Final
Huard, Johnson spark Chiefs to win over struggling Rams
Nov 5, 2006 - 9:20 PM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Damon Huard and Larry Johnson have become just as effective on the road as they are at home.Huard threw three touchdown passes and Johnson had a big day on the ground as the Kansas City Chiefs posted a 31-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in the latest edition of their interconference rivalry.
Kansas City entered its first meeting with St. Louis since 2002 with offensive momentum, having scored 30 and 35 points the last two weeks in wins over San Diego and Seattle. But those contests came at home.
On the road, the Chiefs had scored a total of 36 points while going 1-2. Huard and Johnson helped Kansas City (5-3) nearly match that point total Sunday.
"My hats off to this football team going on the road and finally winning a game against a team that had a winning record," Chiefs coach Herman Edwards said. "We talked about that all week. We talked about a different kind of mindset.
"We haven't been a very good football team in the past of winning games on the road. I thought we came out very very fast. We got some turnovers we capitalized on the turnovers."
Johnson feasted on the league's 27th-ranked run defense, racking up 172 yards on 27 carries. He opened the scoring with a one-yard TD run late in the first quarter.
Despite his third straight game with over 130 yards and posting a new season-high, Johnson was not satisfied.
"I do feel a little disappointed. I do feel that we left 200 yards of rushing out there on the field," he said. "The way we were going out there and just pushing them backwards and shaking things up, we should have done more out there today."
With Johnson piling up the yards, Huard wasn't called on to put the ball up much, but when he did he was extremely effective. Improving to 5-2 since filling in for the injured Trent Green, Huard completed 10-of-15 passes for 148 yards.
"It is all about winning. When the team wins, you feel good," Huard said. "I think when you win games on the road you gain special confidence. That is what we did today and we hope to carry that to the game next week against Miami.
Huard connected with tight end Tony Gonzalez for scores of three and 25 yards in the second quarter to help the Chiefs open a 24-10 advantage.
St Louis (4-4) has now lost three straight and continues to struggle defensively. The Rams have allowed 30 or more points in each of their last three games and squandered a huge outing from running back Steven Jackson on Sunday.
Jackson rushed for 86 yards and a TD on 19 carries and had 13 catches for 133 yards.
"We had three setbacks. We played three pretty good teams that probably factored into it," Rams coach Scott Linehan said. "We just haven't played well enough. I haven't seen one thing that makes me discouraged of how we compete or how we fight."
The Rams outgained the Chiefs, 452-317 but lost the turnover battle 3-0 and Kansas City took advantage of St. Louis' generosity.
The Chiefs scored 17 points in the first half off of three Rams fumbles. Dane Looker muffed a punt leading to Johnson's TD run, Marc Bulger lost a fumble on a sack setting up Gonzalez's first TD catch and Jackson lost a fumble resulting in a 42-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes.
"We had a ton of yards but when you turn the ball over that's the key in this league," Bulger said. "Two weeks in a row it's hurt us and we have to make a conscious effort to get better."
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