Chiefs vs. Titans: Game Recap

Oct 6, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Cooper (31) intercepts a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) during the second half at LP Field. The Chiefs won 26-17. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs are 5-0 on the season and I might need to take a day off of work to recover. In a game that saw the third Alex Smith INT in two games, first Jamaal Charles fumble all season and some sloppy play all around, the Chiefs are now one of only three remaining undefeated teams.

The Chiefs only touchdown of the first half came after they punted on the first possession. It was a normal deep punt that Chiefs fans are used from Dustin Colquitt, but after taking a weird bounce, it hit the back heel of a Titans player and was recovered in the end zone by the Chiefs for the touchdown. Other than a pair of Ryan Succop field goals, that was the extent of the first half scoring in a rainy afternoon game in Nashville.

However, previous to the Succop field goal, the Chiefs defense showed their grit once again stopping four straight attempts by the Titans inside their five yard line. The final attempt showed them stop a second and third effort by former Chief Jackie Battle. But the Chiefs kept them scoreless.

The Chiefs offense took possession of the ball inside the Titans’ one yard line, and the first play following the change of possession was a 41 yard strike from Smith to wide receiver Donnie Avery. So much for not throwing the deep ball. The Chiefs drive finally ended on the six yard line and sent the two teams into half time with the score 13-0.

The second half saw some of the magic that Titans quarterback has used against the Chiefs in years past. After a 26 yard scamper by the “bearded QB” he improvised a little shovel pass to running back Chris Johnson who took it to the house on a 49 yard run, bringing the score to 13-7.

Following another drive that ended with a Chiefs punt, the Titans drove down the field again and added another Rob Bironis field goal, bringing the score to within three points.

The Chiefs had the opportunity to drive back down the field and re-take control of the game in the third quarter, but just as the skies over Nashville opened up and the rain poured down, Alex Smith let a short pass to Jamaal Charles sail over his head and it was picked off by former Chief Bernard Pollard.

The Titans seized the opportunity and drove down to the goal line once again. However, with the third quarter ending with a huge Dontari Poe sack where he took his craving for BBQ out on Ryan Fitzpatrick, it appeared the Chiefs defense would hold out once again. Hopes were dashed on the first play of the fourth quarter which saw the Titans take their first lead of the game with a nine yard Fitzpatrick scramble for a touchdown, making the score 17-13.

After trading possession back and forth, the Chiefs took the ball and did what they’ve been so good at doing this season. Alex Smith led a 10 play drive that killed 5:05 off the clock and ended with Jamaal Charles scoring his fifth touchdown in five games.

A couple more Ryan Succop field goals and the Chiefs ended an “ugly” game with a victory and go 5-0 for the first time in 10 years and only the second time in franchise history.

This game was another complementary football game. The offense struggled early on – though we’re seeing Smith take some more chances with the ball – but in the lack of the offensive production, the defense came up huge on a four play goal line stand as well as a couple of interceptions. However, Smith was good when he needed to be, and just like every week, Jamaal Charles was the guy who provides the heartbeat for this offense. Charles hit his first 100 yard rushing game of the season and also had 37 receiving yards.

Perhaps the biggest play of the game, though was the fumble recovery by Marcus Cooper (who also had a momentum swinging interception later in the game) for the touchdown. This special teams unit is really starting to show its stuff and between the pickups of Marcus Cooper and tight end Sean McGrath – who had another solid day with four catches for 54 yards – John Dorsey looks like a genius for bringing these two young players to Kansas City from the waiver wire after the final “cut down day.”

The Chiefs return to Arrowhead next week and face the Oakland Raiders who are currently 1-3, and 6-0 has never been so close.