The New England Patriots playing without their MVP quarterback Tom Brady for most of the game, held off the Chiefs on a first and goal with under a minute to play to beat Kansas City 17-10 in Foxboro.

Damon Huard, playing after Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle left with a separated right shoulder late in the third quarter, completed a 68-yard pass to Devard Darlin to the Patriots 5 with 53 seconds left. But they moved no further with two incompletions, a run for no gain by Larry Johnson and a poorly aimed pass toward Dwayne Bowe that was broken up by Deltha O’Neal who was just added to the Pats’ roster after Cincinnati let him go.   

In the first quarter, Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard hit Brady low as he completed a pass to Randy Moss that was fumbled.  After a few moments, Brady was helped off the field.  Matt Cassel filling in hit Moss on a 10 yard TD pass after completing a 51 yarder to Moss while he was backed up on his own one yard line on 3 rd down.

Nick Novak nailed a 40 yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3, but Cassel put together another 80 yard drive with four completions to put New England up 14-3. 

Moments later, Croyle walked to his locker room with his injury. Huard, the backup in Brady’s first three seasons as a starter from 2001-2003, came in and on his first series, Huard threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe, making it 14-10.  The Pats hit a field goal making it 17-10.   

Huard finished 8 of 12 for 118 yards and 1 touchdown.  Larry Johnson had 22 carries for 74 yards. 

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