Kansas City Gets Grip on 27-20 Victory : AFC: Chiefs help give Patriots 13-3 lead on turnovers before Mincy’s fumble return turns game around.

After giving New England a head start, the Kansas City Chiefs took what they needed.

Charles Mincy scooped up Jon Vaughn’s fumble and ran 30 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the final quarter and the Chiefs remained tied with San Diego for the AFC West lead with a 27-20 victory Sunday over the New England Patriots in a cold rain.

The Chiefs (9-5) can win their first division title since 1971 with victories over the New York Giants and Denver because they beat the Chargers twice this season.

“I was just supporting, and I saw the ball come out and I was in the right place at the right time,” Mincy said. “I picked it up and tried to make sure that I had it in my hands.”

About four minutes after Mincy’s go-ahead score, Willie Davis scored on a 43-yard pass play from Dave Krieg to boost Kansas City’s lead to 27-13.

“It was about time we got one,” Krieg said of Mincy’s return. “We gave them a couple. That gave us one back.”

Jeff Carlson, replacing injured Scott Zolak, brought the Patriots (2-12) to within seven points with 7:14 to play when he connected with Kevin Turner on a six-yard touchdown pass play.

New England squandered its final opportunity when a bad snap from center in the shotgun formation went over Carlson’s head and the Chiefs recovered.

“They went ahead by two touchdowns, yet we still turned around and closed to seven points,” said Dante Scarnecchia, the Patriots’ acting head coach. “Our guys are tough guys, and I wish fate was better to them.

“The fumble that resulted in a touchdown for them killed us.”

Kansas City survived in a game dominated by 11 turnovers.

“For a team like ours that’s always done such a good job of taking care of the ball, even in these conditions, we expected to do a better job than that,” Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “I think, however, the thing we need to look at now is the character of this football team.”

Mincy’s play occurred near the spot where the Patriots (2-12) took a 7-0 lead when Christian Okoye fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Tim Goad picked up the ball and ran 19 yards for a touchdown to give New England a 7-0 lead only 18 seconds into the game.

With 4:15 to play in the first quarter, Krieg was sacked by Andre Tippett and the ball came loose. Ray Agnew recovered on the Kansas City eight, and two plays later Leonard Russell scored on a three-yard run. The extra point was no good after a bad snap, leaving the Patriots with a 13-3 lead.

“I’m not saying I was scared,” said Chief defensive end Neil Smith. “But I was worried. I don’t care what their record was, they’re professional athletes and they’re competitors, just like us. You give a team like that a little boost, a little confidence, and anything can happen.”

Nick Lowery took second place on the NFL field goal list at 306 with a 30-yarder and a 26-yarder that brought the Chiefs to within 13-6 at halftime.

Kansas City finally drew even, 13-13, midway through the third quarter after New England’s Charlie Baumann was wide left on a 38-yard field goal attempt.

Krieg, who completed 10 of 21 passes for 196 yards, connected with Fred Jones on a 56-yard pass play to the New England 12. Tight end Jonathan Hayes took a short pass from Krieg 11 yards to the one and Okoye scored on the next play.