Broncos Show They’re Still Chiefs in AFC West : They Turn Kansas City Mistakes Into a 38-17 Victory, Take a Two-Game Lead

The Kansas City Chiefs came to town as contenders and left as pretenders once again.

The Denver Broncos capitalized on repeated mistakes by the bumbling Chiefs and routed Kansas City, 38-17, Sunday to take a two-game lead in the AFC West with five games remaining.

The Broncos (9-2) forced Kansas City quarterback Bill Kenney to fumble on two sacks in the first quarter and scored 14 points in 17 seconds to build a 21-0 lead that the Chiefs (7-4) couldn’t overcome.

Denver’s special teams added touchdowns on a fake punt and a 70-yard punt return.

“The big plays in the game were tremendous for us,” Denver Coach Dan Reeves said. “This was a big win because a two-game lead at this point is important.”

Andre Townsend returned Kenney’s first fumble eight yards for one score and rookie Tony Colorito from USC recovered another at the Chiefs’ one-yard-line on the next play from scrimmage, setting up the first of Gerald Willhite’s three touchdowns.

Willhite also scored on a 70-yard punt return and punter Chris Norman hooked up with Steve Wilson on a 43-yard touchdown pass play.

“It’s an automatic situation for us,” Norman said of the fake punt. “If no one is on the outside man the play is for me to throw it automatically.”

Norman spotted Wilson all alone on the left side and threw him a short pass. Wilson did the rest.

Said Norman: “I was just praying, ‘Please get the first down.’ ”

Of his punt-return touchdown, Willhite said: “Once I got past the wall, I stumbled. I was off-balance when I saw it open up. I just didn’t want to fall down like I always seem to do. I stayed on my feet for the first time in my life.”

The touchdown gave Denver a 28-0 lead and it was 31-0 with 4:14 left in the first half.

Kenney threw touchdown passes of 15 yards to Henry Marshall and 27 yards to Carlos Carson in a futile attempt to bring the Chiefs back, and Nick Lowery kicked a 37-yard field goal.

Denver’s defense sacked Kenney 3 times for 44 yards in losses and recovered three fumbles in the first quarter.

“First of all, you don’t give up 21 points to a team like the Denver Broncos,” Kansas City Coach John Mackovic said. “The fake punt, the fumble, they just did it all. It’s tough to play catchup when they take you out of your game plan and force you to pass the ball.”

Kenney completed 18 of 42 passes for 179 yards and 1 interception before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with hip and ankle injuries.

The Chiefs managed to outgain the Broncos, 297-265.

“We’re not happy with the offense,” said Denver quarterback John Elway, who completed 15 of 29 passes for 196 yards and no interceptions, ending a string of 15 games in which Kansas City had intercepted a pass.

“Too many guys on the offense are banged up, and we’re forced to move people around. We’ve got to get healthy.”

The Chiefs’ first touchdown was aided by a 25-yard pass interference penalty against Wilson on Stefone Paige as the Chiefs went 83 yards in 7 plays, with Kenney throwing the final 15 yards to Marshall.

Albert Lewis blocked Norman’s punt on the first series of the second half and the Chiefs recovered at Denver’s 27. On the next play, Kenney passed to a wide open Carson for the score as Bronco defensive back Mike Harden slipped, making it 31-14.

Kansas City had a chance to get back into the game when Dino Hackett recovered Elway’s fumble at the Broncos’ 34 two plays after the kickoff. But Rickey Hunley intercepted Kenney’s on the next play and the Broncos drove to Willhite’s one-yard scoring run to make it 38-14.