Chiefs notebook
By Tully Cochran
The Capital-Journal
L.J. take-down scared teammates
As Larry Johnson lay face-down on the turf, motionless, Damon Huard thought the same thing you did.
"It kind of brought me back to Week 1," Huard said, referencing quarterback Trent Green's head injury. "When these kind of injuries happen, it's part of the game, but it's not fun."
Johnson went down at the end of a 78-yard reception on which Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle evaded Samie Parker's block and grabbed Johnson's facemask, snapping his head backward. After a few cautious minutes, Johnson walked off the field under his own power with what the Chiefs called a sprained neck.
"Larry's going to be fine," Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. "I haven't talked to his doctors, but I saw him walking off. I'm pretty sure he's going to be OK."
The big play was the only one for LJ on a 16-carry, 36-yard rushing day. His longest run was for 9 yards, and he fumbled on that play. The 78-yarder came on a screen play with 2:31 left in the game and set up Lawrence Tynes' game-winning field goal.
Home sweet home
The Cardinals' new University of Phoenix Stadium is the design of HOK Sports, a company which traces its roots to Kansas City-based Kivett & Myers, the firm which designed Kansas City's Truman Sports Complex in 1967.
While the Cardinals' venue is state of the art -- retractable roof, retractable natural grass field, plasma TVs everywhere -- the location reminds of Kansas City. In Glendale, Ariz., the stadium sits in a vast expanse of desert, allowing for virtually unlimited parking and tailgating, a break from the downtown-stadium trend.
Streak ends
Kansas City entered the game as one of three teams that had not allowed a touchdown pass. Matt Leinart and Anquan Boldin quickly ended that streak with a 49-yard touchdown strike on the game's first possession. On third-and-10, Boldin beat cornerback Lenny Walls on a fly and Leinart hit him in stride for a 7-0 lead. Leinart later hit Larry Fitzgerald for a 5-yard touchdown.
Huard shines
Damon Huard, who entered Sunday's game as the No. 2-rated quarterback, at 106.9, will remain near the top of the league after this week.
Huard went 26-for-38 for 288 yards, two TDs and no interceptions for a 108.2 rating. The No. 1 passer, David Carr, was on his bye week. The No. 3 man, Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb, went 18-for-33 for 354 yards and two touchdowns.
Quick kicks
Dante Hall, who entered Sunday's game with a back injury, left it with a hip pointer in the second half and did not return. Rookie receiver Jeff Webb took over the kickoff return duties and busted a 50-yarder on his only return. Eddie Kennison fielded punts.
• The Chiefs' win broke a three-game road losing streak. Their last road win had been last November against Houston.
