Many Chiefs players admitted they wanted to win yesterday’s game for Herm Edwards, to give him bragging rights over the Jets club he left after 2005, unwanted and unwelcome. What they got was a 28-24 heartbreaker that encapsulated what he’d been here, for better or worse.
“We wanted to pull it out,” said Chiefs defensive back Brandon Flowers, who had two interceptions, including a 91-yard TD. “We wanted this win for Coach Edwards.”
Edwards was true to form in almost every way. He hurt the Chiefs with a decision to go conservative that led to a costly three-and-out with the game on the line. Then the classy 54-year-old took the high road, congratulating and praying for his ex-players while claiming facing the team with which he’d had an acrimonious split held no added meaning.
“No not really; not at all. We were here last year for that cold game at the end of the year,” Edwards said of his Chiefs’ Dec. 30 OT loss. “Both teams played hard. The Jets played well; they did the things at the end to win and we didn’t. We had a chance to win and we didn’t get it done.”
Such as their inability to pick up a first down when leading 24-21 with 5:20 to play. Unheralded quarterback Tyler Thigpen went 25-of-36 for two touchdowns, no picks and a gaudy 110.9 rating, but Edwards took the ball out of his hands with three straight Kolby Smith runs. The Chiefs punted, and the Jets drove for the winning touchdown with a minute left.
“Yeah definitely (it meant more to him),” Thigpen said. “We wanted to win it for ourselves but we definitely wanted to win it for Herm. This is where he used to coach, so that’s a tough pill to swallow.”Wide receiver Mark Bradley said, “Whenever somebody leaves somewhere and they’re in a situation where they come back, you want to successful.”
