Game Day

Chiefs at Ravens Sunday, September 13, 2009 12:00 PM
1 2 3 4 Total Chiefs 0 7 7 10 24 Ravens 10 0 7 21 38 Final

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by Luke Shanno

Baltimore, MD – In a second half that resembled a back-and-forth heavyweight title bout, the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens traded touchdowns instead of punches. But it was the Ravens who delivered the final two blows on the scoreboard to secure a 38-24 victory over Kansas City at M&T Bank Stadium

A one-yard TD plunge by Ravens RB Willis McGahee with 0:31 seconds left sealed the win after the Ravens took a 31-24 lead with 2:06 left in the game as Baltimore QB Joe Flacco connected with WR Mark Clayton for a 31-yard TD, one of Flacco’s three TD tosses on the day.

Kansas City struggled to move the ball offensively early in the contest and the Ravens kept the Chiefs defense on the field for much of the day. Baltimore owned a huge advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for 39:49 compared to 20:11 for Kansas City. In total, the Ravens took 85 snaps on offense.

The Chiefs went three-and-out on their owning possession and Baltimore promptly responded by constructing a nine-play, 54-yard drive. But Kansas City’s defense held firm, forcing Baltimore to settle for a 44-yard K Steve Hauschka FG, putting the Ravens up 3-0 at the 10:19 mark in the first quarter.

Another three-and-out series by the Chiefs set up Baltimore second score of the day. On third and goal from the three, Ravens QB Joe Flacco scrambled to buy time before finding RB Willis McGahee in the left flat for a three-yard TD. The touchdown pass capped a 13-play, 70-yard drive that extended the Baltimore lead to 10-0 with 2:04 left in the first quarter.

The Chiefs again couldn’t move the sticks, but a 61-yard punt by P Dustin Colquitt pinned the Ravens at their own eight-yard line to switch field position. Colquitt’s fourth punt of the game then put the Ravens at their own nine-yard line, setting up the first of several big plays by Kansas City. For the second straight possession, the Chiefs defense forced Baltimore to go three-and-out. S Jon McGraw turned the momentum in Kansas City’s favor, blocking P Sam Koch’s punt and recovering the ball in the end zone to cut the Ravens lead to 10-7 with with 10:09 left in the first half.

Flacco and the Ravens offense converted multiple third downs on their next series. Flacco hit TE Todd Heap for 17 yards to the Baltimore 46-yard line on third and 10. LB Tamba Hali sacked Flacco and forced a fumble, with the Baltimore QB recovering the ball at the Kansas City 45-yard line. On third and 14, Flacco found Clayton for 16 yards.

S Jarrad Page broke up another pass intended for Heap on third down, setting up another FG try by Hauschka, whose 41-yard FG attempt went wide left. Kansas City got one more possession at the end of the half, but could not get into scoring position leaving the score 10-7 in favor of Baltimore at intermission.

Kansas City’s defense struck next on the Ravens opening possession of the second half. On third and nine from the Kansas City 33-yard line, LB Derrick Johnson intercepted a Flacco pass and returned it 70 yards to the Baltimore six-yard line. Two plays later, QB Brodie Croyle – who was starting in place of an injured QB Matt Cassel – found WR Dwayne Bowe in the back of the end zone to capitalize on the turnover and giving the Chiefs a 14-10 lead with 8:52 left in the third quarter.

Baltimore promptly responded as Flacco orchestrated an 11-play, 64-yard TD drive that was capped with a nine-yard TD to Heap, giving the Ravens a 17-14 lead. After the Baltimore score, both teams traded punts to end the third quarter.

The Chiefs offense got into the big-play action as Croyle hit WR Mark Bradley for a 50-yard strike on Kansas City’s next possession. That set up K Ryan Succop, who drilled a 53-yard FG on his first NFL attempt, the longest make by a Chiefs rookie since K Jan Stenerud hit a 54-yarder in ‘67. Succop’s connection made the score 17-17 with 12:02 to play.

Flacco connected with Heap once again on Baltimore’s next possession, this time for a 24-yard gain to move the ball to the Kansas City 39-yard line. On second and four from the Kansas City 23-yard line, RB Ray Rice broke loose up the right side for 22 yards, to the one-yard line. FB De’Ron McClain dove into the end zone for a one-yard TD to put the Ravens back ahead 24-17 with 8:10 remaining.

A roughing the passer penalty helped keep Kansas City’s next drive alive, giving the Chiefs a first down at their own 43-yard line. On second and 10, Croyle found Bradley for 14 yards and then hit Bowe on back-to-back plays for 24 yards and nine yards. On second and one from the 10-yard line, Croyle found TE Sean Ryan who dove into the end zone to tie the game at 24-24 with 5:21 left to play.

Flacco started Baltimore’s next drive with a 14-yard completion to McGahee down the right sideline. WR Mark Clayton then took a reverse for nine yards and Rice picked up nine yards on a first down rush, moving the ball to the Kansas City 35-yard line. Flacco then connected with Clayton deep down the middle on second and eight for a 31-yard TD, giving Baltimore a 31-24 lead with 2:06 left in the game.

After the touchdown, Croyle was sacked for an eight-yard loss. Facing a fourth and 18 after two incomplete passes, DE Trevor Pryce sacked Croyle and forced a fumble which was recovered by the Chiefs. Baltimore took over at the Kansas City nine-yard line and eventually scored on a McGahee one-yard TD run to make the final count 38-24.