Big First Half Gives Chiefs the Victory : AFC: Kansas City takes a 27-10 lead into halftime, then puts in the reserves and holds on for a 34-24 win over Seattle.

In their first home game as AFC West champions since 1972, the Kansas City Chiefs mounted a comfortable early lead and then held on for a 34-24 victory over Seattle on Sunday.

“We really feel like we won the division today,” said cornerback Albert Lewis, who blocked a punt and fell on it for a touchdown in the Chiefs’ 17-point second quarter. “Last week we knew we were division champions, but we didn’t feel like it.”

Last week, the Chiefs (11-5) got clobbered, 30-10, in Minnesota shortly after losses by other teams allowed Kansas City to back into its first title in 22 years.

“This is more like it,” said Nick Lowery, who kicked two field goals. “I don’t think anybody really felt like celebrating last week.”

Buffalo’s victory over Indianapolis guaranteed the Chiefs a home game Saturday. They will play Pittsburgh at 9:30 a.m. PST.

The Seahawks, behind Rick Mirer’s rookie passing records, tripled its victory total from last season to finish 6-10.

“We are going to be a pretty good football team,” Seattle Coach Tom Flores said. “We have nothing to be ashamed of. Last year at this point it was very frustrating. Now I feel we’re on the verge of becoming a good team.”

The Chiefs, meanwhile, are convinced that with Joe Montana at quarterback and Marcus Allen at running back they have their finest team since Marty Schottenheimer became the coach in 1989.

“The general feeling is this is our best team,” defensive end Neil Smith said. “And that doesn’t mean a thing because we still have to go out and do it.”

With Montana completing 18 of 28 passes for 210 yards, the Chiefs took a 27-10 lead and removed many of their regulars, including Montana, But then the laugher turned into a nail-biter after the Seahawks scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to draw within 27-24.

Tim Newton fell on Mirer’s fumble on the Seahawks’ 11 with about a minute left, however, and on fourth down from the one, Todd McNair ran into the end zone for a score.

Schottenheimer said he never considered putting the regulars back in. “No, no. No way. Not a chance,” he said. “Nothing that could have happened out there could have made us do that.”