Chiefs take first healing step

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The Kansas City Chiefs faced the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, December 2, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs defeated the Panthers, 27-21. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT) (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

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david eulitt / kansas city star Kansas City Chiefs running back Peyton Hillis (40) celebrates his first-quarter touchdown against the Carolina Panthers with teammate Patrick DiMarco (above). Left: Natalie Samson wears the No. 59 jersey, which was Jovan Belcher�s number, as she stands for a moment of silence. (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

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Kansas City Chiefs Romeo Crennel listens to a reporter's question following an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. The Chiefs won 27-21. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley) (CP)

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Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt talks to the media prior to the team�s game against the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, December 2, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Carolina Panthers, 27-21. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT) (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Against the backdrop of an unthinkable tragedy, the Kansas City Chiefs gave themselves a reason to be proud Sunday -- and perhaps the impetus to let the healing begin.

Brady Quinn threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns, and Jamaal Charles ran for 127 yards in the Chiefs' 27-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak during one of the most difficult seasons the franchise has ever experienced.

The win came one day after Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend multiple times at a residence near Arrowhead Stadium, then drove to the team's practice facility and turned the gun on himself as general manager Scott Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel looked on.

Pioli walked through the press box before the game and said he was doing "OK," though he didn't stop to talk. Crennel was on the sideline coaching his team to an uplifting victory.

"As far as playing the game, I thought that was the best for us to do, because that's what we do," Crennel said, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "We're football players and football coaches and that's what we do, we play on Sunday."

Cam Newton threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers (3-9), who were informed the game would be played as scheduled while they were heading to Kansas City on Saturday.

DeAngelo Williams added 67 yards rushing for the Panthers, carrying the load with Jonathan Stewart out with an injury. Steve Smith, Greg Olsen and Louis Murphy caught their TD passes.

"You definitely feel for them. What they are going through is tragic," Olsen said. "But we have a job to do. Our job is to come here and prepare to win. They wouldn't expect any less."

Peyton Hillis had a touchdown run for Kansas City (2-10), while Tony Moeaki and Jon Baldwin had touchdown catches. Ryan Succop hit a pair of field goals, including a 52-yarder with 4:54 left that forced the Panthers to score a touchdown to steal the win.

Instead, the Panthers went three-and-out, and the Chiefs were able to run the clock down to 31 seconds before giving back the ball. Newton completed two quick passes to reach the Carolina 38, but his final heave as time expired was caught by Smith short of the end zone.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera greeted Crennel at midfield and gave him a hug.

The game was played in a half-empty stadium before a sparse crowd that could only muster some subdued cheering most of the afternoon given the tragedy that had occurred.

Chiefs players gathered in the tunnel leading to the field for a brief prayer before their pre-game stretching. A few fans held up signs referencing the shootings, and there was a moment of silence prior to the national anthem to remember all victims of domestic violence.

Kansas City police have not released a motive for the shootings, which claimed the life of Belcher and 22-year-old Kasandra M. Perkins, and left a three-month-old girl, Zoey, an orphan.

"It's been an incredibly difficult 24 hours for our family and our entire organization," Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt told The Associated Press on the field before the game. "We have so many guys on our team and our coaching staff who are really, really hurting."

The emotions were raw even after the kickoff.

Kansas City took the opening possession and marched 74 yards in just six plays, including a 21-yard pass to Dwayne Bowe and a 34-yarder to Baldwin that got the Chiefs to the two.

Hillis powered in to score the first touchdown for Kansas City on the opening possession of a game since Dec. 26, 2010. It was also the first touchdown drive engineered by Quinn since December 2009, when he helped the Browns beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Hillis ran to the sideline after scoring his first touchdown of the season and handed the ball to Crennel, then gave the affable head coach a big bear hug.

The Panthers answered with a long touchdown drive. The big play came when safety Abe Elam watched Olsen haul in a 47-yard pass from Newton for the tying touchdown.

The Chiefs had tacked on a field goal when the Panthers struck again, this time after Newton completed three passes to convert third downs. The last of them was to Smith in the corner of the end zone from 23 yards.

But Kansas City finished off the half with one of its best drives of the year. It took up the final 7:25 and covered 80 yards.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 3, 2012 C4