Chiefs Are Streaking--and Shaky

At the worst possible time, a quarterback controversy could be creeping up on Kansas City.

The Chiefs (13-3) defeated the New Orleans Saints, 25-13, in their regular-season finale Sunday, taking home-field advantage and a six-game winning streak into the playoffs.

But Elvis Grbac, making his first start since breaking his left collarbone seven weeks ago, completed only four of 15 passes for 51 yards as a cold rain made conditions miserable.

“I’d like to see the film and see what I did,” said Grbac, who was sidelined six games. “As everybody would state, the timing wasn’t there. Personally, I wish I had played a lot better.”

Said Coach Marty Schottenheimer of Grbac’s return: “A winning performance. We got an opportunity to see everything we needed to see.”

Rich Gannon, who engineered a five-game winning streak in Grbac’s absence, came off the bench late in the third quarter and threw a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ted Popson on a timing pattern with 9:31 to go.

“I’ve never seen a team that’s done anything in the playoffs that had a quarterback controversy,” Gannon said. “One thing we don’t have here and won’t have here is that.”

New Orleans (6-10) dropped two potential interceptions of Grbac passes before Gannon came in.

At that point, the Chiefs led only 12-7--having given up their first second-half touchdown in 11 games.

But Tamarick Vanover, who had an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown earlier, returned another punt 48 yards to set up Marcus Allen’s 123rd career touchdown.

Former Saint Mark McMillian followed with an interception that set up Gannon’s touchdown pass.