The Chiefs certainly know a thing or two about getting success from a backup quarterback. Kansas City’s own backup signal-caller Damon Huard filled in admirably for the then-injured Trent Green. Sunday, the Chiefs got a taste of its own medicine as Browns backup Derek Anderson led Cleveland to a 31-28 overtime win.
Anderson, replacing the injured Charlie Frye, completed 12-of-21 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. His arm was the key in tying the game in regulation. Anderson threw two touchdown passes to Steve Heiden in the final 8:55 of the fourth quarter. But it was his legs that set the Browns up for the win in OT. Anderson wittedly escaped a tackle and sprinted 33 yards downfield to set up Phil Dawson’s game-winning 33-yard field goal.
“He looked like Forrest Gump,” wide receiver Joe Jurevicius said.
The way Anderson played with such poise; no one would have ever guessed that he had never thrown an NFL pass before Sunday’s game.
Kansas City (7-5) has to be kicking themselves in the rear end after blowing such a gimme game. They led 28-14 before Anderson’s rally in the final 8:55. Trent Green threw four touchdown passes – the first since his return from a Week 1 concussion. Two of those scoring strikes went to tight end Tony Gonzalez who finished with nine catches for 105 yards.
“The season isn’t over, but we just made it a lot tougher on,” said Gonzalez. We played well, we just didn’t finish. We let one slip away.”
Green finished 24-of-32 for 297 yards, but also threw an interception. The loss dropped Kansas City three games behind AFC West leader San Diego.