayner, had missed on a third quarter field goal attempt, the Chiefs allowed Culpepper to then complete his next two passes in a row for 80 yards and a touchdown. That breakdown in coverage provided Oakland with its only lead during the game. Jarred Page sealed the victory by intercepting Culpepper on the final Oakland series of the game.
| QB Daunte Culpepper, Pass: 18 - 29 - 228 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 4 - 0 |
Culpepper had a slow start as he was harassed by an effective Chiefs' pass defense. His final statistics of 228 yards on 18 of 29 passing was buoyed by 80 yards and a touchdown on one two play series in the third quarter. That proved to be the only real letdown of the game by the Chiefs' defense. Culpepper still does not look like the Daunte Culpepper of old days when he was a Minnesota Viking, but he is showing progress toward regaining respectability as an NFL passer.
| RB LaMont Jordan, Rush: 11 - 29 - 0, Rec: 4 - 40 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jordan seems to be holding on to the starting running back role. He had a tough time gaining yards on the ground against Kansas City, only collecting 29 yards, but he was his typical very effective self as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught all four passes sent his way for a nice 40 yards.
| RB Dominic Rhodes, Rush: 9 - 21 - 0, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (2 targets) |
Rhodes was not able to produce on the ground any better than the other Raiders' rushers. He finished the contest with 31 total yards on nine runs and one catch.
| RB Justin Fargas, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
Fargas only had one rushing attempt, but he caught all three passes thrown his way. He seems to be number three on the running back depth chart.
| RB Justin Griffith, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Fullback Justin Griffith had no carries and caught the only pass intended for him.
| WR Ronald Curry, Rec: 4 - 45 - 1 (8 targets) |
Curry appears to be the favorite wide receiver for Oakland. He caught four of the eight passes Culpepper aimed at him, accumulating 45 yards and one touchdown. Curry had a couple drops where he could have picked up substantial game breaking yardage. He also received a delay of the game penalty after getting upset and spiking the ball.
| WR Jerry Porter, Rec: 1 - 59 - 0 (2 targets) |
Porter had only one catch for the day but it was the longest play from scrimmage for the Raiders. He pulled in a 59 yard pass from Culpepper but seemed to hurt his leg on the play. He took a bit extra time to get up and off the field, but he was back soon afterwards.
| WR Mike Williams (1 targets) |
Williams was pretty much out of the mix. He was targeted only once and did not have a reception.
| TE Zach Miller, Rec: 4 - 48 - 0 (9 targets) |
The big rookie tight end, Zach Miller, was Culpepper's favorite target. He was thrown to nine times, pulling in four of those passes. He totaled 48 yards receiving and seems to be a dependable outlet for the Oakland quarterback.
| PK Sebastian Janikowski 1 - 1 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 4 points |
Janikowski did all that was asked of him. He connected on his only field goal attempt, for 37 yards, he kicked his only extra point successfully, and he kept the Chiefs penned deep with his kickoffs.
| OAK Rush Defense |
The Oakland rush defense had a good start for the contest and often bottled up Larry Johnson, but eventually they broke down and gave up 112 yards to Johnson and one touchdown to him. That yardage included allowing Johnson to break free on a 54 yard run.
| OAK Pass Defense |
The Raiders had a good game plan for pass defense. With the exception a couple mid range passes, and one long breakaway for 58 yards, the Raiders had an excellent time stopping the Chiefs' pass attack. They held Huard to 177 yards, picked off an interception and did not allow a score through the air.
