www.kansascity.com/385/story/415927.htmlChiefs' losing streak reaches eight with loss at DetroitBy KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
DETROIT | Same as he has done the past five weeks, Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle watched from the sideline as the fourth quarter expired and another team celebrated.
The Kansas City defense was solid. Receiver Dwayne Bowe and tight end Tony Gonzalez were outstanding. But after Croyle suffered an injury in the second quarter to his right (throwing) hand, all the Chiefs' starting quarterback could do was watch.
He watched backup Damon Huard clean up a first-half mess that turned into the Detroit Lions' 25-20 win at Ford Field. But he also watched the Lions snap a six-game losing streak while the Chiefs (4-11) extended their own losing streak to eight, the longest streak since the 1987 team lost nine in a row. If the Chiefs lose their finale next Sunday at the New York Jets, Kansas City would finish the season with nine consecutive losses, the worst collapse in team history.
Croyle hurt his hand on the Chiefs' first second-quarter possession. A pass intended for Gonzalez was intercepted by middle linebacker Paris Lenon, who caught the ball at the Lions' 39-yard line. Croyle tried to tackle Lenon, but the second-year quarterback was injured and penalized 15 yards in the process … and Lenon returned the interception for a touchdown anyway.
Croyle was treated in the locker room after his injury but returned to the sideline in uniform. He watched the second half from the sideline with heavy bandaging on his right hand.
Huard relieved Croyle and responded. He passed for two touchdowns, including a 34-yarder to Dwayne Bowe on a fourth down. That score gave the Chiefs a chance to tie the score at 22-all, but Detroit's Jared DeVries deflected Huard's 2-point conversion pass intended for Gonzalez.
Defensive end Jared Allen, named this past week to his first Pro Bowl, had one sack and caught his second touchdown pass of the season Sunday in the second quarter. The Chiefs defense held the Lions to 5 points in the second half.
It was a different perspective for Croyle and the Chiefs, who led or trailed at halftime in six of their seven previous losses. But the view was the same.
Fourth quarterKC -- Bowe 34 pass from Huard (pass failed); 10 plays, 70 yards, 6:17 drive time, 13:28 remaining. Det -- Hanson 47 field goal; 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:05 drive time, :43 remaining
Bowe’s TD came on fourth and 14 from the 34. He was well-covered by Dovonte Edwards but went up high to grab the fade pass. The Lions challenged the ruling, claiming Bowe didn’t have possession, but referee Walt Coleman upheld the call after a video review. Initially, the Chiefs sent their kicking unit on the field but then changed and tried for two. Huard’s pass out of an otherwise empty backfield was batted down . . . Pollard dropped what would have been his second interception of the game. He also would have had a long return. Instead, the Lions punted and the Chiefs took over at their 5. The Chiefs failed to gain a first down and punted. The Lions couldn’t do anything with the ball and punted back to the Chiefs. Kansas City took over on their own 10, but went three-and-out, giving Detroit the ball with 4:29 left. The Chiefs held, and following a penalty on the punt, started on their own 8 with 2:49 remaining. It came down to a fourth-down pass that Bowe could not grab inbounds, and Detroit took over with 1:48 left. Jason Hanson’s 47-yard field goal with 43 seconds remaining gave Detroit a 25-20 lead.
Third quarterDet -- FG Hanson 20; 7 plays, 74 yards, 4:10 drive time, 8:35 remaining. The Chiefs lost their momentum early in the half. The went three plays and punt on the first possession of the period. Duckett then ran for 53 yards to the Chiefs’ 9. Duckett broke tackle attempts at the line of scrimmage and then eluded Ty Law before Derrick Johnson chased him down. The Chiefs held from there and forced the field goal . . Facing a third and one from the Kansas City 15 on the next possession, Huard tried a pass for Samie Parker but it was broken up and the Chiefs punted . . . Huard passed 11 yards to Bowe and 24 yards to Parker to help give the Chiefs the ball at the Lions’ 34 on their next possession. They soon faced a fourth and 11 at the 35 and Huard’s pass to Bowe failed to provide the necessary yardage. But Detroit’s Travis Fisher was penalized for holding, giving the Chiefs a fresh set of downs.
Second quarterDet -- FG Hanson 46; 11 plays, 47 yards, 5:11 drive time, 10:20 remaining.
Det -- Paris Lenon 61 interception return (Hanson kick); 9:00 remaining.
KC -- Jackie Battle 3 run (John Carney kick); 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:27 drive time, 3:33 remaining.
KC -- Jared Allen 1 pass from Damon Huard (Carney kick); 9 plays, 77 yards, 2:11 drive time, 0:23 remaining.
Duckett took a screen pass 12 yards to the Chiefs’ 38 to convert on third and 8. Kitna then hit Shaun McDonald for 17 yards to the 33 and Hanson came on shortly afterward to kick the field goal . . . Croyle threw for 29 yards to Gonzalez on the next play. But on his next try for Gonzalez, his throw was late and Lenon intercepted and returned it for a touchdown and a 19-0 Lions lead . . . Croyle was taken from the field on a cart after injuring his right hand trying to make the tackle. He was replaced by Huard. Two Kolby Smith runs gave the Chiefs a first down. Huard’s 15-yard pass to Jeff Webb allowed the Chiefs to convert on third down to near midfield. Smith then ran for 14 yards to the Lions’ 34. Two more passes to Gonzalez helped put the Chiefs on the Lions’ 3 and Battle scored from there. Left tackle Damion McIntosh left the game with an ankle injury during the drive and was replaced by rookie Herb Taylor, who played well . . . Bernard Pollard intercepted for the Chiefs to give them the ball at their 23 with more than two minutes remaining. Huard passes of nine yards to Smith and 21 yards to Gonzalez put the Chiefs near midfield. Dwayne Bowe snagged two passes worth 24 yards, helping put the Chiefs on the 1. Allen was uncovered in the end zone after Huard faked a handoff to Smith.
First quarterDet -- T.J. Duckett 11 run (Jason Hanson kick); 7 plays, 80 yards, 4:12 drive time, 2:03 remaining.
Det -- Safety, Casey FitzSimmons blocked punt punt of end zone; 0:31 remaining.
Detroit faced a fourth and one from the Chiefs’ 46 on the game’s first possession. Given the game’s lack of importance and the weakness of the Kansas City offense, the Lions should have tried to convert. To a loud round of boos, the Lions punted and the Chiefs took possession at their 11 . . . Two Brodie Croyle to Tony Gonzalez passes helped put the Chiefs near midfield. Facing a fourth and four from the Lions’ 39, the Chiefs also decided to punt and this one went into the end zone. No one booed that decision, at least no one at Ford Field . . . Two Jon Kitna passes to Calvin Johnson gained 47 yards and put the Lions at the Chiefs’ 19. Those were his only two passes of the touchdown drive . . . The blocked punt was the first of Dustin Colquitt’s career. The Lions almost were able to get the ball while it was in the end zone, but it went out before a couple of pursuing players could get there.