Chiefs Keep the Ball Away From Moss in the Clutch

Randy Moss delivered the breathtaking big play the Oakland Raiders expected when they acquired him. But when it came time for a potential game-winning drive, the Kansas City Chiefs made sure he wouldn’t get free.

Kansas City’s defense came through for a second straight week, stopping Oakland at the 10-yard line in the final minutes of a 23-17 victory Sunday night.

Trent Green offset Moss’ 64-yard touchdown catch early in the third quarter with two long field-goal drives for the Chiefs in the second half. Moss had only one catch after the touchdown.

“He’s going to make some plays. That’s Randy Moss,” Chief safety Sammy Knight said. “Hopefully we can contain him and we did that at the end.”

After Samie Parker’s fumble set up a final drive for Oakland, Kerry Collins led the Raiders (0-2) to the 10 with 1:58 to go.

On fourth down, Collins looked for Moss but he was covered, so instead he lofted a last-ditch pass to Jerry Porter. Porter leaped and had the ball on his fingertips, but Benny Sapp knocked it away.

“They had some people on him,” Collins said of Moss. “I was certainly trying to go his way. They were putting two or three guys on him.

After the Raiders took over on their 36 early in the third quarter, Collins dropped back for a play-action pass. Moss ran past Patrick Surtain and then outleaped Knight at the 20 before running it in the rest of the way. He finished with five catches for 127 yards.

The Chiefs (2-0) answered with a methodical 15-play drive that was slowed by consecutive holding calls against Jordan Black after Priest Holmes’ 20-yard run set up a first and goal at the nine. A 39-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes made the score 20-17 after three quarters.

Green then led Kansas City on an 11-play, 54-yard drive, completing key third-down passes to Parker and Tony Gonzalez to set up a 42-yard kick by Tynes.

Green completed 18 of 28 passes for 238 yards, and Holmes ran for 75 yards and a touchdown for Kansas City.

Moss was the last player introduced before the game and received the loudest cheers.

Collins was 21 for 35 for 263 yards, but was booed frequently as he often threw the ball short on third downs.