Chiefs Defeat Saints, 27-24, In Overtime

The New Orleans Saints remain winless on the 2012 NFL season, after falling to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24, in overtime, on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Supedome in New Orleans.

New Orleans scored on their first possession of the game for the second straight week, as Lance Moore capped off a 6-play, 83-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Drew Bress, giving the Saints a quick 7-0 lead.

That turned out to be the lone touchdown of the first half however, as the respective defenses held the opposing offenses to field goals the rest of the half.

Kansas City got a 25-yard field goal from Ryan Succop, his first of six on the day, at the 4:56 mark of the initial quarter to cut the Saints' lead to 10-3.

Garrett Hartley connected on a 40-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter for the Saints, extending their lead to 10-3.

The Chiefs drew closer at the 4:46 mark of the second quarter, as Succop hit on a 45-yard field goal, making it 10-6.

New Orleans had another opportunity to score near the 1:00 mark of the second quarter, but Garrett Hartley missed on a 38-yard field goal attempt, his first miss of the year, making the halftime score 10-6, Saints.

New Orleans outgained Kansas City in terms of total yards in the first half, 218-177.

The Saints took advantage of a disputed Dexter McCluster fumble to score on their first possession of the second half, as Brees connected with Jimmy Graham on a 1-yard pass, capping off a 5-play-19-yard drive, giving them a 17-6 advantage at the 13:10 mark of the third quarter.

Later in the third quarter, Jabari Greer intercepted a Matt Cassel pass, and then five plays later, Brees hit Jed Collins with a six-yard pass, giving the Saints a 24-6 lead at the 5:41 mark of the third period.

Those would be the last points that the Saints would score however, and the Chiefs went on to score 21 unanswered points.

Just when it looked like New Orleans was getting ready to put Kansas City away, the chiefs struck right back, when Jamaal Charles sprinted 91 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage on the very next possession, cutting the Saints' lead to 24-13, at the 5:32 mark of the third quarter.

The Saints took that 24-13 advantage into the third quarter, but the Chiefs drew closer, as Succop nailed a 34-yard field goal, making the score 24-16, New Orleans, at the 13:40 mark of the fourth quarter.

Succop then hit his fourth field goal of the game at the 9:16 mark of the final period, this one from 38 yards, to cap off a nine-play, 50-yard drive, to cut the New Orleans lead to 24-19.

The Chiefs got to within a field goal at the 5:40 mark, when Justin Houston tackled Brees in the end zone for a safety, making the score 24-21.

Kansas City got the ball back, and Succop did it yet again, hitting a 43-yard field goal with only eight seconds left, his fifth of the afternoon, to bring the game into overtime.

The Chiefs got the football first in the extra frame, and although they couldn't score, they pinned the Saints deep in their own territory, at their own  3-yard line.

New Orleans was unable to gain a single yard and had to punt the ball away, giving Kansas City the ball at their own 47-yard line.

The Chiefs took advantage, marching down the field, and setting up Succop for a 31-yard field goal, which he hit, for his franchise-record sixth field goal, giving the Chiefs the three-point win.

Kansas City was able to outgain New Orleans in terms of total yards, 510-288, including a 333-70 advantage in the second half.

Charles led the way for the Chiefs, rushing for 233 yards, and a score, on 33 carries.

In a losing cause for the Saints, Brees completed 20-of-36 passes, for 240 yards, and three touchdowns.

With the win, the Chiefs improved to 1-2 on the year, while the Saints fell to 0-3.

The Saints return to action next Sunday, when they travel to Green Bay to face the Packers.

View the game box score.