Case Closed: Ravens Do Not Have Quarterback Savior

Elvis Grbac threw two touchdown passes, and so did Stoney Case. Unfortunately for the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs scored on all four plays.

The Chiefs turned two interceptions into touchdowns in a 35-8 victory Thursday night.

Kansas City (4-2) had only 80 yards in the first half and 132 through three quarters, but it didn’t matter. That’s because the Chief defense repeatedly frustrated Case, who completed 15 of 37 passes for 103 yards with three interceptions before being replaced in the fourth quarter by Tony Banks.

“Probably the most disappointing loss of my career. I can’t remember one this bad,” said Case, mainly a backup in his four-year NFL career. “Obviously I didn’t play very well, didn’t throw the ball very well. I threw two touchdowns to them.”

James Hasty’s 56-yard return on an interception made the score 14-0 in the third quarter, and that was enough for the Chiefs to hand the Ravens (2-4) their second consecutive loss under first-year Coach Brian Billick. It was Baltimore’s worst home defeat since the team moved from Cleveland before the 1996 season.

The conservative game plan of Kansas City Coach Gunther Cunningham worked well enough and the Chief defense came within four minutes of the team’s first road shutout in 26 years.

“We played the game to plan,” said Cunningham, whose team ran for more yards (112) than it passed for (106). “I know our running game wasn’t pretty in the first half, but we play beat-’em-up football. What we do is keep the ball real tight inside. It’s really smashmouth football.”

After Grbac connected with Tony Gonzalez for a touchdown for the second time in the game--a 22-yard play for a 21-0 lead with 12:37 left--Donnie Edwards intercepted Case’s pass and lateraled to Reggie Tongue, who went the final 38 yards for a 28-0 lead.

That ended the night for Case, who replaced ineffective Scott Mitchell in the second game of the season. Case, hailed by Baltimore fans after generating two comeback victories in exhibition games, now faces the prospect of losing the starting job.