KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tony Gonzalez had just four words for teammate Damon Huard this week.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end knew that his quarterback had a groin injury. He knew that Huard was hurting and that there was a chance he wouldn’t be able to play against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
But Gonzalez also knew that he wanted the quarterback to play.
“I told him: It’s just three hours,” Gonzalez said after Sunday’s 35-28 win over the Seahawks.
Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Huard did play. The University of Washington product played through the pain, passed for 312 yards and a touchdown, and led the Chiefs to their third win in a row.
“There was no way I was going to miss this game,” Huard said afterward. “The training staff did an unbelievable job getting me ready to go.
“Once you get out there, and you hear the fans, and the adrenaline starts rushing, how can you not play in this game?”
Huard injured his groin at Thursday’s practice, and he was questionable right up until Sunday’s kickoff. With starter Trent Green already sidelined by a concussion, rookie Brodie Croyle was next in line to start if Huard couldn’t go.
Huard warmed up before the game and felt good enough to play, and then he went out and passed for a career-high yardage total in leading the Chiefs to the win.
“Once you get into the heat of the battle, you don’t feel it much,” he said.
Seattle defenders said they couldn’t tell that Huard was hobbled at all.
“He didn’t look like” he was injured, cornerback Marcus Trufant said. “The O-line did a good job for him, and he came out and threw the ball well.”
Said Chiefs guard Brian Waters: “Damon was a warrior today.”
Line dancing: The Seahawks had to shake their lineup a bit too, but not just because of injuries.
Tom Ashworth made his first start at right tackle because of Sean Locklear’s one-game suspension, while Chris Spencer and Rob Sims both saw time at left guard.
Spencer started the game and played the first and fourth quarters, while Sims, a rookie, saw time at the position in the second and third quarters. The coaches decided to audition Sims at the position because Spencer has been inconsistent there.
“It was hard to get into a rhythm, but I think we both handled it pretty well,” Sims said. “We both went in there, played hard, and got it done.”
Floyd Womack, who started the opener, is expected back this week. The coaches have not yet decided whether Womack, Spencer or Sims will start next Monday’s game against the Oakland Raiders.
Ashworth filled in well while going against Kansas City rookie Tamba Hali, who did not have a sack.
The Seahawks also made a change at strong safety, where Jordan Babineaux stepped in after Michael Boulware was benched.
“I felt like I did some good things,” Babineaux said, “but there’s always room to get better.”
Boulware did not see a single snap on defense, getting his only playing time on special teams.
Ugly numbers: Until a pair of Huard kneel-downs to end the game, the Chiefs had more than 500 yards of offense against Seattle. Kansas City finished the game with 499, which marks the most given up by a Seahawks defense since the 2002 Chiefs ran up 552 in a 38-31 Seattle victory.
The Seahawks also gave up season highs in first downs allowed (30) and rushing yards allowed (191). Kansas City’s 308 passing yards were one yard short of the season-high 309 piled up by St. Louis two weeks ago.
Perhaps the most impressive stat was time of possession, which the Chiefs dominated: 42:15 to 17:45.
“We didn’t get off the field,” Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. “We shot ourselves in the foot several times.”
Workhorse back: Kansas City’s Larry Johnson might have had 155 rushing yards against the Seahawks, but it didn’t come easy. He carried the ball a franchise-record 39 times.
“I kept asking him if he was OK,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said.
Johnson tied the record by a Seahawks opponent, matching the 39 carries by Houston’s Earl Campbell in 1981.
Quick slants: The Seahawks’ inactive list included defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, who made the trip but is still struggling with knee soreness from a recent surgery. … Kennison had 132 yards off six receptions, while Gonzalez also caught six passes for 116 yards. It marked the first time teammates have had more than 100 receiving yards against the Seahawks since the Giants’ Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey did it last November. … Seattle has a 5-20 mark at Arrowhead Stadium and has lost 19 of its past 21 games played there. The good news? The Seahawks don’t have to return here until 2014.
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