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Chiefs top Cardinals to take control of AFC West

Nov 21, 2010 - 11:36 PM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Thomas Jones and Dwayne Bowe each scored twice as the Kansas City Chiefs took a 31-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jones carried 15 times for 71 yards while Bowe added six catches for 109 yards for the Chiefs (6-4), who snapped a two-game slide. Jamaal Charles ran for 88 yards on 12 carries and caught four balls for 38 yards, while quarterback Matt Cassel completed 15-of-24 passes for 193 yards and the two scores to Bowe.

"This was a big victory for us, especially in front of our home crowd," said Cassel. "In all phases we played well, offense and defense. Our run game was strong and that continues to put us in great situations and manageable situations."

The win, coupled with Oakland's loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday, gives Kansas City a one-game lead over the Raiders for the top spot in the AFC West.

Derek Anderson was 25-for-46 with 295 yards and a score, while Tim Hightower rushed for 62 yards for the Cardinals (3-7), who have dropped their last five games. Steve Breaston caught five passes for 92 yards and Larry Fitzgerald added six catches for 90 yards and a score.

"Obviously it was a very disappointing day," said Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt. "Right now as a football team we're not making the plays when we have a chance to make those plays that can change the game."

Arizona started the game with the ball and over nine plays went 51 yards and capped the drive on a Jay Feely 36-yard field goal just over 4 1/2 minutes in. The big play of the drive saw Anderson and Breaston connect on a 15-yard play on 3rd-and-5.

Late in the first, a 17-yard punt return from Javier Arenas gave Kansas City the ball at the Arizona 38. On the next play, Cassel hit Bowe for a 37-yard strike down to the one-yard line. Three plays into the second quarter, Cassel found Bowe in the end zone for a 7-3 lead.

"Dwayne has continued to make consistent progress in his game," said Kansas City head coach Todd Haley about Bowe. "I can see that this guy has changed his play and now we're seeing the fruits of his labor."

After a quick three-and-out from Arizona, the Chiefs went up by a 14-3 score as Jones plunged into the end zone from a yard out with 10:14 to play in the second to cap a five-play, 68-yard drive. Two plays before the score, a 25- yard catch by Charles set up 1st-and-goal at the one.

The Cardinals got into Kansas City territory on its final drive of the first half, but it stalled just past midfield and the Chiefs took the 11-point lead into the locker room.

The Chiefs took the opening drive of the second half 80 yards in nine plays with Jones punching the ball into the end zone from three yards out for a 21-3 lead just over five minutes in. On the previous play, Charles went 39 yards on a carry down the left sideline.

The Cards came back down the field and got into the red zone, but faced a 4th- and-7 and went to Feely for a 29-yard field goal to make it a 21-6 game with 4:55 to play in the third.

The fourth quarter saw a Ryan Succop 23-yard field goal with just over eight minutes to play and a 38-yard touchdown catch by Bowe with 4:20 to left to turn the game into a rout.

Fitzgerald's three-yard scoring reception on the final play of the game accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

The Chiefs play at Seattle next Sunday...The Cardinals host the 49ers next Monday night...Arizona wide receiver Early Doucet left the game in the second quarter after getting hit by Brandon Carr during a reception...The Chiefs have taken five of the past six games against the Cardinals...Arizona outgained Kansas City, 382-352, and controlled the ball for nearly 32 1/2 minutes.