6B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 27. 2005
NFL
Chiefs' defense reverts to 2004 form
David Zalubowski/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Denver Broncos tight end Rod Smith pulls in a pass on a 19-yard reception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter in Denver last night. Smith became the first undrafted player in NFL history to surpass 10,000 yards.
Broncos too much on both sides of ball
BY EDDIE PELLS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER — Rod Smith,
Mike Anderson and the Denver
Broncos made that newfangled
Kansas City defense seem a
lot like the old one. And that
vaunted Chiefs offense looked
pretty lame, too.
"I didn't do much but just guided them down the field," Plummer said.
Anderson ran for a 44-yard touchdown and Smith became the first undrafted player in NFL history to reach 10,000 yards receiving last night, as the Broncos handled Kansas City from start to finish in a 30-10 victory.
Jake Plummer went 13-of-18 for 152 yards — including a 12-yard TD to Smith — and ran for a score on fourth-and-goal from the 1, an efficient performance that was more than enough to blow Out Tent Green and the Chiefs.
Green finally threw his first touchdown of the season with 2 minutes left—a 21-yard pass to Samie Parker — but it was cosmetic, a score that helped Dick Vermeil avoid his worst loss as an NFL coach and the Chiefs avoid matching their worst loss in the 46-year history of this AFC West series.
Green had 27 TD passes last year for the NFLs most productive offense. The Chiefs (2-1) were anything but productive on this night.
Priest Holmes finished with only 61 yards and backfieldmate Larry Johnson had 13 yards on eight carries.
Harassed by Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown two members of Denver's revamped defensive line Green finished 23-of-44 for 221 yards and the garbage touchdown.
"I think we proved we can play with the best of them,"
Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce said. "That was the best offense in the NFL, make no doubt about it."
When the Broncos (2-1) weren't making Kansas City look bad, the Chiefs were doing it themselves. They finished with 118 yards in penalties, including eight infractions in the first half while the Broncos were cruising to a 20-0 lead.
The perennially soft Kansas City defense added players this season — most notably defensive backs Patrick Surtain and Sammy Knight and linebacker Kendrell Bell — and when the Chiefs allowed a total of 24
points over the first two games, it looked like the fixes were working.
They took a big step backward against the Broncos, who finally started clicking after two rugged games to start the season.
Anderson, who has struggled since hurting his ribs in the first
"I think we proved we can play with the best of them. That was the best offense in the NFL."
Trevor Price
Denver Broncos defensive end
half of the opener against Miami, went through a huge hole untouched in the first quarter for his long score and a 10-0 lead.
"We didn't want to sit back," Anderson said. "We wanted to go right at them. That's why the first score was so important. We had to run the ball to make the play action so effective."
The Broncos used Anderson to work the clock in the second half and he finished with 98 yards on 20 carries.
Three plays after Anderson's touchdown, Brown recovered his second fumble of the season and the Broncos scored right away, when Plummer saw Smith at the back of the end zone for the 12-yard score.
The Denver receiver caught seven passes for 80 yards. He hit his milestone with a 19-yard catch in the third quarter, making him the 24th player to reach 10,000 yards. He celebrated in his typical understated style — getting up and lining up for the next play. Five plays later, Plummer bootlegged in from a yard to give the Broncos a 27-3 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Smith took a rough hit from Knight after catching an 11-yard pass, but walked off the field under his own power. He was diagnosed with a concussion and did not return. The Broncos also lost cornerback Champ Bailey to a hamstring injury in the second quarter.
Edge
CONTINUE FROM PAGE 1B
Iowa State is led by Bret Meyer, sophomore quarterback. Meyer has thrown for more than 400 yards and three touchdowns in the Cyclones' first three games.
N e braska is led by senior running back Cory Ross. Ross has 381 yards for the season, but has found the end zone only once.
Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder said he was aware of the challenge Oklahoma presented, and said he thought his team would be ready.
The key other m a t c h up in the North is K a n s a S state at Oklahoma
ma.
Kansas State is 3-0 after beating North Texas at home last weekend 54-7. Parrish Fisher, freshman running back, set the tone for the Wildcats when had more than 200 yards of total offense and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
Fisher was subbing for Thomas Clayton who did not play after being arrested last weekend. It is not known whether Clayton will play this weekend.
Oklahoma enters the game 1-2 and is looking for a home victory before playing Texas next weekend.
Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder said he was aware of the challenge Oklahoma presented, and said he thought his team would be ready.
"Oklahoma has too many great players and great coaches not to be an outstanding team, and I know they will be ready for us," Snyder said. "Year in and year out, the Big 12 becomes harder, and it is difficult to stay on top."
- Edited by Ty Beaver