Kenney Returns and Lights a Fire Under Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs Coach Frank Gansz was looking for a spark. Quarterback Bill Kenney gave him a bonfire.

Kenney, making his first start in three games, threw a pair of touchdown passes, and the Chiefs snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 27-20 victory over the Detroit Lions Thursday.

“It’s a feeling of joy, there’s nothing like it in the world,” Gansz said in the Chiefs’ dressing room. “You know your efforts have really paid off.”

The Chiefs’ offense, which had gone without a touchdown for 13 quarters, came to life under Kenney, who completed 18 of 26 passes for 246 yards. It was only the third time this season that the Chiefs (2-9) have passed for more than 200 yards.

Kenney, who missed two games with an injured wrist, threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Hayes in the first quarter and a 13-yard scoring strike to Paul Coffman in the second quarter.

“The coaches gave me the opportunity, and I think I moved the ball very effectively throughout most of the game,” Kenney said. “We took our chances today. We did it and that’s what counts. I’ll do the same thing next week.”

Detroit Coach Darryl Rogers, whose job could be in jeopardy, met with club owner William Clay Ford for several minutes after the game.

“Any owner who watched a game like this wouldn’t be pleased with this performance,” Rogers said. “It’s difficult to be pleased when your team loses.”

Herman Heard, who rushed for a career-high 87 yards in 14 carries, scored on a two-yard run for the Chiefs, and Nick Lowery kicked field goals of 52 and 54 yards. Lowery, the only National Football League player to kick two field goals of more than 50 yards in a game, did it for the second time.

“It’s kind of funny,” Lowery said. “We practiced some 50-yarders, all of which came up short, in the wet and the cold of K.C. two days ago, and I was pretty frustrated, but I also knew it was going to be different in decent conditions and that’s exactly what happened.”

Karl Bernard, starting in place of injured Garry James, turned in the best game by a Detroit running back this season, gaining 99 yards in 20 carries, including an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that got the Lions within 14-7.

“It’s disappointing to lose anytime,” Bernard said. “It doesn’t matter what you do individually, it’s the team winning or losing that counts.”

Ed Murray, who missed a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter, connected from 48 yards in the second quarter and from 37 yards in the third for the Lions (2-9).

Chuck Long, who completed 21 of 41 passes for 206 yards, threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Gary Ellerson for Detroit with 1:48 left.

“I’ll give you the same old answer to your questions; we came up short again,” Long said. “Losing is affecting me. I don’t like to lose. This is not a patient city, and it shouldn’t be.”

Added Long: “We expected to beat them, but we didn’t take them lightly. We needed a big win, and we expected it.

“That’s the attitude we had, so we’re disappointed. You have to give a lot of credit to Kansas City. They wanted it, too, and they got it.”

The Chiefs continued to throw even though they had the lead, and Kenney said that was one of the keys to the victory.

“I wasn’t going to just sit on a lead,” he said.