Chiefs’ Martin Makes Big Play : AFC: Linebacker sets tone for 42-7 victory over Dolphins by returning fumble 100 yards.

Everybody lauded linebacker Chris Martin for making the play of the game except Chris Martin, who at least admitted he had never run farther with a recovered fumble.

But in the history of the NFL, only one player has. Martin’s 100-yard fumble return gave Kansas City a 14-0 first-quarter lead and set the tone Sunday for a 42-7 rout of Miami, the third-worst defeat in Dolphin history.

“I think that was a major factor,” Martin said of his play. “But so many people played well all day, the linemen, the receivers, the running backs.

“I scored the touchdown, but there were so many other guys involved in this win.”

Said Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer: “The play of the game, a 14-point swing, was the fumble and the 100-yard return.

“They were going in to tie it and the next thing you know we’re up two touchdowns. That was obviously the play of the game.”

After Kansas City took a 7-0 lead on its first possession, Dan Marino passed the Dolphins downfield to the Chiefs’ two.

But Sammie Smith fumbled at the one-yard line and Martin, a 240-pound linebacker, scooped up the ball on the goal line.

Lloyd Burruss blocked the only Dolphin with a chance at making the tackle and Martin ran 100 yards for the longest fumble return since Jack Tatum went 104 yards for the Oakland Raiders against Green Bay in 1972.

Steve DeBerg threw three touchdown passes and Christian Okoye rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns as the Chiefs handed Miami its worst loss since a 35-0 defeat at Baltimore in 1970.

“That’s about as bad as I can remember any football team I’ve been associated with getting beat,” Miami Coach Don Shula said.

The Chiefs (5-2) took a half-game lead over idle Denver (4-2) in the AFC West.

“If we play ball the way we’re capable of playing,” said Todd McNair, who scored the Chiefs’ fifth touchdown, “then we’re capable of great things.”

It was a rematch of last year’s AFC wild-card game, which Miami won, 17-16.

“They’re a hot team right now,” said Miami defensive end Jeff Cross.

Okoye carried five consecutive times for 68 yards on the Chiefs’ opening drive, capping it with a 38-yard run through the middle where Miami linebacker John Offerdahl would normally have been.

But Offerdahl went down with an injury the week before and obviously was missed by the Dolphins.