Elway Passes Broncos Past Chiefs, 19-16 : AFC: Denver takes over first place in AFC West by making big play against Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs have tormented Denver Bronco quarterback John Elway throughout his career.

The Chiefs have intercepted 24 of Elway’s passes, more than any NFL opponent, and had limited him to only eight touchdown passes.

Elway got some revenge on Sunday, passing for one touchdown and setting up the winning field goal with a long completion as the Broncos defeated the Chiefs, 19-16.

Elway, who completed 14 of 27 passes for 270 yards, connected with rookie Derek Russell on a 22-yard pass play late in the first half to end the Chiefs’ string of 18 consecutive quarters without surrendering a scoring pass.

Elway, who had no passes intercepted, also hooked up with Mark Jackson on a 71-yard pass play with four minutes left to set up a 27-yard field goal by David Treadwell with 2:37 left.

“I can’t remember when I’ve thrown it that hard,” Elway said of the pass.

The Broncos (5-2) have now defeated the Chiefs nine consecutive times at Mile High Stadium. The win also ended Kansas City’s four-game winning streak and moved Denver ahead of the Chiefs (5-3) into first place in the AFC West.

Elway’s pass to Jackson came at an opportune moment for the Chiefs, who had tied the score and seized the momentum.

When Elway was sacked by Derrick Thomas and Bill Maas for a seven-yard loss, the Broncos faced a third-and-17 from their 13-yard line.

Elway rolled to his right and passed across the field to a wide-open Jackson at the 50.

Jackson, given too big a cushion by cornerback Billy Bell, ran to the 16, and Treadwell converted four plays later.

“Not many quarterbacks would be able to throw the ball that far, but it’s the type of play John has made over and over,” Jackson said. “I didn’t see him throw it. I just saw the ball come out of a crowd and I went after it.

“Once I caught it, I just tried to get it down into field-goal range.”

Said Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer, whose career record against the Broncos fell to 1-7: “(Elway) has the ability to throw the ball anywhere on the field he wants to. We knew we couldn’t give them too many big plays, and unfortunately we did.”

Elway said the Broncos have not used that play for several years. They called it earlier in Sunday’s game, but Jackson did not hear the call as they left the huddle.

When the Chiefs later lined up in the same defense, the Broncos made it work.

“This was really a big game for us to win, especially against such a good team,” Elway said. “The defense is what kept us in it. They really shut down the run.”

The Broncos were without their leading ballcarrier, Gaston Green, who was sidelined with a strained thigh muscle. But they scored on three consecutive possessions, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to take a 13-6 lead at halftime.

Denver went 58, 57 and 80 yards for those scores as Elway completed 12 of 18 passes for 185 yards in the first half.