More importantly it reduced Manchester United's lead at the top of the Premiership to five points.
Glenn Roeder's side, bereft of seven first-team players through injury, parked the proverbial bus in front of their penalty area and then planted the Tyne Bridge for good measure.
Chelsea outclassed the Magpies in all departments but still showed signs of nervousness.
As early as the sixth minute Frank Lampard took one touch and shot over the Newcastle goal from the edge of the area, when better composure would have seen him slot home a trademark drive.
On eight minutes, Henrique Hilario, Chelsea's third-choice keeper, displayed third-rate decision making by smacking the ball into the stands when a simple pass to John Terry was the obvious decision.
Salomon Kalou, not for the first time in the game, then failed to show sufficient composure when his snap-shot on 12 minutes, following a fine counter-attacking move, went high and wide of Shay Given's goal.
Man of the match Arjen Robben was on top form when, on 14 minutes, he flashed a fine left-footer across the Newcastle goal. Sadly for Chelsea, Kalou failed to anticipate it.
Remarkably Newcastle had the best chance of the first half when Antoine Sibierski, unmarked in the six-yard box, crashed a fine header off the Chelsea crossbar.
Eight minutes later he screwed a 25-yarder just wide of the Chelsea goal.
On-loan striker Giuseppe Rossi had an effort on goal on 35 minutes. His left-foot drive inched past Hilario's right post.
At half-time Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho rang the changes bringing on Claude Makelele and Drogba for Ricardo Carvalho and the disappointing Shaun Wright-Phillips.
However, a minute into the second half, it was Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt who hit a 25-yarder into Row Z of the Shed Stand.
Drogba almost scored with his first touch but his glancing header from a deep Robben by-line cross drifted past Given's goal.
Given was alive to Robben's snap-shot on 57 minutes and four minutes later he made another save from Robben when he kicked away the Dutchman's curling free-kick.
Chelsea had a lucky escape when Hilario failed to collect a high ball and Michael Essien had to kick away an Obafemi Martins attempt at goal.
Mourinho threw caution to the wind on 67 minutes replacing full-back Geremi with Andriy Shevchenko.
Five minutes later Kalou had another marvellous chance as he skipped past Celestine Babayaro on the right, before toe-poking a right footer over the bar.
Drogba showed the youngster how to do it on 74 minutes when he managed to scuff home a left footer from six yards past Given's despairing dive.
Top scorer Drogba was grateful for the pass from Shevchenko, but it was live-wire Robben who set the ball rolling.
Drogba almost scored number two a couple of minutes later, but his right-footed free-kick was just too high.
Robben almost sealed a fine performance with a wonder goal two minutes from time, but his mazy run and low left foot drive ended with Given deflecting the ball away from goal onto his right post and to safety.