Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats On Nov 06, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 6, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo -- They opened the game without their starting quarterback and No. 1 running back, then lost their best wide receiver early in the first half. Even with those deletions, the Kansas City Chiefs found a way to hold on Sunday afternoon and beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14 at Arrowhead Stadium.

It was the Chiefs' fourth consecutive victory and leaves them 6-2 at the midpoint of their schedule. The Jaguars are 2-6 and have lost three consecutive games.

K.C. quarterback Alex Smith was out because of head trauma and running back Spencer Ware did not play due to a concussion. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin left the game early in the first quarter because of a groin injury. Andy Reid's offense was without three key playmakers and it showed.

The Chiefs totaled 231 offensive yards and scored just one touchdown. Matters got worse in the fourth quarter, when talented tight end Travis Kelce was ejected after picking up a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties after a non-call by the officials in the end zone.

The Chiefs defense struggled, allowing the Jaguars 449 yards, with 205 yards coming in the run game. But Kansas City forced four Jacksonville turnovers, setting up 13 of Kansas City's 19 points.

The most painful giveaway for the Jaguars came in the fourth quarter, when running back Chris Ivory (18 carries, 107 yards) was about to cross the goal line for a touchdown. The ball was knocked from his hands and Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters recovered the fumble.

Kansas City led 10-7 at halftime and that fact alone was a small victory for Jacksonville. With new offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett calling the plays, the Jaguars put themselves in several good scoring opportunities in the first half but kept shooting themselves in the foot.

Jacksonville fumbled on a punt return and quarterback Blake Bortles threw an ugly interception to K.C. linebacker Ramik Wilson. All 10 of the Chiefs points came off those turnovers thanks to short field.

Foles and wide receiver Albert Wilson connected on a 23-yard scoring pass just two plays after punt returner Bryan Walters coughed up the ball. A 26-yard field goal from Cairo Santos came after the interception, as the Kansas City offense could not take advantage of great field position at the Jaguars 13-yard line.

Just before halftime, Bortles drove the offense into Chiefs territory and got help from the Kansas City defense that was flagged for two big penalties. Bortles found wide receiver Allen Robinson at the back of the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown pass and Jacksonville headed to the locker room down by just three points.

The Jaguars' third turnover came when running back T.J. Yeldon coughed up the ball on a hit from Chiefs cornerback Phillip Gaines. K.C. cornerback Steve Nelson recovered the fumble, and that led to a 51-yard field goal from Santos. A 46-yard punt return by Tyreek Hill set up the Kansas City offense in great field position again, but the offense bogged down and eventually had to settle for a 24-yard field goal and a 16-7 lead. They added another field goal in the fourth quarter, as Santos hit from 38 yards.

After Ivory's fumble, Bortles drove the Jacksonville offense to a second touchdown, connecting on a 13-yard scoring pass to Yeldon. That left the Jaguars down five points with four minutes to play. Jacksonville had another scoring chance, but turned the ball over one downs.

NOTES: Kelce was ejected after directing his ire at the officials when they missed Jacksonville's Jalen Ramsey pulling the tight end down by his collar. Because the penalties came due to his treatment of the officials, both penalties were assessed. Kelce also figures to get a hefty fine from the NFL. ... Jacksonville wide receiver Allen Hurns left the game twice, first due to an ankle injury and then with a concussion. Rookie linebacker Myles Jack suffered a second-half hip injury and did not return.