Preseason Game #1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Total

Houston

7

6

3

0

16

Kansas City

0

3

0

7

10

Chiefs Fall to Texans 16-10 in Preseason Opener

Preseason Game #1

NFL.com l Video Highlights

Chiefs QB Matt Cassel dropped back to throw a pass during the 1st quarter.

Aug. 15- The Todd Haley era officially began on a rainy evening at Arrowhead. While the Chiefs outgained the Texans in total yardage by a 307-to-280 margin, it was Houston that prevailed on the scoreboard by a 16-10 margin.

The New Arrowhead lived up to its hype as a vast array of improvements wowed the partisan crowd. The Chiefs defense gave the fans a moment to cheer on the game’s opening drive. Houston won the toss to open the game, but Kansas City dispatched the Texans from the field as CB Maurice Leggett sacked QB Matt Schaub for an 11-yard loss on third down, forcing a punt.

In his debut in a Chiefs uniform, QB Matt Cassel connected with WR Terrance Copper for a 12-yard gain to give Kansas City its initial first down of the evening. Kansas City was forced to punt as P Dustin Colquitt booted a 51-yard bomb to pin the Texans at their own six-yard line.

Houston was unfazed by the poor field position, registering four first downs on its next possession to get into scoring territory. A 16-yard pass from QB Matt Schaub to RB Chris Brown, followed by a 15-yard penalty for a horse-collar tackle was the big play of the drive. On third and one from the Chiefs two-yard line, Brown punched the ball in for a TD to cap a 12-play, 94-yard scoring drive, giving the Texans a 7-0 advantage.

Then, Mother Nature made her presence felt with a steady rain which continued through the first half. The Chiefs were forced to punt on their final possession of the first quarter.

The Chiefs had possession going into the second quarter, but went three and out. After a booming Colquitt punt of 52 yards, S Jarrad Page knocked down a QB Dan Orlovsky pass to stall Houston’s next drive. On the ensuing possession the Chiefs fumbled a first-down snap giving the Texans the ball at the Kansas City 24-yard line. Orlovsky connected on an 11-yard pass to WR David Anderson, setting up a 23-yard K Kris Brown field goal to give Houston a 10-0 lead.

QB Brodie Croyle made his 2009 debut, entering the game with 5:40 to play in the second quarter. Kansas City was forced to punt for the fourth time of the half on Croyle’s first possession under center. Houston then drove seven plays for 41 yards setting up Brown’s second field goal of the half, this time from 42 yards out to give Houston a 13-0 advantage.

Croyle rallied the Chiefs in the two-minute drill, connecting with WR Dwayne Bowe for 14 yards. Two plays later, found WR Rodney Wright to set up Succop’s first NFL FG attempt. Succop’s 48-yard FG capped a nine-play, 49-yard drive to cut the Texans advantage to 13-3. Houston held the ball for 18:43 in the first half compared to a time of possession of 11:17 for Kansas City.

After receiving the second-half kickoff, the Chiefs offense began to move with Croyle at the helm. Four different receivers caught passes including a 22-yard catch by WR Mark Bradley and a 17-yard pickup from Bowe. Bowe led all receivers on the evening with five catches for 70 yards. The Texans held strong, stopping KC’s drive at their 24-yard line after the Chiefs failed to convert on a fourth-and-two.

Houston went three-and-out after Chiefs LB Demorrio Williams batted down Orlovsky’s pass. The Chiefs offense continued to make progress down the field, but a fumble by RB Dantrell Savage put an end to Kansas City’s scoring threat. Savage finished with eight carries for a team-high 39 yards.

Playing conditions worsened from continuous rain, but the Chiefs defense held firm, forcing Houston to its third field goal of the night as Brown’s 30-yard FG with 0:21 left in the third quarter gave Houston a 16-3 lead.

QB Tyler Thigpen took over for the Chiefs final possession in the third quarter. After the teams exchanged punts on their first possessions in the fourth quarter, Thigpen sparked the offense using his legs rushed twice for 22 yards on a 10 play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard touchdown pass to TE Brad Cottam. The Chiefs trailed Houston 16-10 with less than five minutes to play.

After holding the Texans on their ensuing possession, Kansas City’s offense couldn’t stay on the field and was forced to punt. The Chiefs defense forced Houston three-and-out, giving the Chiefs one final opportunity.

Kansas City had the ball at its own 24-yard line with 1:30 to play. Thigpen and company moved the ball out to the 47-yard line, but a Chiefs fumble moved the ball back to the 35. Thigpen’s desperation heave on fourth-and-22 was picked off by CB David Pittman, sealing the Texans victory.

The Chiefs return to training camp in River Falls on Sunday and will face the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome on Friday.

Individual Statistics

Kansas City Passing:

Brodie Croyle 12 of 18 for 145 yards

Tyler Thigpen 7 of 14 for 40 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception

Matt Cassel 2 of 5 for 15 yards

Houston Passing:

Dan Orlovsky 9 of 20 for 121 yards

Matt Schaub 7 of 7 for 70 yards

Rex Grossman 0 of 1 for 0 yards

Kansas City Rushing:

Dantrell Savage 8 carries for 39 yards

Tyler Thigpen 3 carries for 31 yards

Jackie Battle 5 carries for 20 yards

Larry Johnson 4 carries for 12 yards

Javarris Williams 4 carries for 9 yards

Jamaal Charles 2 carries for 2 yards

Brodie Croyle 2 carries for 2 yards

Matt Cassel 1 carry for 0 yards

Houston Rushing:

Ryan Moats 10 carries for 52 yards

Chris Brown 6 carries for 25 yards and 1 touchdown

Andre Hall 6 carries for 15 yards

Steve Slaton 4 carries for 7 yards

Matt Turk 1 carry for 7 yards

Kevin Walter 1 carry for 2 yards

Rex Grossman 1 carry for 0 yards

Dan Orlovsky 1 carry for -1 yard

Kansas City Receiving:

Dwayne Bowe 5 receptions for 70 yards

Mark Bradley 2 receptions for 36 yards

Rodney Wright 2 receptions for 34 yards

Quinten Lawrence 3 receptions for 14 yards

Terrance Copper 1 reception for 12 yards

Dantrell Savage 2 receptions for 12 yards

Taurus Johnson 1 reception for 7 yards

Jeff Webb 1 reception for 6 yards

Devard Darling 1 reception for 3 yards

Javarris Williams 1 reception for 3 yards

Tom Crabtree 1 reception for 2 yards

Brad Cottam 1 reception for 1 yard and 1 touchdown

Houston Receiving:

Andre Davis 3 receptions for 40 yards

Joel Dreessen 2 receptions for 27 yards

Chris Brown 2 receptions for 22 yards

Glenn Martinez 1 reception for 21 yards

Darnell Jenkins 1 reception for 19 yards

Kevin Walter 2 receptions for 16 yards

Andre Johnson 1 reception for 15 yards

Jacoby Jones 1 reception for 10 yards

Owen Daniels 1 reception for 9 yards

David Anderson 1 reception for 7 yards

James Casey 1 reception for 5 yards

Kansas City Tackles-Assists-Sacks:

Derrick Johnson 6-0-0, Corey Mays 5-0-0, Bernard Pollard 5-0-0, Jovan Belcher 4-1-0, Maurice Leggett 4-0-1, Alex Magee 4-0-0, Brandon Flowers 2-1-0, Tamba Hali 2-0-0, Jon McGraw 2-1-0, Jarrad Page 2-1-0, Demorrio Williams 2-0-0, Mike Brown 1-1-0, Brandon Carr 1-0-0, Ricardo Colclough 1-0-0, Ron Edwards 1-0-0, Tank Tyler 1-1-0, Glenn Dorsey 0-1-0, Tyson Jackson 0-1-0.5, Ricky Price 0-1-0, Andy Studebaker 0-1-0.5

Houston Tackles-Assists-Sacks:

Matterral Richardson 7-1-0, Kevin Bentley 6-1-0, Glover Quin 4-0-0, Frank Okam 3-1-0, Mark Parson 3-0-0, DelJuan Robinson 2-0-0, Dominique Barber 2-0-0, Connor Barwin 2-0-1, Fred Bennett 2-0-0, John Busing 2-1-0, Cato June 2-0-0, Xavier Adibi 1-1-0, Tim Bulman 1-0-0, Buster Davis 1-0-0, Zach Diles 1-0-0, Brice McCain 1-0-0, Jesse Nading 1-0-0, David Pittman 1-0-0, DeMeco Ryans 1-0-0, Chaun Thompson 1-1-0, Mario Williams 1-0-0, Eugene Wilson 1-0-0, Shaun Cody 0-1-0

Kansas City Fumble Recoveries:

None

Houston Fumble Recoveries:

Kevin Bentley 1 for 0 yards

Jesse Nading 1 for 0 yards

Kansas City Interceptions:

None

Houston Interceptions:

David Pittman 1 for 4 yards

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