Chiefs Rip Counterfeit Bills, 33-6

After his Kansas City Chiefs romped to a 33-6 victory over the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills Monday night, Coach Marty Schottenheimer wondered where the real Bills were.

“We’ve all been around long enough to know that wasn’t the Buffalo Bills football team,” he said. “It was one of those nights where everything fell our way.”

The Bills, averaging more than 32 points and 450 yards in winning their first five games, suffered through six sacks, five lost fumbles and their most lopsided defeat in four years.

They managed only 211 net yards while the Chiefs (4-2), who had only 182 yards the week before in a one-point victory over San Diego, rolled to 397.

“This was not only the best defensive game I’ve ever been associated with,” said defensive end Bill Maas, who had two sacks, “it was the greatest game I’ve ever been associated with.

“There was a lot of energy, a lot of adrenaline flowing,” Maas said. “Our defense shut down the No. 1 offense. Our offense held the ball and ran and ran and ran. It was a night to remember.

“By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, it was glorious.”

Christian Okoye, who rushed for 130 yards and set a team record with his 13th 100-yard game, turned two Buffalo turnovers into touchdowns less than two minutes apart in the third quarter for a 30-6 lead.

“We gave them so many gifts, they should be happy until next Christmas,” said Kelly, who completed 17 of 23 passes for 189 yards.

The Bills, who hadn’t been held without a touchdown since Dec. 4, 1988, suffered their worst defeat since a 47-6 loss to Indianapolis by replacement players during the 1987 strike.

Derrick Thomas had four of the Chiefs’ sacks, with two of them causing fumbles.

“We believed in each other,” Thomas said. “We thought we could get the job done.”

The Bills still were in the game when Thurman Thomas took a pass deep in Buffalo territory and was immediately hit by Lonnie Marts, who knocked the ball loose. Kevin Ross scooped it up and ran 13 yards to the Buffalo 17.

One play later, Okoye went over for a 23-6 lead with 2:52 left in the third quarter. A moment later, Thomas sacked Kelly again, knocking the ball loose, and Dan Saleaumua recovered on the 11. On fourth and goal from the two, Okoye bulled into the end zone.

A fumble by Don Beebe on the ensuing kickoff led to Nick Lowery’s 22-yard field goal. Lowery also kicked a 41-yarder in the first quarter, a 40-yarder in the second and a 24-yarder in the third.

Thurman Thomas, the Bills’ leading rusher, left the game late in the quarter with an apparent ankle injury.

Even the officiating went against the Bills. Officials placed the ball five yards away from where they should have after replay officials overturned a Buffalo pass completion in the third period.

The Bills were without All-Pro defensive end Bruce Smith, who is out with a knee injury. But it was a miserable homecoming for Bill Coach Marv Levy, who coached the Chiefs from 1978-82.

“If a team can succeed in running the ball as well as they did, you’re in for a long night,” Levy said. “They just overpowered us. I hope we’re not as bad as we looked. I think most routs--and this was a rout--are not indicative of the difference between the two teams.”

Buffalo’s only points came on a 44-yard field goal from Scott Norwood in the second quarter and a 25-yarder after wasting a first down on the Chiefs’ 11 after Okoye fumbled.

Okoye wasn’t the Chiefs’ only big rusher, with rookie Harvey Williams piling up 103 yards.

The victory snapped a five-game Monday night losing streak for the Chiefs.