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PART TWO - KANSAS CITY |
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Sunday (26/10/03) There really isn't much to compare the game day atmosphere at Arrowhead Stadium with. And since this was a 7.30pm kickoff it left plenty of time to take in the pre-game ... |
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In 2003 the Chiefs season has been anything but rubbish in 2003. Already off to a franchise best start of 7-0 they were aiming to knock off the Bills and get to the midpoint of the season unbeaten. Could we jinx them? |
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Their season has caused many fans to praise the Lord, or rather their diminutive kick returner who set an NFL record with TD returns in 4 straight games. More on him later ... |
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The sun sets over the tailgating in parking lot as we get ready for some Sunday Night Football. The tailgating is as vast here as anywhere else you will see in the NFL. Most commentators generally rank it as #1 and it's not hard to see (and smell) why. |
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And when tailgating in KC there really is only one thing to be eaten with your brew... KC B-B-Q Ribs! |
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When we were here last in 2000, a no-name rookie from Texas A&M wearing #20 was returning kicks and nobody thought much about it. The following year, he came to Scotland to learn the WR position where he showed some flashes of greatness. We followed his progress all year (we picked him in the "fan draft"), gave him some Cheddar whisky and wished him luck on his way. Now in 2003 it seems from talking to fans, reading the newspapers and watching TV, that Dante Hall is in fact GOD. |
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And how bizarre was this? After having the Cheddarheads support him in 2001, he now has his own KC Cheesehead in the shape of "X-Factor"! We didn't see anybody dressed as "The Human Joystick" (his other nickname) in case you're wondering ... |
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Ready for kickoff and the loudest place in the NFL is rocking! KC kicked off and held the Bills on their 1st possession forcing a punt. Then a strange hush fell over the stadium, as the crowd began to hold its collective breath anticipating the 1st return from Dante ... |
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Fair catch! And the crowd groaned ... They would groan again when the Bills Pierson. Prioleau blocked a Chiefs punt through the end zone to give the visitors the lead. BILLS 2 CHIEFS 0 |
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The Chiefs improved D held again on the Bills next possession as DE R-Kal Truluck takes Drew Bledsoe to the ground. This time the Bills punt sailed into the end zone for a punt - again denying Dante a chance to touch the ball. The crowd started booing! |
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With the crowd getting restless at the lack of Dante touches it was time to get #82 into the offense. On 2nd and 7 from their own 33, the Chiefs send Hall into the slot on the left hand side. He runs a straight go route blowing past CB Antoine Winfield, who is expecting S Lawyer Milloy to cover deep. But Milloy is slow getting over, and Trent Green throws a strike down the seams, and Dante catches it inside Bills territory and is off to the races... HE COULD GO ALL THE WAY !!! |
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The crowd was going nuts. It was pretty much Dante for MVP, Dante for President at this stage. CHIEFS 7-2 |
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How would Drew Bledsoe (#11) react to the fact that the Chiefs had a higher power on their team? Despite good field position on their next drive after a Chiefs penalty, Drew was unable to get the Bills a first down and Rian Lindell missed a 49 yard FG. |
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Helped by a 26 yard catch from TE Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs quickly marched 61 yards in 6 plays, finishing the drive off with a 4 yard run around right end by RB Priest Holmes for a touchdown. God and a Priest on the same side - that's not fair! CHIEFS 14 BILLS 2 |
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Hey isn't that KC Wolf - the NFL's #1 mascot??? Yes, poor KC Wolf is just an afterthought in these days of Dante-mania, and is relegated to watching the game in the nosebleed section with the rest of us! |
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With the Wide Receiver position clearly mastered now, the Chiefs try Dante at fullback in the 2nd quarter! |
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After a Josh Reed fumble, the Chiefs moved the ball quickly again and Priest Holmes didn't needed Dante's intervention on this play though as he got outside for a 13 yard TD. CHIEFS 21 BILLS 2 |
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On Buffalo's next drive RB Travis Henry (#20) gets as close to the end zone as any Bill would all night. But on 3rd down Bledsoe's throw is late to Josh Reed and Greg Wesley will knock it away incomplete. K Rian Lindell (#9) steps up to make a 20 yard FG. CHIEFS 21 BILLS 5 |
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And that meant another Dante return! This time #82 starts left and decides that's not so good so he comes back across the field to his right. However by the time he gets near the right sideline he has run out of blockers and is entrapped by 4 Bills defenders. No touchdown! The crowd was in shock. |
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But the TD would come. Trent Green hit Hall for a 31 yard pass to get things rolling, before finding Tony Gonzalez from 1 yard out with 13 seconds remaining in the 1st half CHIEFS 28 BILLS 5 |
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The 2nd half left plenty of time for more Bledsoe follies ... On 4th and goal from the Chiefs 4 his pass is intercepted by 320 pound DT Ryan Sims who lumbers a full 8 yards with it.
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On the left - Now you see Bledsoe ... On the right - Now you don't! Eric Hicks and Scott Fujita got credit for this sack. It was a miserable day for Drew. Only 153 yards passing, 3 INT's, 3 sacks and 2 fumbles. |
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His last fumble was recovered at the Bills 15 yard line, and on the next play Priest Holmes ran round left end for his 3rd TD of the day. CHIEFS 35 BILLS 5 |
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Morten Andersen (not pictured) showed he had a good leg at age 42 by booting a 49 yard FG to complete the scoring. CHIEFS 38 BILLS 5 |
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Game MVP could have been anybody really - it was a total and utter domination by the Chiefs. We'll give it to QB Trent Green who has really settled down in KC now and will be a key factor in the playoffs for them. On this night he passed for 273 yards and 2TD's. Honourable mention of course to Dante who finished with 4 catches for 107 yards and 1 TD. |
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FINAL Halfway to perfection and the chants of "EIGHT AND OH" rang out through Arrowhead as the clock wound down.
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Time to celebrate with the locals! James (#27) looked after us in KC and we gave him the Claymores jersey as gratitude. We guarantee there's no chance the Claymores will be 8-0 anytime soon though! |
