Jaguars Fend Off Chiefs, Back At .500

NFL News - November 8th, 2009 - Written by John

The Kansas City Chiefs building a giant deficit and then rallying has become a tradition as long as the regular season.

Nearly every touchdown quarterback Matt Cassel has thrown this year has been in the fourth quarter, and Sunday was no different. He hit newly-acquired wideout Chris Chambers twice in the game's final three minutes, but it was only enough to cover the five-point spread. Another monster performance by Jacksonville Jaguars' wideout Mike Sims-Walker was enough for a 24-21 win at home.

Sims-Walker finished the day with 147 yards and a touchdown on six catches.

Cassel final line was 262 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 96.3 passer-rating was the second-highest this season and enabled three Kansas City receivers to have at least 70 yards through the air.

The Chiefs weren't victims of errors, simply an inability to keep the offense on the field. Jacksonville ran 13 more plays than Kansas City and gained over 150 yards more than their opponents, too.

David Garrard, who has been as inconsistent as any quarterback in the league, was nearly flawless in the first half, completing 11 of his 12 passes for 167 yards. His biggest completion went for a 61 yard-touchdown to Sims-Walker right before halftime to take a 14-6 lead into the break. He wasn't quite as sharp in the second half, but a 10-yard touchdown by Maurice-Jones Drew was the difference.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, only managed two field goals in the first half and remained absent of a an offensive spark. They didn't seem to miss suspended back Larry Johnson. The entire backfield averaged 4.3 yards per carry, almost a full two yards more than Johnson's season average.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville's running game was sparked by rookie Rashad Jennings, who scored his first career touchdown to give the Jaguars their first lead of the game late in the first quarter.

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