Larry Johnson scored a pair of touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs took advantage of 5 turnovers to win their first game of the season – a 33-19 victory over the division rival Denver Broncos Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs struck first in the 1st quarter on a 23 yard Nick Novak field goal to cap a 9 play, 84 yard drive. Novak split the uprights again just over 5 minutes later to give KC a 6-0 lead. This time it was a 21 yard field goal to put the finishing touches on a 7 play, 23 yard drive.
The Broncos took the lead in the 2nd quarter as Brandon Marshall gobbled up a 16 yard pass from Jay Cutler for the major to finish an 8 play, 62 yard scoring drive. Matt Prater’s PAT made it Denver 7, Kansas City 6.
Larry Johnson then scored on a 1 yard run with 2:43 left in the half to finish a 2 yard, 2 play scoring drive. Novak’s conversion made it KC 13, Denver 7.
The Broncos added 3 points with 11 seconds to go in the half as Prater connected on a 56 yard field goal to end a 4 play, 4 yard scoring drive. Kansas City 13, Denver 10 at the half.
The teams traded field goals in the 3rd quarter, with Prater hitting from 51 yards to tie the score at 13. Novak then put the Chiefs up by a field goal as he hit from 43 yards out.
Tony Gonzalez scored early in the 4th quarter on a 10 yard pass from Damon Huard. Novak’s extra point made it KC 23, Denver 13.
Prater and Novak then exchanged field goals again, Prater hit from 22 yards out, Novak scored from 33, followed by a Prater field goal from 33 to make the score Kansas City 26, Denver 19.
The Chiefs then put it away as Larry Johnson scored his second TD on a 16 yard run to cap a 3 play, 43 yard drive with 1:37 to go. Novak’s extra point ended the scoring, making it Kansas City 33, Denver 19.
Huard completed 21 of 28 passes, one of them good for a touchdown. Larry Johnson, with his 2 TDs, ran for 198 yards in 28 rushes. He fumbled once and it was recovered by the Broncos.
The Chiefs (1-3) next game is on the road, next Sunday, against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte.
