Blast from the Past, Chiefs 42 Texans 14

September 23rd 2003: Kansas City Chiefs 42 – Houston Texans 14

The Chiefs travelled to Houston in a good mood – a pair of home wins against the Chargers and Steelers had given us a 2 and 0 start to the season. The Texans were 1 and 1, but had played both of their first two games away, so were keen to impress in their first home game of the season. It would prove to be a memorable game for the Texan’s rookie Andre Johnson, who scored the first, and then also the second, touchdown of his career. 12 years and 63 more touchdowns later, Johnson has finally ended his time with the Texans, but leaves with an amazing 80 yards per game – an astonishing level to maintain over such a long period.

That was probably the only bright spot for Houston though – a dominant KC performance saw us hit six touchdowns to run away with the game. Priest Holmes scored two rushing TDs to go with 150 all-purpose yards – Derrick Blaylock ran in another. Eddie Kennison pulled in a pass from quarterback Trent Green while defensive back Shaunard Harts ran home a pick six – the only score of his career. And Dante Hall took full advantage of the only punt return Kansas City made in the game, returning it 73 yards for a touchdown.

2003 would prove to be a stellar year for the ‘Human Joystick’ Dante Hall. In the regular season he scored on two kick-off returns and also on two punt returns. And then in the playoffs against the

Colts he had a receiving touchdown as well as another kick-off return TD – this one a monster 92 yard effort. He would be selected for his second consecutive Pro Bowl at the end of the year.

Kansas City marched to a hugely impressive 13 and 3 record over the season. We had a bye to the divisional round of the play-offs but, despite Dante’s heroics, we lost a shoot-out to Indianapolis.

Elsewhere in the NFL at the time:

The St Louis Rams were heading for an upset win, leading 23-10 in Seattle entering the final quarter. But two touchdown passes from Matt Hasselbeck, the last with only a minute remaining, kept the Seahawks, like the Chiefs, at a perfect 3 and 0 record.

Elsewhere in the world:

David Blaine was currently midway through a spell suspended above London in a Perspex box. Nobody, then or now, was entirely sure why!