OAKLAND, Calif. — In the end, it didn’t much matter whether Kyle Boller or Carson Palmer played quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. The Kansas City Chiefs had their way with both.
Kendrick Lewis and Brandon Flowers returned interceptions for touchdowns and the Chiefs took advantage of rusty quarterback play from Boller and Palmer to beat the Oakland Raiders 28-0 on Sunday.
“It was just an awful feeling walking off the field to be beat like that in the fashion that we were beat,” said Palmer, who was a retired player at home less than a week ago. “We need to regroup.”
Boller became the first Raiders quarterback in 13 years to throw three interceptions in the first half, including Lewis’ 59-yard score on the first drive of the game for Oakland (4-3).
Making matters worse for the Raiders was the departure of running back Darren Mc-Fadden (Pulaski Oak Grove, Arkansas Razorbacks), who suffered a foot injury on the first series and did not return. Palmer relieved in the second half and threw three more interceptions, including one that Flowers returned 58 yards to give the Chiefs a 28-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Javier Arenas and Le’Ron McClain each added touchdown runs for the Chiefs (3-3), who have won three consecutive games to get back in the division race after being outscored 89-10 in lopsided losses to Buffalo and Detroit to open the season.
“We don’t have too many pretty games but as long as we come away with the victory that’s all that matters,” said cornerback Brandon Carr, who had one interception. “We’re definitely making progress and trying to keep this thing going.”
The Raiders’ promising season was jolted last week when starting quarterback Jason Campbell was knocked out with a broken collarbone. Oakland moved quickly to get a replacement by trading for Palmer on Tuesday. Palmer had been in retirement because he refused to play with Cincinnati anymore.
“We’re not blinking,” Coach Hue Jackson said. “This football team is not going to blink. We have to play better. We have to play better offensively. I take full responsibility.”
Boller was 7 for 14 for 61 yards and Palmer went 8 for 21 for 116 yards.
Sports, Pages 18 on 10/24/2011