Chiefs Won’t Be Held Up

For about two minutes, Todd Peterson and Gary Stills may have been the most miserable men in Kansas City.

Fortunately for them, there are second chances. Peterson kicked a 32-yard field goal with 6:10 left in overtime and--just as important--Stills did not get called for holding.

Peterson’s fourth field goal of the game gave the Chiefs a wild 26-23 victory Sunday over a Denver team reduced to its third-string quarterback.

“I just said a little prayer,” said Peterson. “We have gone through some tough times.”

With a little more than eight minutes left in overtime, Peterson’s apparent game-winner from 31 yards was wiped out by Stills’ holding penalty.

Moved back 10 yards, Peterson’s next kick banged off the right upright.

“It was bizarre,” said Peterson, who had missed from 28 yards in the second half.

The Chiefs (4-9) did not waste time after Trent Green’s 56-yard pass play to Marvin “Snoop” Minnis carried to the Denver 12. Coach Dick Vermeil immediately ordered Peterson and the kicking unit onto the field.

“I wanted to get out of here,” said Vermeil, who broke into tears while talking about the win.

“Excuse me,” he said, regaining his composure. “I’m proud of these guys.”

The loss probably knocked the Broncos (7-7) out of playoff contention. Gus Frerotte, who started for the injured Brian Griese, left late in the third quarter with a separated shoulder he sustained while diving into the end zone on a four-yard touchdown run that cut the Chiefs’ lead to 20-17.

Denver Coach Mike Shanahan said he did not know how long Frerotte might be out. The Broncos have their bye this week and Griese, who sat out with a concussion, could be ready.

Jarious Jackson, who had never completed an NFL pass, was seven for 12 for 73 yards.

Priest Holmes, the NFL rushing leader, had 121 yards in 29 carries and became the first Chief with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in 10 years.

In the wild fourth quarter, Jackson hit Dwayne Carswell for 16 yards, his first NFL completion, and set up Jason Elam’s 36-yard field goal that made it 20-20.

Peterson put the Chiefs on top, 23-20, with 5:12 left with a 41-yard field goal following a fumble by Denver’s Tony Carter.

But Jackson guided the Broncos 40 yards with 1:13 left and Elam’s 36-yard field goal tied the score, 23-23.