No Overtime Work for Chiefs : AFC: This time, they win in regulation as Bono leads Kansas City over New England, 31-26.

Every month or so, Kansas City Chief fans will have to settle for a regulation victory.

Instead of providing the thrill of overtime as they did in winning their first three home games, the Chiefs beat New England, 31-26, in 60 minutes Sunday, giving them a 6-1 record for the first time since their Super Bowl season of 1969.

“They’re just going to have to expect this once in a while,” said defensive tackle Joe Phillips, who made a key fumble recovery. “It’s a chance they take when they buy a ticket.”

Said Coach Marty Schottenheimer: “I worked as hard today and the players worked as hard today as we did in the overtime games.”

Steve Bono bootlegged two yards for one touchdown and passed for two more as the Chiefs handed the slumping Patriots (1-5) their fifth consecutive loss.

New England Coach Bill Parcells suffered from dehydration and was advised by Dr. Jim Dineen to sit down and rest after the game and not meet with the media. Parcells was not thought to be seriously ill.

The Patriots produced a season-high point total and refused to wilt, taking charge in the second quarter after the Chiefs took a 24-10 halftime lead.

It wasn’t fully decided until Dale Carter intercepted Drew Bledsoe’s pass with about 1:40 left.

“We looked a little better, but that’s not the object, to look better,” New England linebacker Vincent Brown said. “Let’s face it, they’re not the defending Super Bowl champions. They’re not the ’77 Steelers. You get my drift?”

The Patriots provided late drama with the help of a weird play in the final 2 1/2 minutes. Tony Brown caught a Bledsoe pass but fumbled. In the scramble for the ball, it got knocked in the air and 295-pound tackle Max Lane grabbed it and ran 30 yards to the six, setting up Bledsoe’s touchdown pass to Will Moore that made it 31-26 with 2:07 left.

Parcells, who promised lineup changes, unveiled different starters at several positions, including center, tight end, nose tackle, free safety and right inside linebacker.

One man he stuck with was right cornerback Ricky Reynolds, who got beat for touchdowns by two different receivers within 2:12 of each other in a 21-point third quarter.

In the second half, the Chiefs managed only three first downs until late in the fourth as the Patriots closed to 24-19 on Matt Bahr’s field goal and Bledsoe’s first touchdown pass of the year, a 22-yarder to Vincent Brisby.

But on fourth and five from the New England 30, Bono scrambled and connected with Lake Dawson for 15 yards. Two plays later, Greg Hill burst nine yards up the middle to make it 31-19 with 6:46 left.

Bono finished 16 for 40 for 209 yards with two touchdown passes. Bledsoe was 25 for 46 for 237 yards and two touchdowns.

Bledsoe had been the NFL’s only starting quarterback without a scoring pass until he connected with Brisby 10:10 into the third quarter. Curtis Martin was stopped on a two-point conversion run and the score remained 24-19.

“We played better, so at least we’re not headed in the wrong direction anymore,” Bledsoe said.

Bono, who set a quarterback record with a 76-yard touchdown run against Arizona on Oct. 1, appeared to run the same play 43 seconds into the second quarter from the two. Picking up the only block he needed from guard Will Shields, Bono bootlegged right and went in untouched to give the Chiefs a 10-7 lead.

Bono, who came into the game tied for the NFL lead with 12 touchdown passes, connected with Willie Davis on an 18-yard scoring strike with 5:22 left in the third to put the Chiefs ahead, 17-10.

Less than two minutes later, Dan Saleaumua sacked Bledsoe and forced a fumble that Phillips recovered on the Patriots’ 29.

On the second play, rookie Tamarick Vanover beat Reynolds on a 26-yard scoring pass for a 24-10 lead.

Marcus Allen rushed for 61 yards and moved into eighth place all-time with 10,328 yards.