Return of Vanover Is Decisive

The Kansas City Chiefs softened up Denver with their running game, then broke the Broncos with their big-play return specialist.

Tamarick Vanover returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown with 4:53 left, lifting the Chiefs to a 16-10 victory Sunday.

The Chiefs (7-5), who drew within one game of AFC West-leading Seattle, prevailed in a game of field position that featured punters Daniel Pope and Tom Rouen.

But it was Vanover who made it academic. With the score tied, 10-10, he camped under a punt by Rouen, darted left and tight-roped down the sideline, eluding four would-be tacklers for his third career punt return for a score and first since 1997.

The Chiefs missed the extra point when Pope, the holder, couldn’t handle the snap and threw an errant pass, but Denver (4-8) failed to move past its own 46 on two subsequent possessions.

Vanover, criticized because of a recent lack of productivity, declined to speak with the media after the game, but his teammates spoke for him.

“People were down on him and thought his skills were diminished,” Chief receiver Joe Horn said. “The monkey has been on his back. He’s my best friend, and I told him at the beginning of the game, ‘Man, you’re going to win this game.’ ”

Chief Coach Gunther Cunningham said he considered removing Vanover from his kick-return duties in the first half, but decided not to make a change during the game.

Kansas City had 177 rushing yards, prompting Denver Coach Mike Shanahan to say, “We’re not going to win many games when we don’t stop the run better than that.”

The Chiefs converted nine of 19 third-down opportunities.