Ravens 9, Chiefs 6
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Coming off a 10-day break, the Baltimore Ravens had a tough time getting into gear Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
But thanks to the giving ways of the home team, the Ravens moved to 4-1 on the season with a 9-6 victory in a game with plenty of turnovers and offensive yards but no touchdowns.
Baltimore rookie kicker Justin Tucker made all three of his field-goal attempts, and that would be all the points Baltimore needed against the Chiefs (1-4).
Kansas City came into the game as the NFL leader with 18 giveaways in four games. That's now 22 giveaways in five games after two interceptions by Matt Cassel and two lost fumbles.
Cassel left the game early in the fourth quarter after taking a blow to the head. He did not return.
Takeaways helped set up all three of Baltimore's field goals and continued a trend in which the Chiefs try to win while shooting themselves in the foot.
Baltimore had two turnovers, but the Chiefs' answer for those gifts was to turn possession back over to the Ravens in each case.
A Chiefs turnover set up the only score of the first quarter. The exchange between Cassel and rookie running back Cyrus Gray resulted in a fumble, and Ravens defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu recovered at the Kansas City 42-yard line. Baltimore moved to the 12-yard line, but the Kansas City defense stiffened and allowed only a 28-yard field goal by Tucker for a 3-0 Ravens lead.
A pass from Cassel to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe bounced through Bowe's arms and into the hands of Baltimore cornerback Lardarius Webb for another giveaway by the Chiefs. The Ravens were not able to turn the gift into points, as they punted.
A 25-yard punt return by wide receiver Terrance Copper gave the Chiefs better field position, and they were able to take advantage for the first time on the afternoon. They had first-and-goal at the Baltimore 7-yard line, but then went backwards with a 5-yard penalty, an 8-yard loss on a run and then a 2-yard loss on a run. They eventually settled for a 30-yard field goal from Ryan Succop that tied the score 3-3.
That's how it remained through intermission.
The turnovers resumed on the opening kickoff of the second half, as Baltimore returner Deonte Thompson coughed up the ball, and it was recovered by Chiefs linebacker Edgar Jones. On first-and-goal at the Ravens' 1-yard line, Cassel fumbled a quarterback sneak, and safety Ed Reed recovered. That led to a 26-yard Tucker field goal.
Near the end of the third quarter, a Cassel pass to Bowe sailed high, bounced off the receiver's hands and was grabbed by Baltimore cornerback Cary Williams. Nine plays later, Tucker made a 39-yard field goal.
The Chiefs added a fourth quarter field goal, but that was all the scoring on what was a day for defense.
During the pregame, an airplane circled the stadium pulling a banner that read "We deserve better. Fire Pioli! Bench Cassel!" Scott Pioli is the Chiefs' general manager.
