Beck Leads Unbeaten Dolphins On Late Score For Victory Over Chiefs

Thursday, August 16th 2007, 10:07 pm

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Patrick Cobbs scored on a 7 yard run and John Beck slipped into the end zone for the 2 point conversion with 4:30 left, leading Miami past Kansas City 11-10 Thursday night and making the Dolphins 2-0 in preseason games for the first time since 1982.

Beck, the third Miami quarterback to appear in the sloppily played game, hit Kerry Reed for 17 yards and Courtney Anderson for 25 in a seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive.

Trent Green, whose 87.3 passer rating the past six seasons is the best in Chiefs history, played the first two series for the Dolphins in a much-awaited return to Arrowhead Stadium and was 4-7 for 41 yards. He led one smart drive that failed when Jared Allen stopped Jesse Chatman for a 1 yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 3.

Kansas City threw the challenge flag after Beck leaned across the goal line, but the ruling held up, leaving Kansas City 0-2 in the exhibition season and looking very much in need of Larry Johnson, its Pro Bowl running back who's held out all summer in a contract dispute. The Chiefs rushed for only 61 yards.

Brodie Croyle, bidding to take Green's old job, hit his first four passes and led the Chiefs to their only offensive touchdown in two preseason games, but also threw an ill advised interception.

Damon Huard, the veteran backup Croyle is competing with, was 3-5 for only 26 yards as the Chiefs stalled for the second straight game without Johnson.

Croyle, known for his rifle arm but sometimes-poor decisions, atoned for a miserable performance in the Chiefs' first exhibition outing when he engineered an eight-play, 70-yard touchdown march, capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hannon in the 2nd quarter.

But a few minutes later, showing the inexperience of a second-year pro who played only briefly as a rookie, Croyle threw a terrible pass off his back foot that was intercepted in the end zone by Michael Lehan.

Croyle was 6-11 for 82 yards.

There were a few scattered boos when Green took the field for Miami's first series. But the reception for the Chiefs starting quarterback of the past six seasons was mostly respectful, especially when he took his new team 65 yards down the field on its second possession to set up a 1st-and-goal from the 10.

Miami's retooled offensive line, a big worry all during training camp, opened hole after hole for Ronnie Brown, who had gains of 12 and 10 yards to get the drive started. After a false start penalty created a 2nd-and-15 from the Kansas City 35, Brown broke loose for 6 yards and then Green hit tight end David Martin over the middle for 19 yards to the 10.

The Dolphins' only score of the first half came with Cleo Lemon under center. He hit Chris Chambers for 12 yards on 3rd-and-3 from the 46, and then Brown broke through a big hole in the middle of the line for 22 yards, with Ty Law pulling him down on the 16 to prevent the touchdown. After Brown was stopped for no gain on 3rd down, Jay Feely kicked a 30-yard field goal on the second play of the 2nd quarter.

Another huge headache that appeared for the Chiefs is at place kicker. Rookie Justin Medlock, drafted in the fifth round and handed the job when incumbent Lawrence Tynes was let go, missed from 37 and 42 yards before finally connecting on his third try, a 34-yarder that put the Chiefs on top 10-3 with 8:18 to go.

With no other kicker on the team, the Chiefs may be on the phone Friday looking for unemployed kickers to at least provide some competition for the UCLA product.

Abraham Wright, a rookie linebacker for Miami, was carted off the field with what was described as cramps in both legs with 8 seconds to play.