KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Finally.
After a trio of demoralizing losses to open the 2011 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs finally got it right — thanks to Ryan Succop tying a franchise record with five field goals and a 52-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown from quarterback Matt Cassel to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
The much-maligned Cassel hooked up with Bowe on the pass play early in the fourth quarter, and the Chiefs held on to beat the Vikings 22-17 in a battle of winless teams Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Terrific game for our team,” Kansas City head coach Todd Haley said of his 1-3 Chiefs. “I thought all week that we built on last week (a narrow 20-17 loss at San Diego) and we had to get better in finer areas of the game. Overall, I was impressed with our guys and how hard they fought all week.”
A sideline argument between Cassel and Haley during the second quarter seemed to be the spark the Chiefs needed to finally break the win column. After the exchange, Cassel completed 15 of his final 22 passes for 202 yards. He finished 18-for-29 for 260 yards and no interceptions.
Cassel and Haley barked at each other after a third-down pass that Cassel threw into the Arrowhead Stadium grass. Fullback Le’Ron McClain got between the two to defuse the situation.
“Everybody at that point was just frustrated with that one play,” said McClain, referencing to the incompletion on third-and-goal at the 6. “I just saw them coming at each other, just talking or whatever, but it’s like family issues, where there’s arguing.”
Operating out of the shotgun formation, Cassel spiked the ball after finding no open receivers at the 5:22 mark in the second quarter, forcing the Chiefs to kick a field goal.
Cassel and Haley exchanged words after Cassel came off the field.
“I give a lot of motivational speeches throughout the game,” Haley said, breaking into a smile. “Matt wasn’t perfect, but I don’t think any of us are and he understands that, too.
“None of our coaches are, either. (Cassel) battled throughout that game and, once again, what he showed, one of his great qualities is the ability to keep fighting and keep bouncing back and he did it throughout the game.”
Succup kicked his second field goal, a 24-yarder at the 5:18 mark, following the disagreement, but the Chiefs still trailed 7-6.
After that, Succup got his third field goal, a 51-yarder as time expired in the first half, giving the Chiefs a 9-7 halftime edge.
All the while, the Chiefs offense was finally started to hit on some cylinders.
After place-kicker Ryan Longwell gave the Vikings a short-lived 10-9 lead after making a 24-yard field goal with 9:15 left in the third quarter, Succop made a career-best 54-yarder at the 5:18 mark for his fourth field goal and a 12-10 Chiefs lead.
Succop capped his day by splitting the uprights on a 22-yard chip shot with nine seconds left in the third quarter to make it 15-10.
Bowe’s catch-and-run down the left sideline with 13:51 left in the fourth quarter gave the Chiefs a 22-10 lead. Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin, in man coverage on Bowe, slipped five yards downfield, enabling Bowe to get free and haul in Cassel’s pass. He also juked safety Jamarca Sanford near the 10-yard line and waltzed into the end zone.
Michael Jenkins caught a 1-yard scoring pass from Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb with 5:50 left in regulation, pulling Minnesota within 22-17, but that’s as close as they’d get.
Kansas City punter Dustin Colquitt later unloaded a 61-yard punt, planting the ball at the 17 and forcing the Vikings to try to drive 83 yards in the waning moments. Their drive died on an incompletion at the Kansas City 41, and the Chiefs ran out the clock.
Succop tied a franchise record with at least two field goals of 50-plus yards, matching Nick Lowery, who did it three times (1980, 1985 and 1987) and Lawrence Tynes (2005). He also tied a franchise record, matching Jan Stenerud (1969 twice and 1971) and Lowery (1985, 1988, 1990 and 1993) for most single-game field goals with five.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was held to 80 rushing yards in 23 carries, including only 36 in the second half.
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen managed two tackles and had two sacks for minus-6 yards.
