Defense Seizes Control

Here’s a switch: The Chiefs’ defense is apologizing for being imperfect, not for being awful.

The Chiefs’ revamped defense -- the product of a busy, wheeling-and-dealing off-season -- came within 29 seconds of handing the New York Jets their first shutout in almost 10 years.

A 27-7 victory Sunday over the mistake-prone Jets proved a major pick-me-up for a defense that the last three seasons has not finished higher than 29th.

“We really wanted that shutout at the end. I know our fans did too,” said defensive end Eric Hicks, who blocked a field-goal attempt when rookie Mike Nugent slipped. “I’m sorry we couldn’t get it for them.”

Kansas City started fast on offense too -- Larry Johnson rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns in nine carries, and Priest Holmes rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Spurred on by newcomers such as Sammy Knight, Patrick Surtain and Derrick Johnson, the defense forced seven fumbles and recovered two. Surtain was injured, but the Chiefs didn’t expect his concussion to keep him out for long.

Jet quarterback Chad Pennington was sacked three times and intercepted once. Curtis Martin was limited to 57 yards in 20 carries -- 139 fewer than he had in last year’s opener against Cincinnati en route to the NFL rushing title.

“There’s nothing like having talent,” Coach Dick Vermeil said. “Our draft and free agency were good, and then the maturity of the kids that were already here blended together.”

Backup Jay Fiedler enabled the Jets to avoid their first shutout since Dec. 24, 1995, when he connected with Chris Baker on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds to go.

“I wish we could have made more of a game of it, but it wasn’t,” Jet Coach Herman Edwards said.

On their first three possessions, the Chiefs had touchdown drives of 75 and 95 yards and a 41-yard field goal. Holmes had a 35-yard run on the first drive, then Johnson, who is challenging him for playing time, finished it off with a 35-yard dash into the end zone.