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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
DENVER (AP) -- Reverting to the red pants they wore during their
glory years, the Kansas City Chiefs recaptured some of that
long-ago magic, too.
|  | | Denver cornerback Ray Crockett breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City's Derrick Alexander on Sunday. |
Elvis Grbac rallied his team from a 19-7 third-quarter deficit
with two TD throws, including a 22-yarder to Derrick Alexander with
2:21 left, as the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos 23-22 on Sunday.
Grbac's 15-yard scoring toss to tight end Tony Gonzalez midway
through the third quarter made it 19-14, and after an exchange of
field goals, the Chiefs still trailed 22-17.
Overcoming an almost nonexistent running game, the Chiefs (2-2)
went 80 yards in eight plays for the clincher. Grbac passed 8 yards
to Kevin Lockett on third-and-7, and 13 yards to Gonzalez on
third-and-2. Tony Richardson ripped off a 15-yard gain, and
Alexander split two defenders, making a leaping catch at the goal
line. The Chiefs' 2-point conversion pass failed.
"How 'bout them red pants?" Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham
said. "That's something I had in mind from the first day I got the
job. I liked the old guys that played here, Willie Lanier, Buck
Buchanan, Len Dawson."
Cunningham said owner Lamar Hunt gave the OK to resurrect the
pants, thinking they might bring the team luck.
"Now they all want to wear them every day," Cunningham said.
Grbac completed 21 of 33 passes for 250 yards. Gonzalez set
career highs with 10 catches for 127 yards. The Chiefs had just 49
yards rushing on 27 carries.
"When you win here at Mile High, it's a big win," Grbac said.
"It always goes down to the last team that scores."
On the last drive, Grbac said, "We just kept making plays when
we had to."
Gus Frerotte, starting for the Broncos with NFL passing leader
Brian Griese sidelined by a shoulder injury, was 18-for-31 for 208
yards. Frerotte's fumble on a sack thwarted a Denver scoring drive
in the final period, and he was intercepted by linebacker Marvcus
Patton with 1:40 remaining.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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There have been some tremendous games in the history of this AFC West series. Often it's come down to the team that's had the football last has won the game.
The play of TE Tony Gonzalez (season-high 10 catches) was significant for the Chiefs. The Chiefs have been struggling in their offense, trying to get Gonzalez the football. Except for an interception that was returned for a touchdown, this was another strong performance by Elvis Grbac.
For the Broncos, this was a disappointing home loss, especially after they had the lead going into the fourth quarter. Denver missed the injured Brian Griese at quarterback. His replacement, Gus Frerotte, made some questionable decisions and threw a late interception.
This game also marked the return of Terrell Davis (in limited action) for Denver. The workhorse for Denver once again was Mike Anderson, who failed in his bid to top 100 yards for a third straight game.
The AFC West seems to be wide open at this point. Denver may have the best team if they get all their players healthy, but they're still struggling because of the injury to Griese. We don't know yet how long he'll be out. And Terrell is still not 100 percent.
The only team that looks like they're bringing up the rear right now is San Diego. But the other four teams in this division could go in any direction.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director of football operations.
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In all, the Broncos -- who came into the game with the best
turnover ratio in the league (plus 9) -- had three turnovers in the
final quarter.
"We had some opportunities, both offensive and defensively, to
put them away, and we didn't do it," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
said. "We had a couple of costly turnovers there in the second
half. You can't do that and expect to win. It's real
disheartening."
Denver cornerback Ray Crockett had two interceptions, returning
one 26 yards for a second-quarter touchdown and picking off Grbac
in the end zone early in the final period.
Denver's Mike Anderson carried 22 times for 85 yards, falling
just shy of becoming the first back in NFL history to rush for 100
yards in his first three starts. Davis had 41 yards on six carries
but didn't carry the ball in the second half after apparently
reinjuring his ankle.
In a defense-dominated first half, the Broncos took a 12-7 lead.
The Chiefs took the opening kickoff and went 80 yards in 11
plays, capped by Richardson's 1-yard TD run. Grbac was 5-of-6 on
the drive, including four passes for 60 yards to Gonzalez.
Kansas City didn't cross midfield again in the half.
Denver went 79 yards on its first series but had to settle for
Joe Nedney's 22-yard field goal. Frerotte passed 23 yards to Rod
Smith and 15 yards to Dwayne Carswell, both on third down, but the
Chiefs held inside the 5.
Terrell Davis, with his first carry since spraining his left
ankle in the season opener, had a 24-yard gain, helping set up
Nedney's 20-yard field goal with 8:53 left in the second quarter.
Five plays later, Crockett stepped in front of Alexander and
returned the interception for a score with 6:40 remaining. Denver's
2-point conversion attempt failed.
Moments later, Richardson fumbled and Denver recovered at the
Kansas City 40, but the Broncos failed to capitalize as Nedney was
short on a 50-yard try.
Denver went ahead 19-7 on the opening drive of the third
quarter, marching 77 yards in seven plays. Anderson bolted 16 yards
up the middle for the score.
The Chiefs countered with a 74-yard drive of their own,
culminating in Grbac's TD throw to Gonzalez.
Game
notes
Kansas City has won three in a row over the Broncos, the
second time the Chiefs have done it in the Shanahan era. No other
team in the league has done it even once. ... Gonzalez had the
first 100-yard receiving game of his career. His previous
single-game highs were nine catches and 93 yards, in separate games
last season. ... Kansas City stopped Denver on all seven of its
goal-to-go plays. ... Smith had eight receptions for 134 yards,
moving past Mark Jackson into seventh place on the Broncos' career
reception list with 282 and past Al Denson into ninth place on the
receiving yards list with 4,213. ... Kansas City linebacker Lew
Bush bruised his left collarbone, and defensive end Eric Hicks
sprained his right knee. ... Except for Davis' uncertain status,
Denver reported no significant injuries.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
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