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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
DENVER (AP) -- The Kansas City Chiefs softened up Denver with
their running game, then broke the Broncos with their big-play
return specialist.
Tamarick Vanover returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown with
4:53 left, lifting the Chiefs to a 16-10 victory Sunday.
|  | | Kansas City's Tamarick Vanover races past Denver's Steve Russ en route to an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
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The Chiefs (7-5), who drew within one game of AFC West-leading
Seattle after the Seahawks bowed 30-21 to Oakland, prevailed in a
game of field position that featured punters Daniel Pope and Tom
Rouen.
But it was Vanover who made it academic. With the score tied
10-10, he camped under a punt by Rouen, darted left and tightroped
down the sideline, eluding four would-be tacklers for his third
career punt return for a score and first since 1997.
The Chiefs missed the extra point when Pope, the holder,
couldn't handle the snap and threw an errant pass, but Denver (4-8)
failed to move past its own 46 on two subsequent possessions.
Vanover, criticized because of a recent lack of productivity,
declined to speak with the media after the game, but his teammates
spoke for him.
"People were down on him and thought his skills were
diminished," Chiefs receiver Joe Horn said. "The monkey has been
on his back. He's my best friend, and I told him at the beginning
of the game, 'Man, you're going to win this game.' "
Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham said he considered removing
Vanover from his kick-return duties in the first half, but decided
not to make a change during the game.
"That was the old Tamarick Vanover," Cunningham said. "I'm
real proud of him. I think he has been pressing, and that has
caused him to have problems on the return."
Kansas City, which punished Denver with 188 yards on the ground
in a 26-10 win earlier this season, finished with 177 rushing. Tony
Richardson had a career-high 80 yards, and Donnell Bennett added
66.
"We're not going to win many games when we don't stop the run
better than that," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "They made
some big third-down plays in the running game (converting 5 of 8).
"Vanover's return was a combination of things: a very average
punt, three or four missed tackles. He made a great return, and
that was the difference in the game."
While the Chiefs converted 9-of-19 third-down opportunities
overall, the Broncos were a woeful 2 for 13.
Pope punted nine times for a 49-yard average, twice forcing the
Broncos to start drives inside their 5. Rouen punted nine times for
a 53-yard average.
Kansas City's Elvis Grbac completed 20 of 34 passes for 183
yards and a touchdown, and Denver's Brian Griese was 20-of-36 for
227 yards.
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GAME NOTES |
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The Chiefs raised their record in the '90s to 100-65,
joining Buffalo and San Francisco as the only teams this decade
with 100 wins.
The Kansas City defense has at least one interception in 11 straight games, its longest streak since 1980.
Kansas City lost center Tim Grunhard to a bruised right hip in the third quarter. Cornerback Cris Dishman suffered what was
described as mild head trauma, and Joe Horn hurt his left knee, both in
the second quarter. But both returned.
The loss snapped the Broncos' 13-game winning streak against AFC West opponents at Mile High Stadium.
Despite a snowstorm late last week, the stands were cleared of snow, averting a repeat of the snowball-throwing incident that involved fans and Oakland players on Nov. 22.
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Although Kansas City dominated in terms of total offense in the
first half (210-133), the teams played to a 10-10 tie.
Jason Elam kicked a 39-yard field goal on Denver's first
possession, which included Griese's passes of 20 and 22 yards to Ed
McCaffrey.
The Broncos subsequently had four straight series without a
first down and with only 1 net yard of production, but the Chiefs
didn't take full advantage.
Grbac completed four straight passes, and Bennett added a
19-yard run as the Chiefs reached the Denver 26 late in the first
quarter. But Grbac was flagged for intentional grounding and then
was sacked by Neil Smith, taking the Chiefs out of field-goal range.
After Pope's punt pinned Denver at its 3-yard line, the Chiefs
held and took possession after a punt at the Denver 43. Richardson
had a 15-yard run to help set up Grbac's 10-yard TD pass to tight
end Tony Gonzalez with 10:15 left in the half.
Chris Watson's 21-yard punt return, coupled with a late-hit
penalty on Lonnie Johnson, gave Denver the ball past midfield.
Griese passed 24 yards to McCaffrey, and Olandis Gary ran 3 yards
for a 10-7 lead.
Richardson's 26-yard run and Derrick Alexander's 16-yard
reception -- both on third down -- set the stage for Pete
Stoyanovich's 43-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining.
Denver mounted a last-second threat. But the Broncos had
exhausted their timeouts, and Rod Smith was unable to get out of
bounds after a 34-yard reception to the Kansas City 19 as time
expired.
Neither team scored in the third quarter as both Grbac and
Griese threw end-zone interceptions.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
Week 13 wrap-ups
Week 13 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 13
PrimeTime Players
Week 13 stats leaders
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