THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
12B SPORTS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
National Football League
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
WASHINGTON AT PHILADELPHIA
Chiefs fall victim to Hester in 20-10 loss
Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester cuts through the Kansas City Chiefs' coverage on Sunday in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Chiefs 20-10. Hester scored on a 73-yard punt return in the second quarter and set up a field goal in the third with another long return.
BY ANDREW SELIGMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Every time he lines up for a return, Devin Hester believes a touchdown is just moments away.
Associated Press
Who can argue?
Hester set the NFL record last season, and he's off to a good start this year.
Hester scored on a 73-yard punt return in the second quarter and set up a field goal in the third with another long return to help the defending NFC champions beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-10 on Sunday.
"If there's not one returner who every time he touches the ball feels he can take it the distance, he doesn't need to be out there," Hester said. "I feel every time I get my hands on the ball it's a touchdown."
Hester now has seven touchdown returns in his career and is one shy of Gale Sayers' team record. While Hester moved closer to that mark, Cedric Benson did his part to distance himself from the notion that he's soft.
Benson carried 24 times for 101 yards, eight shy of his career high, after being held to 42 in last week's 14-3 season-opening loss at San Diego.
It was a different story for Rex Grossman.
He was 20-for-34 with 160 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off twice after passing for 145 yards against the Chargers.
The fans let Grossman hear it in the fourth quarter, when Donnie Edwards intercepted him at the 43. The Chiefs (0-2) took over at the 25, but couldn't cut into a 20-10
lead.
Minutes after blocking a 48-yard field goal by Dave Rayner, the Bears came up big again. With the ball on the 16, Charles Tillman deflected a pass intended for Sammie Parker in the end zone and Danieal Manning intercepted it.
The Bears (1-1) hung on from there.
Chicago was able to contain another star running back after shutting down LaDainian Tomlinson. This time, it was Larry Johnson, who managed just 55 yards on 16 attempts.
"We're on the same page, we all get the same play book," Johnson said. "We just have to got out and
execute what we have to put points on the board."
Damon Huard wasn't much help, going 19-for-28 with 175 yards for Kansas City (0-2). He had a touchdown pass and an interception and was sacked four times before leaving late in the game for Brodie Croyle. But tight end Tony Gonzalez would not single out the quarterback.
"He's proved he can do it," tight end Tony Gonzalez said of Haard. "He's done it before. I don't understand why we can't do it now. Something is not working right now."
Lance Briggs forced a fumble and sacked Huard for Chicago. Brian Ulracher also got his first sack since
2005, but this was Hester's day.
The Bears were leading 7-0 when he caught Dustin Colquitt's punt at the 27. He cut to his left, sidestepped several Chiefs and got some big blocks on the way to the end zone. Hester set an NFL record with six as a rookie last year, and that doesn't include the opening kickoff he ran back against Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.
His second big punt return was even more impressive, even though he didn't reach the end zone.
Hester caught the ball at midfield and sliced between two Chiefs and ran it back to the 19. That set up a 38-yard field goal by Robbie Gould that made it 20-7.
Yesterday's NFL scores and highlights
Cleveland 51, Cincinnati 45
Texans 34, Panthers 21
Cleveland 51, Cincinnati 45
CLEVELAND — Derek Anderson threw five touchdown passes, Jamal Lewis rushed for 216 yards for the Cleveland Browns.
Colts 22, Titans 20
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Houston Texans forced three turnovers and recovered from a sluggish start to go 2-0 for the first time in franchise history.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Peyton Manning threw for 312 yards and a touchdown as the Indianapolis Colts held off Tennessee.
49ers 17, Rams 16
ST. LOUIS — Dante Hall fumbled while catching a punt, and Marcus Hudson recovered for San Francisco, setting up
the winning field goal by Joe Nedney.
Buccaneers 31. Saints 14
TAMPA, Fla. — Joey Galloway caught four passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Steelers 26. Bills 3
PITTSBURGH — Willie Parker ran for a touchdown and 126 yards, and Ben Roethlisberger threw for a score.
Jaguars 13, Falcons 7
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars sacked Joey Harrington seven times and held the Atlanta Falcons under 100 yards rushing.
BALTIMORE — Kyle Biller threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns, and the Baltimore
Ravens got their first victory.
Ravens 20, Jets 13
Cowboys 37. Dolphins 20
MIAMI — Dallas took advantage of five takeaways and a ball-control offense to beat the hapless Miami Dolphins.
Arizona 23. Seattle 20
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Neil Rackers kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1 second to go, giving the Cardinals the victory.
Dons 20, Winters 17, OT
DETROIT — Jason Hanson's
37-yard field goal in overtime
lifted Detroit over Minnesota.
Lions 20, Vikings 17, QT
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Tom Brady threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns for New England in its victory over San Diego.
Schedule
Patriots 38, Chargers 14
Tonight's Game
tighten's game
Washington at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 23
Miami at N.Y. Jets, noon
Arizona at Baltimore, noon
San Diego at Green Bay, noon
Buffalo at New England, noon
Indianapolis at Houston, noon
Minnesota at Kansas City, noon
San Francisco at Pittsburgh, noon
SL Louis at Tampa Bay, noon
Detroit at Philadelphia, noon
Cleveland at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.
Cincinnati at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.
Jacksonville at Denver, 3:05 p.m.
Carolina at Atlanta, 3:15 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Washington, 3:15 p.m.
Dallas at Chicago, 7:15 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 24
Tennessee at New Orleans; 8:30
pm
"MONDAY MADNESS IS BACK!"
Associated Press
Off Your Total Gear Purchase
Denver Broncos' placeckicker Jason Elam celebrates with holder Todd Sauerbrun after Elam's overtime field goal kick on Sunday.
Broncos saved by whistle win game against Raiders
BY ARNIE STAPLETON ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Denver Broncos coach may never have called a smarter timeout.
DENVER — The crowd groaned, the Raiders celebrated and Mike Shanahan smiled.
Jason Elam's 23-yard field goal with 5:48 left in overtime goal the Broncos a 23-20 win over Oakland just minutes after the Raiders had exulted over what they thought was their own wild win.
Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 52-yard field goal at 11:13 of overtime. But as the Raiders rushed the field in celebration and many of the Broncos hung their heads in defeat, referee Walt Anderson ruled that Denver had called a timeout just before the snap.
On the retry, Janikowski's high-arcing kick hit the left upright, fluttering the flag atop the pole and giving the Broncos new life and the ball at their 42. They drove to the Oakland 6 and Elam nailed it on first down — and the Raiders didn't bother calling their
own timeout.
"They stole it from us and we stole it right back," Elam said.
"I feel bad," Broncos safety John Lynch said. "But not really."
The Raiders (0-2) swore they never heard the whistle.
"Nobody was aware they called timeout," lamented Oakland's rookie coach, Lane Kiffin. "They rushed just like there wasn't a timeout. Maybe somebody's got to tell me the rule. They should tell the ref to blow it just before he kicks it."
Shanahan knew exactly when to call it: right as long snapper Jon Condo looked up.
"When you take it down to a millimeter of a second, that works pretty good," Lynch said. "Mike's timing was unbelievable. I was standing next to him when he told the referee. 'We're going to call a timeout.' But then I'm saying, 'All right, do it! Do it!' And he did, I think with 2 seconds, and the guy blew his whistle."
The Broncos insisted they weren't so much trying to ice Janikowski as they were hoping to get their rushers a breather.
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