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FOXBORO - When Devard Darling split the coverage seams of New England defensive backs Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders, latching onto a pass from Damon Huard and streaking 68 yards, those remaining five yards of distance between the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and the end zone may have been a mile.

Because, that's why the New England Patriots are still one of the premier football teams in the NFL - they make plays.

Like Rodney Harrison lunging at the lacetops of Darling's shoes to stop him at the five-yard line.

Like Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour dropping Chiefs' running back Larry Johnson for no gain on second down.

Like Adalius Thomas being in position on the goal line to knock away an intended pass for Chiefs' tight end Tony Gonzalez. Like on fourth down and goal, Deltha O'Neal providing the coverage on the right corner, forcing Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe long when Huard threw short.

"There's always a couple of plays you don't make and the outcome is like it was today," said Kansas City coach Herman Edwards after the Chiefs lost a seven-point game to the Patriots.

"You have to make plays when they present themselves," added Edwards. "We had opportunities in the first half to capitalize on field position (three times in New England territory, but coming away with just three points).

"We've got to score more points, we have to figure out a way to win a game."

Because the NFL season opener for both the Chiefs and the Patriots could very well have been for Kansas City's taking.

But, the New England defense, while creating just one turnover, surrendered just one big play - to Huard and Darling.

"We gave them a fight, a great fight," said Huard, the 12-year NFL veteran who came on in a relief role for starter Brodie Croyle (separated shoulder) in the third quarter. "The game always comes down to a couple of plays and that is what happened - we came up short. It was frustrating because it seemed like we were so close on a couple of those plays."

The Patriots' defense, sensing a yeoman effort to be required due to the absence of quarterback Tom Brady 16 plays into the game, responded admirably.

Other than a field goal with 17 seconds left in the second quarter, the Patriots kept the Chiefs in check, not allowing a touchdown until the fourth quarter.

While Kansas City had possession of the ball for 15:34 during the first half, Croyle completed just nine passes for 75 yards, running back Larry Johnson totaled just 43 multi-purpose yards and Kansas City never got to the red zone - the farthest being the New England 22. "Those guys are real good," said Johnson (74 yards rushing), a two-time Pro Bowl selection of the Patriots' defense. "All we had to do was keep pounding and hope for something to open up."

It didn't happen, at least not often enough.

"You worry about the things that you can control on the field," said Thomas (four tackles) of the Patriots using all the available players on the roster to win their first game. "It was important to keep the game under control, to stay true to our defense, to give us a chance."

It was a 10-yard sack by Thomas on Croyle, nine plays into Kansas City's first series of the second half, that forced the Chiefs to look to the bench. Though Huard (eight completions for 118 yards) nearly engineered a game-tying touchdown, it wasn't enough.

"Any adversity, we have to put it on our shoulders," said O'Neal in his New England debut. "We have a lot of veterans, they know what adversity is. You go until the whistle blows."

Because in protecting a 14-10 lead, the Patriots continued to make plays.

Ellis Hobbs returned a kickoff 51 yards (to the Kansas City 36) after the Chiefs scored their lone touchdown 1:54 into the fourth quarter.

Vrabel ended the next Kansas City drive with a six-yard sack of Huard, back to the Chiefs' 17-yard line.

Hobbs intercepted a first down pass by Huard on the very next Kansas City series and Patriots' reserve quarterback Matt Cassel kept New England's next drive alive by converting a third-and-3 situation with a nine-yard run to the KC 37 for a first down.

"I would hope that he (Brady) would get back," added Edwards of any Kansas City victory being tainted by the absence of the Patriots' All-Pro quarterback. "You hate to lose good players, especially marquee players. We had some opportunities, but we had too many three and outs.

"We lost, that's all you take - we lost."