Rams close preseason with 21-17 loss to Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brodie Croyle directed two quick touchdown drives against the St. Louis reserves and the Kansas City offense grabbed some much-needed momentum with a 21-17 victory over the Rams on Thursday night.

The only projected Rams starter who did not take the night off in the final preseason game was center Nick Leckey. Everyone else was either a second- or third-teamer as coach Scott Linehan took a long look at players competing for the final roster spots.

The Chiefs, coming off a demoralizing 24-0 shutout at the hands of a Miami team that was 1-15 last season, had a more urgent craving. They were looking for confidence and momentum going into their regular-season opener next week at New England.

After the start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 26 minutes by a rain and wind storm, Marcus Riley recovered Dantrell Savage's fumble on the kickoff and the Rams took a 3-0 lead on Josh Brown's 35-yard field goal.

But the rest of the quarter belonged to the Chiefs, who snapped off two brisk touchdown drives against the Rams reserves, capped each time by touchdown runs by Kolby Smith.

Croyle, who was handed the quarterback job in the spring, attempted only four passes and hit three for 42 yards. Smith ended a seven-play, 62-yard drive with a 14-yard run after Croyle scrambled for three yards for a first down.

Then against the second- and third-team defense of the Rams, the Chiefs moved 56 yards in nine plays for a 14-3 lead with 1:49 left in the quarter.

The only starters for the Chiefs (2-2) not on the field for the first quarter were tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson, possibly held out for fear of being injured on the wet turf.

Reserve quarterback Damon Huard took over in the third period and made it 21-3 with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Sippio, who beat veteran cornerback David Macklin in the end zone after the Chiefs had taken over on their own 31 when Brian Johnston recovered Travis Minor's fumble.

The Rams (2-2) made it 21-10 with 10 seconds left in the half on Brock Berlin's 20-yard scoring pass to Dane Looker.

In the first minute of the fourth quarter, Lance Ball's 2-yard touchdown run capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive for the Rams that made it 21-17.

Trent Green started at quarterback for the Rams and played only one series, missing his only pass attempt. Berlin was 13-for-21 for 107 yards, mostly against the Chiefs' reserves.

The Chiefs did not have much chance to make one more effort at sorting out their two place kickers. Nick Novak and Connor Barth alternated on kicking extra points and each took a turn at kickoffs but neither had an opportunity to attempt a field goal.

Brown was wide right on a 40-yard attempt in the scoreless third quarter.

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said the long delay loosened up the Chiefs.

"We didn't play that well last week. We played a little tight early. But offensively, I thought we did some good things tonight. I thought our defense played well. We got a turnover and we scored off a turnover."

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