1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Total
Denver
7
7
20
10
44
Kansas City
0
6
0
7
13
DenverKansas City
Chiefs Fall to Broncos 44-13
Regular Season Game #12

Matt Cassel
Chiefs QB Matt Cassel walks off the field after another three-and-out.
Dec. 6- The Chiefs trailed by a narrow 14-6 at halftime, but were outscored by a 20-0 margin in a disastrous third quarter as Denver capitalized on three Kansas City turnovers and a failed fake punt en route to an eventual 44-13 victory at Arrowhead. RB Correll Buckhalter accounted for 113 of Denver’s 245 rushing yards, while QB Kyle Orton threw a pair of TDs.

On a day when the Chiefs honored the memory of LB Derrick Thomas and retired his #58, LB Tamba Hali registered a pair of sack and strips, finishing the game with a career-best 3.0 sacks. But Hali’s performance was overshadowed by the scoreboard as Denver claimed just its second-ever victory in Kansas City in the month of December.

After Denver moved the ball quickly downfield on the game’s opening possession, LB Demorrio Williams tipped an Orton pass that S Mike Brown promptly picked off in the end zone. The Chiefs appeared to capitalize on that play when WR Bobby Wade slipped past the Denver secondary and was wide open, but could not corral a deep ball from QB Matt Cassel on third down.

Denver quickly atoned for its opening-drive turnover, quickly moving the ball back into Kansas City territory on its ensuing possession. On second and goal from the seven, a throwback screen from Orton to TE Daniel Graham capped an eight-play, 63-yard drive, that put the Broncos up 7-0 with 7:20 left in the opening quarter.

The Chiefs responded by going on an epic 20-play scoring march of their own that featured six Kansas City first downs, the club’s longest scoring drive in terms of plays since ‘88. After registering an 11-yard run earlier in the drive, RB Jamaal Charles was thrown for a three-yard loss on first and goal from the one. The Chiefs were unable to connect on their ensuing two pass attempts and were forced to settle for a 22-yard K Ryan Succop FG to make the count 7-3.

Both clubs traded punts before Denver opened its next scoring drive with a 26-yard scamper Buckhalter, who also had runs of 17 and 13 yards on that possession. Rookie RB Knowshon Moreno finished off the eight-play, 80-yard drive with a two-yard TD run, putting Denver up 14-3 with 7:03 left in the first half.

After the teams traded punts, Hali registered sacks on back-to-back plays, the second of which resulted in a fumble that was recovered by DE Glenn Dorsey at midfield. TE Leonard Pope delivered a devastating blow to break a tackle of S Brian Dawkins to register an 11-yard gain, but the Chiefs couldn’t register another first down. A 47-yard Succop field goal made the count 14-6 at intermission.

Kansas City appeared to line up in punt formation at its own 28-yard line on its opening possession of the second half, but QB Brodie Croyle lined up in the shotgun and attempted a pass to LS Thomas Gafford on fourth down. The ball was batted down, giving Denver the ball at the Kansas City 27-yard line. The Chiefs defense would limit the Broncos to a 44-yard K Matt Prater FG, making the count 17-7.

Things quickly went downhill from there. CB Andre Goodman picked off a QB Matt Cassel pass on Kansas City’s next possession, returning the ball to the Chiefs 21-yard line. That turnover set up a seven-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Marshall, making the score 24-6 with 10:31 left in the third quarter. S Renaldo Hill picked off Cassel on the Chiefs next drive, setting up the Broncos again in Kansas City territory at the 42-yard line. Buckhalter reeled off back-to-back runs of 13 and 10 yards, but the Chiefs again held Denver to another Prater FG, this time form 38 yards out, as the Broncos extended their lead to 27-6 with 5:53 left in the third quarter.

After trading punts, another Chiefs turnover would set up points for the visiting squad. LB Mario Haggan forced a Charles fumble that was scooped up by Goodman, who returned the ball for a 30-yard TD, giving Denver a 34-6 advantage. After the Chiefs punted and pinned the Denver offense at its own four-yard line, Hali recorded his third sack of the game and forced his second fumble of the day, knocking the ball out of Orton’s hands. Again, Dorsey recovered the ball, and the Chiefs were in business at the Denver three-yard line. QB Brodie Croyle entered the contest for Kansas City, and a four-yard TD run by Charles would make the count 34-13 with 14:57 left in the game.

But as they did all day, the Broncos had an answer. A 49-yard pass Orton moved the ball into Kansas City territory, and 18-yard TD run by Moreno upped Denver’s advantage to 41-13 with 12:05 remaining. A 37-yard Prater FG by Prater would eventually make the count 44-13. Croyle would drive the Chiefs as deep as the Denver 13-yard line on the club’s next possession, but Kansas City would turn the ball over on downs. Denver took over at its own five-yard line with 6:03 remaining and was able to run out the clock.

Individual Statistics
Kansas City Passing:
Matt Cassel 10 of 29 for 84 yards and 2 interceptions
Brodie Croyle 6 of 14 for 50 yards

Denver Passing:
Kyle Orton 15 of 25 for 180 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception

Kansas City Rushing:
Jamaal Charles 18 carries for 56 yards and 1 touchdown
Tim Castille 3 carries for 26 yards
Javarris Williams 2 carries for -5 yards

Denver Rushing:
Correll Buckhalter 12 carries for 113 yards
Knowshon Moreno 21 carries for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns
Peyton Hillis 7 carries for 47 yards
Brandon Marshall 1 carry for 2 yards
Eddie Royal 1 carry for 1 yard
Chris Simms 3 carries for -4 yards

Kansas City Receiving:
Bobby Wade 4 receptions for 36 yards
Lance Long 2 receptions for 28 yards
Brad Cottam 3 receptions for 21 yards
Leonard Pope 2 receptions for 18 yards
Chris Chambers 2 receptions for 11 yards
Quinten Lawrence 1 reception for 9 yards
Tim Castille 1 reception for 8 yards
Jamaal Charles 1 reception for 3 yards

Denver Receiving:
Brandon Marshall 7 receptions for 94 yards and 1 touchdown
Eddie Royal 2 receptions for 32 yards
Daniel Graham 2 receptions for 20 yards and 1 touchdown
Tony Scheffler 1 reception for 19 yards
Correll Buckhalter 3 receptions for 15 yards

Kansas City Tackles-Assists-Sacks:
Tamba Hali 9-1-3, Mike Brown 8-0-0, Jon McGraw 8-0-0, Corey Mays 5-0-0, Brandon Carr 4-0-0, Brandon Flowers 4-1-0, Demorrio Williams 4-2-0, Mike Vrabel 3-2-0, Travis Daniels 2-1-0, Glenn Dorsey 2-0-0, Tyson Jackson 2-1-0, Andy Studebaker 2-0-0, Kenny Smith 1-0-0, Wallace Gilberry 1-0-0, Derrick Johnson 1-0-0

Denver Tackles-Assists-Sacks:
D. J. Williams 8-0-0, Elvis Dumervil 5-0-1, Ronald Fields 5-0-0, Mario Haggan 4-0-0, Brian Dawkins 3-0-0, Andre' Goodman 3-0-0, Andra Davis 2-1-0, Renaldo Hill 2-0-0, Vonnie Holliday 2-0-1, Robert Ayers 1-0-0, Champ Bailey 1-0-0, Ty Law 1-0-0, Darcel McBath 1-0-0, Kenny Peterson 1-0-0, Wesley Woodyard 1-0-0

Kansas City Fumble Recoveries:
Glenn Dorsey 2 for 0 yards

Denver Fumble Recoveries:
Andre' Goodman 1 for 30 yards and 1 touchdown

Kansas City Interceptions:
Mike Brown 1 for 0 yards

Denver Interceptions:
Andre' Goodman 1 for 8 yards
Renaldo Hill 1 for 0 yards





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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