OAKLAND, Calif. — The Kansas City Chiefs might want to think about moving to Oakland — or at least trying to play the Raiders more often.
Jamaal Charles scored on a 44-yard run for Kansas City’s first rushing touchdown of the season and the Chiefs used a late interception to win their seventh straight game in Oakland, 16-10 on Sunday.
The Chiefs (2-7) have managed to win just five of their past 35 games. But three of those wins have come at the Oakland Coliseum, where Kansas City has the longest winning streak ever by a visiting team.
Ryan Succop kicked three field goals and Kansas City once again pulled out a close one against the Raiders (2-7) in Oakland in their first game since releasing running back Larry Johnson.
The Raiders scored a touchdown on their opening drive and then managed just three points and 202 yards the rest of the way. For the second straight home game, the Raiders pulled former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell for ineffectiveness.
He was taken out in the first half against the Jets last month after committing three first-half turnovers. He lasted into the second half this week, before being replaced by Bruce Gradkowski late in the third quarter after going 8 for 24 for 64 yards.
Russell didn’t look pleased by the move, appearing to express his displeasure to quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett. The change didn’t provide an immediate spark as Gradkowski failed to get a first down after a fumble gave the Raiders the ball at the Kansas City 49.
Gradkowski then threw an interception to Mike Brown on the next drive, giving the Chiefs the ball at the Oakland 47. The Chiefs drove the ball down to the 11 before settling for a 31-yard field goal by Succop that gave them a 16-10 lead with 6:17 remaining.
Gradkowski drove the Raiders to the Kansas City 26 before rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey bobbled a pass inside the 10 and it ended up in Brown’s hands for a game-sealing interception.
The play that may have summed up the game came midway through the third quarter after Matt Cassel completed a 12-yard pass to Dwayne Bowe. Kirk Morrison forced a fumble and then the fun began. At least six players had a shot to fall on the ball, but it kept squirting down field until offensive lineman Brian Waters fell on it for Kansas City at the Oakland 22, giving the Chiefs an extra 23 yards on the play.
Kansas City was unable to capitalize on the good fortune as Cassel threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-1.
The Raiders, playing with a healthy offense for the first time all season, looked like a functioning offense on the first drive. Michael Bush’s 60-yard run set up a 1-yard plunge by Justin Fargas.
Oakland managed just 82 yards the rest of the half, punting eight times before the break. Sebastian Janikowski added a 50-yard field goal after Dantrell Savage muffed a punt.
The Chiefs overcame a slow start to take a 13-10 lead at the break behind two field goals by Succop and the long run on fourth-and-1 by Charles. That was the first rushing touchdown for the Chiefs since Tyler Thigpen had one Dec. 21, 2008, against Miami.
Charles finished with 103 yards on 18 carries as Kansas City moved on without Johnson who was released after posting a gay slur on his Twitter account, insulting followers and questioning the competence of head coach Todd Haley.
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