National Football League

Cassel throws 2 TDs as Chiefs rout Jaguars 42-20

Published Oct. 25, 2010 5:25 a.m. ET

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Another injured quarterback would be just about the last thing the Jacksonville Jaguars need, or even deserve.

So do they have one?

Todd Bouman, who played admirably in his first action since 2005, said he hurt a finger on his throwing hand while trying to make a tackle in the closing minutes of Kansas City's 42-20 victory Sunday afternoon. He wouldn't say how badly he was hurt.

''I have no idea at this point,'' he said. ''I will wait and see what happens. I will find out tomorrow. I got it caught in a guy's jersey trying to make a tackle.''

Coach Jack Del Rio said the only injury he was aware of was to tackle Eben Britton.

''I didn't hear anything about Todd,'' he said. ''I don't have an update on anybody other than Eben. There is a concern with Eben and his shoulder.''

Even though he threw two interceptions, Bouman also threw his first two touchdown passes since 2005, hitting 18 of 34 passes for 222 yards. If David Garrard does not recover from a concussion, Del Rio sounded as though he would have no problem giving the 38-year-old journeyman another start.

''Todd played great,'' said Del Rio. ''He played above what we hoped and needed from him today. We would like to have back the pick six there when it was a tight ballgame. That marred what was shaping up to be a great day for him.''

All the pick six did was turn the game completely around. Bouman's 11-yard scoring pass to Mike Sims-Walker had pulled the Jaguars (3-4) to 21-20. But with about 5 minutes left in the third, linebacker Derrick Johnson ''read his eyes'' and stepped in front of Bouman's intended receiver.

Johnson's 15-yard return for a TD kicked off a 21-0 run for the Chiefs (4-2) to close the game.

''That was the turning point in the whole game,'' said Chiefs safety Jon McGraw. ''That was the momentum-shifter.''

In the first half, Johnson let a potential interception bounce off his hands.

''It hurt big time to drop that first one,'' he said. ''But if you keep playing, you've got to have a short-term memory. I got that out of my system and tried to make a play for my team. I got the opportunity to read the quarterback's eyes. I jumped the route.''

The Chiefs, with the league's top rushing attack, ran for 236 yards and Matt Cassel threw two touchdown passes, both to Dwayne Bowe. It was the second week in a row Bowe caught two scoring passes.

Thomas Jones had 125 yards and one TD on 20 carries, including a 70-yard run following a Jacksonville turnover.

''It's a lot of fun when you win,'' said Cassel. ''The locker room was awesome after the game. We fought through the first half. It was close and we kept grinding.''

Bowe had a 6-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter and gave the Chiefs a 21-13 lead on the second play of the second half when he caught a 53-yard scoring pass and exploited what's been Jacksonville's season-long weakness in the secondary.

Catching the ball in the clear, he caused Don Carey and Rashean Mathis to miss tackles and glided into the end zone.

''There was miscommunication,'' said Mathis. ''It was busted coverage. During the week, we said we would play this or that and we were mixed up on that cover-two play. Good teams are going to capitalize on you when you make mistakes. We busted a coverage and they capitalized on it.''

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