8B
SPORTS
NFL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2007
Chiefs drop fifth consecutive game
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs defense end Jared Allen celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second quarter of the Chiefs' game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. The score was the Chiefs' lone touchdown on the day, and they lost 24-10.
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson catches a 38-yard pass for a touchdown under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs safety Greg Wesley during the second half of the Chargers' 24-10 victory. The catch was Jackson's only reception in the game.
BY DOUG TUCKER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Norv Turner finally found a team that could handle the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, his San Diego Chargers could be ready to run away with the AFC West.
With LaDainian Tomlinson rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns and the defense getting eight sacks and four turnovers, the Chargers beat Kansas City 24-10 Sunday for their sixth win in eight games. They're beginning to flash the form that made them 14-2 in the 2006 regular season before Marty Schottenheimer got fired after the playoffs.
"I think we have improved as a football team all the way through," said Turner, who beat the Chiefs for the first time in seven tries as a head coach. "I know there were some weeks that it didn't show up."
It was just the second victory in 11 games in Kansas City for San Diego and put the Chargers (7-5) $1\frac{1}{2}$ games ahead in the AFC West, pending Denver's game at Oakland.
The Chiefs (4-8) lost their fifth in a row and could be headed for their worst season in about 20 years.
"It is flat-out embarrassing," said tight end Tony Gonzalez, who had 10 catches for 140 yards, "I don't think I've lost five games in a row as a Chief. It's frustrating, because I feel like we're a lot better team than what we're playing right now."
Since the Chiefs beat the Chargers 30-16 and plunged them to 1-3 on Sept. 30 and triggered an outcry against Turner, the Chargers have turned it around.
"We know we control our own destiny, but I wouldn't say we're breathing easier," said quarterback Philip Rivers, who had a 38-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson. "We're not pleased at being 7-5. It is certainly better to be where we are than looking up at someone."
By the middle of the fourth quarter, normally loud and packed Arrowhead Stadium was quiet and about half-empty.
"We just can't seem to score any points in the fourth quarter coming down the stretch," said Chiefs coach Herm Edwards.
Tomlinson had only 60 yards on 13 carries in the first half, but came on after intermission with scoring runs of 31 and 28 yards. Tomlinson's second touchdown was No. 11 in his career and moved him past Walter Payton for third on the all-time list for touchdowns rushing.
"You've got to understand, the whole reason I wanted to even play football was seeing him," Tomlinson said. "I remember watching everything he did, even off the field, the way he talked to kids, the way he talked to people, the way he carried himself.
"It's definitely an honor just to be mentioned in the same breath with, in my opinion, the greatest running back that has ever played the game."
Shawne Merriman had three of the eight sacks, which broke the Chiefs record of seven allowed in a game. The Chargers also had three interceptions, two off Damon Huard and one off Tyler Thigpen, the third team quarterback who entered late in the fourth quarter when Huard injured his hand.
Hounded and hurried throughout the cold, windy afternoon by an unrelenting pass rush. Huard was 19-of-34 for 186 yards, with a lost fumble — recovered by Merriman — to go with his two picks.
"We just kept applying pressure the whole game and we didn't let up," said Merriman. "Tony Gonzalez had a good game, but he's going to do that. He's one of the best tight ends in the game. It's hard to contain him."
He was starting for Brodie Croyle. For much of the second half, the Chiefs also had two other starters sidelined, linebacker Donnie Edwards with a hamstring injury and left tackle Damion McLntosh with a knee sprain.
On San Diego's third touchdown drive, Tomlinson got loose for a 34-yard gain on third down. Then on third-and-1 from the 28, he dashed through a hole on the left side and sped into the end zone for a 24-10 lead with 10:15 to go.
The Chiefs had one bright spot besides Gonzalez. Defensive end Jared Allen, after getting two sacks, shocked the crowd and the Chargers by catching a touchdown pass.
Gonzalez beat triple coverage and made a leaping grab for a 31-yard gain to the 4. On third-and-goal from the 2, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive end ran onto the field and lined up on the left side. The Chargers appeared unsure what to make of him.
When the ball was snapped, he took off for the left corner of the end zone with safety Clinton Hart chasing. Allen made an over-the-shoulder basket catch for the touchdown and a short-lived 10-3 lead.
"The key was to sell the block," he said. "I probably should have sold it a little longer."
Redskins pay tribute to Taylor
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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BUFFALO 17,
WASHINGTON 16
They played for Sean. They tried to win for Sean, just as Sean's father had told them to. The grief of the Washington Redskins was on full display Sunday, in front of 85,000 fans waving their No. 21 towels.
LANDOVER. Md. — After scoring the game's only touchdown, Clinton Portis lifted his jersey to reveal a white shirt with the words "In memory of Sean Taylor."
But their fragile emotions were shattered when Rian Lindell kicked a 36-yard field goal with 4 seconds left, giving the Buffalo Bills a 17-16 victory.
JETS 40, DOLPHINS 13
MIAMI — Rookie John Beck threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles, and the Dolphins fell to 0-12.
GIANTS 21, BEARS 16
GIANTS 19,21 BEACH CHICAGO - Eli Manning led two late touchdown drives and Reuben Droughts scored on a 2-yard run with 1:33 remaining.
CARDINALS 27
BROWNS 21
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona turned three of Cleveland's four turnovers into touchdowns, Edgerrin James topped 100 yards rushing for only the second time this season and the Cardinals won.
RAIDERS 34,
BRONCOS 20
OAKLAND, Calif. — Josh McCown threw three touchdown passes for Oakland despite missing two series when top overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell played for the first time.
BUCCANEERS 27,
SAINTS 23
NEW ORLEANS — DeWery Henderson fumbled a late, awkward toss from Reggie Bush, then backup quarterback Luke McCown drove Tampa Bay for a touchdown with 17 seconds left. The winning score was a quick 4-yard pass to Jerramy Stevens.
COLTS 28. JAGUARS 25
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts on the verge of their fifth straight AFC South title
SEAHAWKS 28,
EAGLES 24
after Peyton Manning three four touchdown passes, two after the Colts won reply challenges.
PHILADELPHIA — Lofa Tatupu set up Seattle's first two touchdowns by intercepting A.J. Feeley twice in the first quarter, and he sealed victory with another pick at the Seahawks 4 in the final minute.
VIKINGS 42, LIONS 10 MINNEAPOLIS — Adrian Peterson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in his return from a knee injury.
TITANS 28, TEXANS 20
NASHVILLE. Tenn. — Vince Young threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns in rallying the Titans, snapping a three-game skid.
RAMS 28, FALCONS 16
ST. LOUIS — Gus Frerotte threw three touchdown passes in the first half.
PANTHERS 31; 49ERS 14
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Vinny Testaverde threw two touchdown passes and the Panthers snapped a five-game losing streak.
BOWL GAME (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Orange Bowl, which has a mandatory BCS payout of $14 million, and the Cotton, at $3 million, is significant.
STEELERS 24
BENGALS 10
A reporter asked linebacker Joe Mortensen whether he felt sorry for Missouri.
"No" the senior linebacker said without hesitation.
Coach Mark Mangino said athletic Director Lew Petkins stayed up all night talking on the phone working "tirelessly" on bowl scenarios.
The jayhawks will be making their first appearance in the Bowl
In response to frequent rumors during the last week that the Jayhawks would be paired with Big 12 counterpart Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, Mangino said he preferred playing a non-conference opponent in the postseason.
The Hokies finished 11-2 and defeated Boston College, 30-16, in the ACC Championship on Saturday. Virginia Tech closed the season on a five-game winning streak after losing its first meeting against the Eagles on Oct. 25.
In a season when 11 No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams have lost since Oct. 1 and top-five ranked teams lost 13 times to unranked opponents, Kansas finished as one of only two BCS-conference teams with one loss. The other Ohio State, will face two-loss Louisiana State University in the BCS National Championship
Championship Series, but third appearance in the Orange Bowl. Kansas has also never faced Virginia Tech.
"We worked hard to become one of the best teams in America. We earned it" Mortensen said.
"Dreaming is a passive state. You can dream, or you can pursue. This is a product of our players and coaches pursuing it."
Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing said he was "rather ecstatic" after learning the jayhawks' fate — which was announced when Athletics Director Lew Perkins entered the room with a bag of oranges and began tossing them to players shortly before Fox's show.
Mangino's first jayhawk team finished 2-5 five years ago. Last year, the team went 6-6 and was not selected into the postseason. Mangino was asked whether the selection was a dream.
Edited by Ashlee Kieler
Game on Jan. 7.
PITTSBURGH — Hines Ward caught two touchdown passes from Ben Roethliberger to break the Steele's record for career scoring catches, and Pittsburgh ended a seven-game winning streak by road teams in their AFC North rivalry with the Bengals by winning 24-10 Sunday night.
Edited by Tara Smith
SHROYER (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Playoffs work in every other
sport on the planet. It can work in college football.
Sure, there are probably 101 reasons I didn't think of as to why my playoff format couldn't work. It might not even make sense. But I've yet to find a single part of the BCS that makes sense, and it obviously doesn't work.
carry more significance than ever. Plus, with the best teams in college football advancing through a playoff (meaning the two best teams in the country would play two additional games before meeting), there's no way the NCAA wouldn't milk a ridiculous amount of sponsorship dollars out of those high-profile games.
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