SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 19, 2013
Chiefs 26, Eagles 16: Jamaal Charles accounted for 172 yards and scored on a short touchdown run as visiting Kansas City made head coach Andy Reid's return to Philadelphia a triumphant one.
Eric Berry returned an interception for a touchdown, Alex Smith threw for 273 yards and Ryan Succop kicked four field goals as the Chiefs (3-0) led the entire way to stay perfect under Reid, who returned to the city in which he coached for 14 years before being fired following last season.
LeSean McCoy ran for 158 yards and a touchdown, but Michael Vick was sacked five times, committed four turnovers and completed only 13-of-30 attempts for 201 yards. Vick did rush for 95 yards, but the Eagles (1-2) allowed Kansas City to control the ball for 39:07 and suffered an eighth straight home loss for only the second time in franchise history (1936-37).
Charles swept around right end for a 3-yard TD and a 23-9 lead with 12:57 to play, but Philadelphia needed only 81 seconds to answer as McCoy burst through a huge hole for a 41-yard scoring run with 11:36 remaining. The Chiefs bulldozed the Eagles into submission from there, embarking on a 15-play drive that ate up 8:15 before Succop connected from 38 yards for a 26-16 edge with 3:21 left.
The Chiefs got a 38-yard interception return from Berry and three field goals by Succop for a 16-6 halftime lead, but they failed to capitalized on four Eagles turnovers - including two interceptions by Vick. Philadelphia's lone TD in the first 30 minutes came on a 22-yard pass from Vick to Jason Avant that cut the deficit to 10-6 with 5:06 left the first quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: WR Donnie Avery had seven catches for 141 yards and LB Justin Houston recorded 3.5 sacks for the Chiefs, who became only the fifth team to start 3-0 after losing 14 games the previous season. ... McCoy suffered an injury to his right leg with 2:00 left in the first half but returned in the third quarter for Philadelphia, which is the first team in league history to open a season with three games in 11 days. ... Vick had a career-best 61-yard run that led to the Eagles' first TD, while Berry's interception was the sixth of his career and second brought back for a TD.