Game Day

Seahawks vs. Chiefs Saturday, August 29, 2009 7:00 PM
1 2 3 4 Total Seahawks 0 7 7 0 14 Chiefs 7 0 0 3 10 Final

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Kansas City – The Kansas Chiefs suffered a 14-10 setback vs. Seattle on Saturday night. Kansas City had one last opportunity to construct a scoring drive, getting the ball back at its own 18-yard line with 3:36 left in contest, but QB Matt Guiterrez was picked off on third and 22 with 1:13 left, effectively sealing the Seattle win.

Seattle took a 14-7 lead with 10:37 left in the third quarter when QB Matt Hasselbeck hit TE John Carlson on a 28-yard TD on the Seahawks opening possession in the second half that eventually decided the contest. Kansas City cut Seattle’s lead to 14-10 early in the fourth quarter on a K Ryan Succop 35-yard field goal, but could get no closer.

Kansas City won the coin toss and RB Jamaal Charles took the game’s opening kickoff 35 yards to the Chiefs 35-yard line. Three plays into the game, QB Matt Cassel was sacked. He left the field with a leg injury and did not return. QB Tyler Thigpen took the helm and would play into the third quarter.

The Chiefs first takeaway of the 2009 preseason was a big one. CB Brandon Flowers returned a Hasselbeck pass tipped by DE Tyson Jackson for a 28-yard TD to give the Chiefs a 7-0 advantage early with 11:21 left in the first quarter.

The Seahawks put together a solid drive on their second possession that included a 31-yard pass from Hasselbeck to WR Nate Burleson. Their drive came to a halt at the Kansas City 33-yard line and a 51-yard field goal attempt by K Olindo Mare sailed wide left, marking the first of three missed FGs by Chiefs kickers on the evening.

After exchanging punts, the Chiefs offense found rhythm in their running game behind RB Larry Johnson and Charles. Charles broke loose for a 31-yard jaunt putting KC in scoring position to end the first quarter, but K Ryan Succop misfired for the first time this preseason, pushing a 28-yard FG attempt wide left.

Seattle put together an impressive march to open the second quarter. Beginning at their own 20-yard line, the Seahawks orchestrated a drive that went 14 plays for 72 yards eating over six minutes off the clock. However, the Chiefs defense stiffened in the Red Zone, forcing another field goal attempt. Mare’s second opportunity – this time from 27 yards out – again drifted wide left keeping the count at 7-0 in favor of the Chiefs.

Kansas City got into Seattle territory on its next possession, but couldn’t convert on third and two from the Seahawks 49-yard line. Both clubs would exchange punts again before a 17-yard punt return by Seattle RB Justin Forsett set the Seahawks up at their own 48-yard line with 2:07 remaining in the half. Seattle went to work in its two-minute offense. With two timeouts remaining, Hasselbeck caught fire hitting WR Deion Branch for a five-yard strike on third and two. He then connected with Houshmandzadeh on successive plays for 13 and then 14 yards, getting the Seahawks down to the KC eight-yard line. Hasselbeck went to the well one more time, connecting with Houshmandzadeh on a quick out for TD capping off a seven-play, 48-yard drive to tie the score at 7-7 with 0:56 left in the first half.

But Kansas City displayed some two-minute muster of its own, cooking up a four-play, 30-yard drive to set up Succop for his second attempt of the game. His 53-yard attempt was just short, hitting the crossbar and keeping the score knotted at 7-7 to end the first half.

Seattle took the opening kickoff of the second half and promptly mounted a nine-play, 74-yard TD behind Hasselbeck. Posed with second and eight at the Chiefs 48-yard line, he hit TE John Carlson for a 20-yard connection. Then, he connected with Carlson again on the very next play for a 28-yard TD to put Seattle ahead 14-7 with 10:37 left in the third quarter.

The Chiefs offense went three-and-out on their next possession. QB Seneca Wallace entered the game in place of Hasselbeck who finished the night 19 of 25 for 216 yards with two TDs and an interception for a 111.4 rating. Wallace led the Seahawks to the Kansas City 31-yard line, but K Brandon Coutu couldn’t take advantage of it. He came up short on a 50-yard FG attempt.

After the two clubs exchanged punts again, QB Matt Gutierrez took control of the Chiefs offense at the 20-yard line with 0:34 left in the third quarter. Gutierrez completed all five of his passes for 65 yards in a drive that consumed eight plays and 73 yards. Kansas City was unable to convert on third and nine at the Seattle 18-yard line, setting up Succop for his third field goal attempt. Succop’s 35-yard field goal trimmed Seattle’s to 14-10 with 11:54 to play.

Seattle mounted another lengthy drive on its next possession, penetrating to the Chiefs 39-yard line. Kansas City got off the field and took over at its own 20-yard line following a Seahawks punt. However, Gutierrez was intercepted on the next snap by CB Marquis Floyd at the KC 46-yard line with 6:24 remaining. However, Seattle could manage just one first down, punting the ball back to the Chiefs.

Kansas City had one final opportunity to orchestrate a scoring drive, getting the ball at its own 18-yard line with 3:36 remaining. Gutierrez connected with WR Rodney Wright for 16 yards to move the chains on third down and then hit WR Amani Toomer for 13 yards to get the Chiefs out the 47-yard line. Completions to WR Ashley Lelie and WR Quinten Lawrence got the Chiefs to the Seattle 39, but back-to-back sacks pushed the Chiefs back to their own 49-yard line. On third and 22, Gutierrez’s pass was intercepted by LB Will Herring, effectively sealing the Seahawks 14-10 victory.

Kansas City concludes its preseason schedule with a Governor’s Cup matchup at St. Louis on Thursday evening at the Edward Jones Dome.