Chiefs Have Word for Victory, 43-24 : Interconference: Kansas City’s Barry Word upstages teammate Christian Okoye and the Lions’ Barry Sanders with team-record 200 yards.

The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions was supposed to be a matchup between defending NFL rushing champion Christian Okoye and runner-up Barry Sanders.

Instead, it was a showcase for Chief running back Barry Word, who rushed for a team-record 200 yards in 18 carries Sunday to lead the Chiefs to a 43-24 victory.

Word’s 200 yards were seven more than the club record set in 1981 by the late Joe Delaney. Word’s big day included a 45-yard run in the third quarter and touchdown runs of 53 yards and one yard in the fourth quarter.

“I’ve never had a day like this. That’s why I don’t know how to feel,” said Word, who spent 4 1/2 months in prison in 1986 on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Word, who played at Virginia, had spent two years with the New Orleans Saints but was working for a telephone company last May when the Chiefs picked him up.

“I’m amazed,” he said. “I knew I was capable if I just got a chance.”

The Chiefs (4-2) had a 17-14 halftime lead before taking complete command of the Lions (2-4) in the second half.

The Chiefs piled up 566 yards in total offense, second-highest in team history. The 43 points were the most by Kansas City in five years.

“We got our tails whipped,” Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said. “That happens once in a while in the NFL.

“We played very poorly, and I’m very disappointed in our football team. We were a bad football team, and as a whole, we stunk. Thank you very much.”

Okoye, who rushed for 1,480 yards last season, finished Sunday’s game with 91 yards, scoring on touchdown runs of four and one yard.

Sanders, who gained 1,470 yards in 1989, rushed for 90 yards and scored first-quarter touchdowns on a 47-yard touchdown pass play from Bob Gagliano and a 13-yard run that gave the Lions a 14-3 lead.

Sanders had five receptions for a career-best 135 yards.

Chief quarterback Steve DeBerg completed 15 of 26 passes for 256 yards, including a one-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Hayes.