Oh, That Okoye; Chiefs Win, 20-10
Matching Seattle’s defense against Christian Okoye and Kansas City’s hulking offensive line is like asking Sugar Ray Leonard to take a swing at Mike Tyson.
“Just not big enough,” Chief guard Mark Adickes said Sunday after Kansas City beat the Seahawks, 20-10.
“We knew we were bigger than them and that constituted the game plan,” said Adickes, part of an offensive line that outweighed Seattle’s defensive front seven an average of about 30 pounds per man.
Okoye, increasing his NFL-leading rushing total to 936 yards, carried a club-record 37 times for 126 yards and one touchdown. The 260-pound fullback from Azusa Pacific, heavier than all but two of Seattle’s defensive linemen, said he was “only a little bit tired.”
“It doesn’t matter how much you weigh,” said Okoye, who gained 156 yards in a 20-16 victory at Seattle on Oct. 8. “What is most important is the blocking, and it was very, very good all day long.”
Steve Pelluer, making his first start since being obtained last month in a trade with Dallas, totaled 80 yards passing and 69 rushing, including a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Chiefs a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.
“It’s not hard when they write all the plays on your wrist for you,” Pelluer said laughing. “Having a fullback like Christian Okoye helps, too. He’s great.”
The victory gave the Chiefs (4-5) their first season sweep of the Seahawks (4-5) since 1981.
Bottled up all day by the Chiefs’ defense, Seattle managed only 39 yards rushing, less than Pelluer alone, and got its lone touchdown in the first two minutes when Nesby Glasgow returned a controversial fumble 38 yards.
The Chiefs held a huge advantage in time of possession, 41:16 to 18:44.
Nick Lowery, set up by Louis Cooper’s recovery of Dave Krieg’s fumble in the fourth quarter, kicked a 33-yard field goal with 5:37 left to give the Chiefs a 10-point lead in the fumble-marred game.
The Seahawks, harried all day by Kansas City blitzes, lost four of eight fumbles and lost 36 yards in five quarterback sacks.