Thursday, Jan. 01, 2009

Chiefs beat Raiders 20-13 and end seven-game losing streak

By ADAM TEICHER

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Maurice Leggett, an undrafted free agent cornerback from tiny Valdosta State, seems out of place on a list with Derrick Thomas, Andre Rison, Larry Johnson, Jarrad Page and all the others.

But he’s there now after making the biggest play of Sunday’s 20-13 win over the Raiders, a victory that busted the Chiefs’ seven-game losing streak and gave them their sixth straight success at the Oakland Coliseum.

It wouldn’t have happened had Leggett not sniffed out Oakland’s fake field goal in the second quarter or been in position to scoop up the resulting fumble and run 67 yards for the touchdown that sent the Chiefs on their way.

More important than becoming part of Chiefs-Raiders lore, Leggett is a symbol for all that the Chiefs are trying to get done this season.

He’s one of 17 rookies, didn’t play much on special teams early in the season and struggled when injuries forced him into the lineup earlier in the season.

He’s come on fast and now is the Chiefs’ third cornerback. The touchdown aside, the Chiefs think they’ve found something.

“It was clear he had been paying attention in meetings because he’s gone out there and he’s done what he was supposed to do,” said Page, who has saved the Chiefs before with late-game interceptions against the Raiders. “He’s been playing great these last couple of weeks. He was seeing the quarterback, breaking on balls, tackling great. He had another good game today even without the touchdown.”

The hero’s role is nothing new to Leggett. As a senior, he made an end-zone interception in the final seconds of the Division II semifinal game and preserved a Valdosta State victory. He blocked a kick in their championship-game win the next week.

Perhaps he had been building to make a similar play on a much bigger stage. He broke up several passes in last week’s game against Buffalo, but that was mostly lost in another lopsided Chiefs defeat.

His touchdown Sunday won’t be forgotten for years, if ever.

Playing defense as the Raiders lined up for a field goal in the second quarter, Leggett said he sensed a fake was coming. Sure enough, holder Shane Lechler pitched the ball back to kicker Sebastian Janikowski.

Janikowski never got hold of the errant toss, and the ball landed on the ground. Leggett was there to get it because he hadn’t rushed to block the kick. He stayed at home and waited for Janikowski.

“I was surprised they were running the fake in that situation,” Leggett said. “When the ball was on the ground, that was my opportunity to make a play.”

“It’s good to finally be able to do some things to help my team win. You expect good things from yourself and you get frustrated when it doesn’t come as soon as you would like it to.”

Leggett wasn’t the only one surprised by the fake. The game was 3-3 in the second quarter and the Raiders needed 10 yards for the first down.

“They have their reasons why they do things,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said diplomatically. “That’s up to them. It worked out for us. You never know in a game like this. This is a rivalry game. Anything goes in these rivalry games.”

Leggett knows that now. Growing up in Pennsylvania and attending high school and college in Georgia, his knowledge of the Chiefs and the Raiders was basic.

Most of what he knew came from Bruce Pickens, the former Kansas City high school star who went on to play for the Raiders. A family friend, Pickens called Leggett recently with some advice.

“He didn’t tell me anything about the rivalry,” Leggett said. “He told me how crazy the fans were out here and that I should keep my helmet on on the sideline.”

Practical advice is always good, but Leggett can offer the next generation of Chiefs something better: guidance on how to make the big play to beat the Raiders.

To reach Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter for The Star, send e-mail to ateicher@kcstar.com