Each week during the 2005 season I will choose an offensive, defensive and special teams player of the game. Here are my selections for the Chiefs after their blowout victory over the Texans:
Offense: RB Larry Johnson
Is there any doubt? Johnson set a new single-game franchise record with 211 rushing yards, on a career-high 36 carries, and scored two touchdowns. Johnson ran through, around, and over the Houston defense, and seemed just as fresh on his thirty-sixth carry as he did on his first.
Defense: CB Eric Warfield
Warfield led the Chiefs defense with nine solo tackles and his tight coverage frustrated the Texans’ Andre Johnson all game long. Warfield was all over the field on Sunday night, but two plays in particular stand out in my mind. Early in the first quarter, with the Texans facing a third-and-4, Johnson caught a slant route and was immediately hit by Warfield, stopping the Texans short of the first down. Then with the first half ticking away, Warfield jumped an out route and intercepted the pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown that put the Chiefs up 31-7 at the half.
Special Teams: Chris Horn
The Chiefs special teams units really struggled against Houston, giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter, and almost giving up another one on the final play of the half. But Chris Horn showed great hustle and determination and caught the Texans’ Jerome Mathis at the 18 yard line saving a touchdown.
