Chiefs' Green engineers comeback win over Raiders

Updated: Nov 19, 2006, 09:20 pm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Trent Green looked and felt just like

new. He was at his best when Kansas City needed him most.

After passing for barely 50 yards in his return from a 10-week

layoff, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback coolly threw for 50 yards

in one game-winning fourth-quarter drive. Hitting three of five in

the final minutes, Green set up Larry Johnson's 1-yard go-ahead

touchdown run and rallied the sluggish Chiefs past injury-riddled

Oakland 17-13.

Margin of victory

Trent Green
Green
Trent Green has led the Chiefs to seven straight wins against the Raiders, but the victory margin was seven points or less in all seven. That equals the second-longest such streak in NFL history (that is, consecutive wins by seven points or less vs. one team). The Eagles had an eight-game streak vs. the Redskins (1992-1996).
Week Result
2006, Week 11 17-13
2005, Week 9 27-23
2005, Week 2 23-17
2004, Week 16 31-30
2004, Week 13 34-27
2003 Week 12 27-24
2003, Week 7 17-10

"The majority of games in this league come down to the fourth

quarter, and finding ways to get that done," said Green, who

couldn't even drive the first couple of weeks after suffering a

severe concussion on Sept. 10.

"I just feel proud I was able to contribute to that part of it

and make some throws when we needed."

The Raiders held a 13-10 lead when the Chiefs (6-4) took the

ball on their 20 with 4:53 to play. He hit 3-of-5, including passes

of 10 and 16 yards to Samie Parker and a beauty of a 24-yard gainer

to Eddie Kennison.

Johnson, with 1:32 to play, squeezed into the end zone, capping

a two-touchdown, 159-yard rushing game on his 27th birthday.

"I wouldn't say I had any extra butterflies. I was just so

anxious to get the thing started waking up this morning," said

Green, who was a conservative 9-of-16 for 102 yards. "It's been

hard, especially these last two or three weeks when I felt really

good and felt like I could go out and play."

The Raiders (2-8) also made a quarterback switch, starting Aaron

Brooks over Andrew Walter for the first time since Sept. 17. Brooks

hit Ronald Curry for a 39-yard gain to the Chiefs 8 with 32 seconds

left. But safety Jarrad Page intercepted his next pass intended for

Randy Moss in the end zone.

"That was not a game-saving play," said cornerback Patrick

Surtain. "That was a season-saver."

Oakland's NFL-worst offense had already suffered two key

injuries, losing starting running back Lamont Jordan to a knee

injury in the first quarter and left tackle Robert Gallery to a

dislocated elbow in the third. The Raiders said Jordan had a torn

knee ligament and is likely out for the year. Gallery had a

dislocated elbow.

"That was a very tough loss for us," said Raiders coach Art

Shell. "Hopefully, one day we can get this thing turned around,

and I believe we will."

Brooks was 13-for-22 for 179 yards.

"His effort shows what he is capable of doing," Shell said.

Green's winning drive was also keyed by a gutsy call to go for

it on fourth-and-one from the Kansas City 29. Johnson seemed to get

the first down, but then 15 yards were tacked on because of a face

mask penalty against Oakland lineman Terdell Sands.

Scouts Inc.'s take ...

Trent Green returned to the starting lineup for the Chiefs but it was Larry Johnson (right) who stole the show with 154 yards rushing and two touchdowns. It was apparent from the outset that they were just trying to get Green's feet wet. He attempted only 16 passes for the day.

It was a struggle for much of the day for Green, too, but he showed great leadership and poise on K.C.'s late fourth-quarter TD drive, hitting a few key throws. For the Raiders it was another disappointing loss. Veteran QB Aaron Brooks, who returned to the starting lineup, led them inside the 10 on a potential game-winning drive, but in true Brooks-like fashion, he threw an interception to seal the deal for the Chiefs.

"I just looked at the clock and felt at that point it was a gut

feeling," said Chiefs coach Herm Edwards.

The Chiefs took a 7-0 lead on their initial possession, with

Johnson capping a 76-yard, 11-play drive with a 5-yard TD run. But

they ran only eight plays the rest of the first half while the

Raiders dominated time of possession.

Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals of 41 and 36 yards, and

Oakland took a 13-7 lead with 19 seconds left in the first half

when Brooks hit Courtney Anderson with a 2-yard TD toss.

Lawrence Tynes kicked a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter,

but missed a 35-yarder that could have tied it in the fourth.

Green attempted only four passes in the first half. Until the

final drive, Green spent most of the day handing off to Johnson.

But Green did get roughed up a few times, even taking a good shot

to the upper body by linebacker Thomas Howard.

"I had the scramble where I think everybody kind of health

their breath, or at least I know my family did, and some of the

guys on the sidelines," Green said with a grin.

But the veteran quarterback bounced up every time and seemed

unfazed by anything, not even the absence of several injured

starters, including Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters and Pro Bowl

tight end Tony Gonzalez.

"Trent has something you really can't teach," said tight end

Jason Dunn. "A person's just got to have it, and he's one of those

people who has it. Leadership. He's a natural born leader."Game notes
Gonzalez missed his first game since 1999 with a shoulder

injury. The Raiders have lost 11 straight to AFC West opponents

since a 25-24 victory at Denver on Nov. 28, 2004. It was the

seventh straight victory for Kansas City over Oakland, all by seven

points or fewer.