NFL Game Summary - Arizona at Kansas City
(Sunday, November 21st)
Final Score: Kansas City 31, Arizona 13
Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Thomas Jones and Dwayne Bowe each scored
twice as the Kansas City Chiefs took a 31-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals at
Arrowhead Stadium.
Jones carried 15 times for 71 yards while Bowe added six catches for 109 yards
for the Chiefs (6-4), who snapped a two-game slide. Jamaal Charles ran for 88
yards on 12 carries and caught four balls for 38 yards, while quarterback Matt
Cassel completed 15-of-24 passes for 193 yards and the two scores to Bowe.
"This was a big victory for us, especially in front of our home crowd," said
Cassel. "In all phases we played well, offense and defense. Our run game was
strong and that continues to put us in great situations and manageable
situations."
The win, coupled with Oakland's loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday, gives Kansas
City a one-game lead over the Raiders for the top spot in the AFC West.
Derek Anderson was 25-for-46 with 295 yards and a score, while Tim Hightower
rushed for 62 yards for the Cardinals (3-7), who have dropped their last five
games. Steve Breaston caught five passes for 92 yards and Larry Fitzgerald
added six catches for 90 yards and a score.
"Obviously it was a very disappointing day," said Arizona head coach Ken
Whisenhunt. "Right now as a football team we're not making the plays when we
have a chance to make those plays that can change the game."
Arizona started the game with the ball and over nine plays went 51 yards and
capped the drive on a Jay Feely 36-yard field goal just over 4 1/2 minutes in.
The big play of the drive saw Anderson and Breaston connect on a 15-yard play
on 3rd-and-5.
Late in the first, a 17-yard punt return from Javier Arenas gave Kansas City
the ball at the Arizona 38. On the next play, Cassel hit Bowe for a 37-yard
strike down to the one-yard line. Three plays into the second quarter, Cassel
found Bowe in the end zone for a 7-3 lead.
"Dwayne has continued to make consistent progress in his game," said Kansas
City head coach Todd Haley about Bowe. "I can see that this guy has changed
his play and now we're seeing the fruits of his labor."
After a quick three-and-out from Arizona, the Chiefs went up by a 14-3 score
as Jones plunged into the end zone from a yard out with 10:14 to play in the
second to cap a five-play, 68-yard drive. Two plays before the score, a 25-
yard catch by Charles set up 1st-and-goal at the one.
The Cardinals got into Kansas City territory on its final drive of the first
half, but it stalled just past midfield and the Chiefs took the 11-point lead
into the locker room.
The Chiefs took the opening drive of the second half 80 yards in nine plays
with Jones punching the ball into the end zone from three yards out for a 21-3
lead just over five minutes in. On the previous play, Charles went 39 yards on
a carry down the left sideline.
The Cards came back down the field and got into the red zone, but faced a 4th-
and-7 and went to Feely for a 29-yard field goal to make it a 21-6 game with
4:55 to play in the third.
The fourth quarter saw a Ryan Succop 23-yard field goal with just over eight
minutes to play and a 38-yard touchdown catch by Bowe with 4:20 to left to
turn the game into a rout.
Fitzgerald's three-yard scoring reception on the final play of the game
accounted for the final score.
Game Notes
The Chiefs play at Seattle next Sunday...The Cardinals host the 49ers next
Monday night...Arizona wide receiver Early Doucet left the game in the second
quarter after getting hit by Brandon Carr during a reception...The Chiefs have
taken five of the past six games against the Cardinals...Arizona outgained
Kansas City, 382-352, and controlled the ball for nearly 32 1/2 minutes.
11/21 18:34:25 ET
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