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Nugent's kick in overtime lifts Jets over Chiefs

Dec 31, 2007 - 5:01 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Kansas City Chiefs coach Herman Edwards should have known that Mike Nugent was made of sterner stuff.

Nugent kicked a game-winning 43-yard field goal despite a holding call and two timeouts called by Edwards as the New York Jets captured a 13-10 overtime victory over the Chiefs on Sunday.

Nugent, who was a rookie kicker when Edwards was the coach of the Jets in 2005, appeared to end the contest and the season for both teams when he shook off a timeout called by the Kansas City coach to kick a 33-yarder with 9:57 left in the extra period.

However, the kick was nullified after long snapper James Death was called for a hold.

Before the third-year kicker could try another attempt, Edwards called another timeout in an endeavor to ice Nugent, who was able to guide a knuckling kick through the middle of the uprights to halt a three-game losing streak for New York (4-12).

"I didn't see the flag on the first attempt," Nugent said. "Things like that can happen.

"I don't like to look at how many timeouts the opponent has. I never want to go into a kick assuming that they are going to call timeout. The Steelers didn't use a timeout in a similar situation. The first attempt turned out like a practice kick."

Apparently, Edwards did not think that his ploy to distract Nugent with the timeouts would work due to his past experience with the kicker.

"No. I drafted Nugent," he said. "He's a good kicker."

The kick sealed an unsuccessful return to Giants Stadium for Edwards, who went 39-41 with three playoff appearances in five seasons with the Jets from 2001-05.

The Chiefs (4-12) also absorbed their ninth consecutive loss to finish with their first 12-loss season since 1978. The losing streak is the team's longest since a nine-game slide in 1987.

"It's been a trying season for everyone, our organization, our fans, for everyone," Edwards said. "With all that we went through, the players always gave effort. We couldn't make plays at times and that's the difference in the season. Am I glad it's over? Yes, I'm glad it's over."

Despite the struggles, young Brodie Croyle showed some flashes for a potential bright future, leading Kansas City on a nine-play, 83-yard drive that tied the score at 10-10 with 2:59 remaining in regulation.

The 24-year-old quarterback went 6-of-8 on the drive for 81 yards, including a 26-yard scoring pass to Jeff Webb.

Playing in his ninth game of the season, Croyle threw for 195 yards, completing 20-of-43 attempts.

"I learned something in every game," he said. "Every game is a learning experience and every practice is a learning experience. I want to improve every week and I feel that, for the most part, I was able to do that."

The contest remained tied until New York running back Thomas Jones came alive in overtime, rushing five times for 36 yards to help set up Nugent's second field goal of the game.

"It felt good to get in there and have some consistent positive runs and get into a groove," Jones said. "The line did a very good job getting off the ball and giving me some cracks to run through."

Jones finished with 98 yards on 25 carries and caught a touchdown on a shovel pass from Kellen Clemens early in the second quarter to open the scoring.

Sidelined in last week's 10-6 loss at Tennessee with a rib injury, Clemens finished 13-of-25 for 125 yards to improved to 3-4 since being named the starter in Week Nine.

Nugent also kicked a 27-yard field goal with 13 seconds before halftime, giving the Jets a 10-3 lead.

Despite the loss, Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez provided a bright spot by becoming the all-time leader in receptions at his position with 820, passing Shannon Sharpe.

"Honestly, it's the only positive thing I can take from this season," Gonzalez said. "I was able to go out there and surpass a great tight end, Shannon Sharpe. Individually, it's been a good year for me, but team-wise, which really counts at this point in my career, it's kind of bitter-sweet."