Packers’ Magic Disappears : Kansas City: Chiefs limit Majkowski to 123 yards passing in 21-3 victory.

Kansas City’s defense didn’t rest Sunday. The Chiefs were relentless in their pursuit of Green Bay quarterback Don Majkowski in a 21-3 victory that enhanced their playoff hopes with two weeks left in the season.

“It was a pretty complete effort. We clicked on offense and the defense was tough again,” said nose guard Dan Saleaumua, who had six tackles in Kansas City’s third consecutive win.

While the defense was dominating the Packers, Chief quarterback Steve DeBerg was throwing for two touchdowns and completing 15 of 19 passes for 203 yards.

Kansas City (7-6-1) scored 14 points in the final minute of the first half--the second touchdown with seven seconds left after a Majkowski fumble--to take a 21-3 lead.

The defense, which has allowed only four touchdowns in its last six games and is ranked second in the NFL, did the rest.

“We accept the challenge of going out there and being able to not allow opposing offenses to get into the end zone,” Chief defensive back Deron Cherry said.

Kansas City defensive end Neil Smith, who caused and recovered Majkowski’s fumble, said: “I think the turning point was right before the half when they were backed up and we got a fumble on a sack. I beat the tackle and hit his arm and then the ball fell straight down and I fell on it. Then the offense scored, which is what they have to do.”

Majkowski was sacked four times and completed 14 of 34 passes for 123 yards as the Packers (8-6) fell out of a first-place tie in the NFC Central Division.

Green Bay managed only four second-half first downs and 208 total yards--166 below its season average.

The Packers’ Sterling Sharpe, the NFL’s leading receiver going into the game, made only one catch for five yards.

“They doubled Sterling and made it tough. That’s the best secondary we’ve played all year,” Majkowski said. “It was hard to go to my second and third reads because the heat was coming. When we got behind, they knew we had to throw and that made it tough on our offense.”

DeBerg hit Emile Harry with a 12-yard touchdown pass with seven seconds left in the first half to give the Chiefs a 21-3 lead.

Harry’s catch came three plays after Smith recovered a fumble by Majkowski at the Green Bay 15 with 43 seconds left.

Kansas City had taken a 14-3 lead with 1:01 remaining in the half on Christian Okoye’s three-yard run, capping a 78-yard drive. During the drive, DeBerg hit Stephone Paige for 23 yards, Harry for 18 and then Herman Heard for 27 yards to the Green Bay six.

“I asked Steve earlier in the week to give his reason for his play,” Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “He didn’t know. All I know is that he’s getting the job done.”

Okoye, the NFL’s leading rusher, finished with 131 yards in 38 carries.