Broncos Defeat Chiefs in OT; Elway Injured : AFC: Millen steps in to lead Denver to winning field goal in 20-17 victory. Bono plays in place of Montana.

Nothing takes the edge off an overtime victory for the Denver Broncos as much as watching John Elway being helped from the field.

While Elway was examined for a possibly serious knee injury Sunday, backup Hugh Millen engineered a 41-yard drive that set up Jason Elam’s 34-yard field goal as the Broncos defeated Kansas City, 20-17, with 2:48 left in overtime Sunday.

Elway, injured in the fourth quarter, will be examined further today after being diagnosed with a sprained knee.

“John may have (injured knee) cartilage,” said Denver Coach Wade Phillips, adding he had no idea how long Elway might be out.

“Any time you get John Elway on the bench, it’s a relief,” defensive tackle Joe Phillips said in the gloomy dressing room of the Chiefs (7-6), whose own future Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Montana, sat out the entire game with an injured foot. “This is a very depressing loss.”

Chief cornerback Mark Collins said, “This is just about the toughest loss, physically and mentally, that I can remember in a nine-year career. This game was a game of missed opportunities by both teams.”

Steve Bono, the former UCLA quarterback who started in place of the injured Montana, connected for touchdown pass plays of 61 and 62 yards for the Chiefs, who have lost three of their last four.

The Chiefs got within 17-15 on Bono’s 62-yard touchdown pass play to Willie Davis with 7:08 left, then forged a 17-17 tie on Bono’s two-point conversion pass to Davis.

In the winning overtime drive, Millen, a onetime Ram, scrambled for 21 yards on third and 17. A few minutes later, Leonard Russell’s 11-yard run put the ball at the 16 for Elam.

The Chiefs had a chance to win in regulation, but Shane Dronett blocked Lin Elliot’s 37-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

In overtime, the teams traded blunders before the Broncos (7-6) drove 41 yards in nine plays.

Early in overtime, Darren Mickel sacked Millen, who entered the game in the fourth quarter, and forced a fumble, which Phillips recovered for the Chiefs on the Denver 35.

But the Chiefs, already in field-goal territory, gave it back a moment later when Dennis Smith recovered Marcus Allen’s fumble on the 27.

“I’ve played this game a long time and losses are all tough,” Allen said. “There are no words of reason. You just have to keep fighting. I should have secured the ball.”

Of Allen, the Chiefs’ most reliable ball-handler, Chief Coach Mary Schottenheimer said: “Everybody from time to time will fumble it. It’s unfortunate for us and him, but we had an opportunity to get a field goal and we didn’t get it done.”

Bono passed to Davis for 27 yards to the Denver 23 with 28 seconds left in regulation, and the Chiefs let the clock run down to :02 before Elliott tried to win it. But the kick was low and blocked by Dronett.

Bono wound up 18 of 37 for 323 yards. Elway was 18 of 22 for 256 yards before leaving with about seven minutes to play.

The Broncos, aided by three Chief penalties, had a first-and-goal on the four midway through the fourth quarter. But the Chiefs’ second defensive stand of the day forced the Broncos to settle for Elam’s 34-yard field goal.

Denver held the ball for more than 10 minutes on the drive, but the Chiefs needed only 18 seconds to answer. After the kickoff, Davis got behind the secondary to haul in Bono’s touchdown pass.

Before he got hurt, Elway was hot. In the third quarter, he connected with Anthony Miller for 57 yards to set up the Broncos’ second touchdown. The Chiefs’ Dale Carter, called for pass interference despite the catch, was helped from the game.

A moment later, from the 24, Elway connected with Shannon Sharpe on the 20. Dodging Collins’ attempted tackle, Sharpe went into the end zone for a 14-3 lead.

But Bono needed only four plays to move the Chiefs 76 yards. J.J. Birden had a 44-yard reception to the Denver 32 and Allen scored from the one to make it 14-9. His two-point conversion run failed.