NEW YORK, 6 October 2004 — Priest Holmes rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns to help the Kansas City Chiefs pick up their first win of the season, 27-24 over the host Baltimore Ravens Monday.
Kansas City (1-3) ended a three-game losing skid as it snapped Baltimore’s two-game winning streak. The Chiefs ran 78 plays against 41 by the Ravens and out-gained Baltimore in total yards 398-210.
Baltimore (2-2) also had its seven-game home unbeaten streak ended. The Ravens last lost at home on Sept. 28, 2003, with the Chiefs on the winning side then as well.
The Chiefs controlled the ball for most of the game and had numerous long drives. But several big plays helped the Ravens stay in the contest until late in the fourth quarter.
“I knew this would be a day when we would run the ball,” Holmes said. “We ran the ball well and that set up the pass.”
Matt Stover opened the scoring for the Ravens with a 50-yard field goal. The Chiefs hit back though with a three-yard TD pass from Trent Green to Jason Dunn and a 42-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes to lead 10-3 after one quarter.
The Ravens tied the score 17-17 at the half. Kyle Boller hit Randy Hymes with a 57-yard TD pass before Holmes scored the first of his two touchdowns on a four-yard run and rookie BJ Sams returned a punt 58 yards for another TD.
Tynes kicked a 38-yard field goal for the only points of the third quarter and Holmes added a one-yard TD run early in the fourth to make it 27-17.
Jamal Lewis had a one-yard TD run later in the fourth but that was as close as the Ravens could get. Green was 21-for-31 for 223 yards for the Chiefs, who entered the game with the 23rd-ranked defense in the NFL and the highest number of points allowed with 86.
“Our running game was there today and that obviously opened up the passing game,” Green said. “We’re very frustrated with the way we started but this is going to kick-start our season.”
Boller was 10-for-17 for 154 yards while Lewis rushed for 73 yards on 15 carries. Holmes carried the ball 33 times for his 125 yards.
