Since mid 2007, no other NFL team has been as bad as the Chiefs. Somehow all of the mistakes and losing seem to disappear when Kansas City visits Oakland.

On a run of 44 yards, Jamaal Charles scored to give Kansas City their first rushing touchdown this season, and Kansas City took advantage of an interception late in the game to win on Sunday 16-10 for the seventh time in a row on the road versus Oakland.

Dwayne Bowe, receiver said, we have a winning streak I guess. Every time we are playing a division team it is our goal to win the game. But when we play against the Raiders there is the hated rivalry. All week coach stressed it. Hate the Raiders. We have to defeat the Raiders.

It is practically the only thing that the Chiefs (2-7) have been able to get done lately. Kansas City has only managed to win five out of their last 35 games. However three of the wins have been in the Oakland Coliseum. Kansas City holds the longest visiting team winning streak there.

Ryan Succop had three field goals, while the Chiefs were able to pull out a close game once again versus the Raiders playing in Oakland. It was the first game for Kansas City since the release of Larry Johnson, former running back. Charles was able to step in and rush for 103 yards and got the only touchdown for Kansas City on a fourth down and one play during the second quarter. The touchdown was the first rushing one for Kansas City since December 21, 2008 when Tyler Thigpen had one versus Miami.

Charles said, I fell like I am getting a chance to play. I am trying to really take the spot over. I don’t want just to take it over. I want us to win. It isn’t about taking the job over. It is about who can make the plays.

On the opening drive Oakland scored a touchdown, but after that only managed to get three points along with 202 yards. For their second home game in a row, Oakland benched JaMarcus Russell, their former No. 1 overall draft pick due to ineffectiveness.

Last month Russell was benched during the first half playing against the Jets after he committed three turnovers in the first half. This week Russell was able to last until the second half before he was replaced with Bruce Gradkowski late third quarter after he went 8 out of 23 for a total of 64 yards. Russell stated that he was disappointed and surprised by the decision of coach Tom Cable.

Russell said, it was going ok. We were not able to move the ball toward the end as well.

A change didn’t give Oakland any immediate spark. Gradkowski was unable to get the first down following a fumble that gave Oakland the ball on Kansas City’s 49 yard line. Then during the next drive Gradkowski had a tipped pass intercepted by Mike Brown which gave Kansas City the ball on Oakland’s 47 yard line.

Kansas City drove the football all the way to the 11 yard line before they settled for a field goal of 31 yards from Succop, giving them a lead of 16-10 with just 6:17 left.

Gradkowski then led Oakland down to the 26 yard line of Kansas City before Darrius Heyward-Bey, a rookie, bobbled a pass while inside the ten yard line. The ball got intercepted by Brown to seal the game.

Gradkowski said, it is a tough thing to swallow. It kind of summed things up today. There were plays that we needed to make.

Cable stated that before deciding who his starter will be against Cincinnati next week that he wanted to review the game film. He did blame the eight dropped passes for some of their poor play, but also said that Russell did miss receivers that were open too often.

Cable said, the game is all about making the plays. We didn’t do it, whether JaMarcus or Bruce was in there. All I am looking for is the guy who will give us our best chance of winning.

Oakland was playing with an offense that was healthy for the very first time this season and started out fast. The sixty yard run of Michael Bush set up Justin Fargas’ one yard plunge for the touchdown. The only other score for Oakland was a field goal of fifty yards from Sebastian Janikowski, following a muffed punt from Dantrell Savage late first quarter.

Note
There was a play during the third quarter that did provide some comic relief. Following a catch of 12 yards, Dwayne Bowe of Kansas City fumbled the football. Six players at least had a chance of falling on the football. However the ball kept on squirting down the field. Finally Brian Waters, offensive lineman, fell on the ball on Oakland’s 22 yard line to give Kansas City an additional 23 yards. The Chiefs were not able to capitalize after Matt Cassel on fourth down and one threw a pass incomplete. During the third quarter Janikowski missed a field goal from 45 yards which ended his streak of making 20 in a row.