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SPORTS Wednesday 1 november 2017
Chiefs force 5 TOs, beat Broncos 29-19 in AFC West showdown

By DAVE SKRETTA eight picks and only three Rather than keep the ball
AP Sports Writer TD passes in the past five in the hands of Smith, who
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) games. The Broncos have hasn’t thrown a pick all
— The Kansas City Chiefs lost all but one of them. season, he let wide receiv-
proved Monday night they “I just turned it over,” he er Tyreek Hill throw it — and
can play a little defense, said glumly. “A couple of he was intercepted in the
too. bad decisions.” end zone.
The same group that strug- It was a crucial bounce- “I messed it up myself,” he
gled to contain the Steel- back win for the Chiefs, said. “I know coach Reid
ers and Raiders in back- who had their 12-game isn’t going to let me throw
to-back losses shut down AFC West winning streak another one.”
Denver, picking off Trevor snapped 10 days ago in Still, Kansas City led 20-3
Siemian three times, pick- Oakland. The Chiefs had when the Broncos’ offense
ing up two fumbles and won five straight to start finally found some rhythm.
taking one of them back the season before losing They marched 60 yards to
for a touchdown in a 29-19 to the Steelers and then to set up their second field Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) is sacked by
victory over their AFC West the Raiders on Derek Carr’s goal by Brandon McMa- Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Bennie Logan (96), held
rivals. last-second touchdown nus, and then capped an by Denver Broncos offensive guard Ron Leary (65), during the
It was precisely the kind throw. 80-yard drive with Booker’s second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Mon-
of dominant performance It started just like old times, touchdown run. It was just day, Oct. 30, 2017.
the Chiefs (6-2) needed too: Jamaal Charles with the second time Denver Associated Press
against the Broncos (3- a run, the Chiefs with a had reached the end zone Chiefs defense held on game out of reach.
4), whose own league- touchdown. in 13-plus quarters, but it fourth-and-4 near midfield “It’s not what you want of-
leading defense held Alex The only difference was got Joseph’s team within to get the ball back. But- fensively,” Smith said with a
Smith and Co. in check all Charles, who went to four 20-13 with a quarter to ker added two more field wry grin. “You love having
night. Pro Bowls with the Chiefs, play. goals, the last with 4:41 left, him on the team and mak-
“Our defense really was back in Kansas City Butker answered with an- giving him 18 straight made ing those, but I’d rather
stepped up tonight,” with the Broncos. And the other field goal, and the attempts and putting the have him kicking PATs.”q
Chiefs coach Andy Reid TD came when the op-
said. “They showed a lot of portunistic Marcus Peters
fire.”Harrison Butker kicked stripped him, picked up
five field goals for Kansas the loose ball and returned
City, and Smith threw for it 45 yards for the opening
202 yards and a touch- score.
down. Most of it went to “That definitely changed
Travis Kelce, who hauled the dynamic of the game,”
in seven balls for 133 yards Chiefs defensive tackle
and the score. Chris Jones said.
But it was the turnovers When the Chiefs were on
that proved to be the dif- offense, they went right to
ference in the game. Kelce, who also had suc-
“That’s insane,” said Bron- cess against the Broncos in
cos coach Vance Jo- both of their meetings last
seph, who declined to say season. He beat Darian
whether a quarterback Stewart for a 29-yard TD
change may be neces- catch and a 14-0 lead.
sary. “You can’t win when “I want the ball every single
you turn the ball over five play. That’s just how I grew
times. The guys worked too up playing,” he said.
hard to have a big game The Chiefs were threaten-
to give it away five times.” ing to put the game out
Siemian finished 19 of 36 of reach later in the first
for 198 yards and a touch- quarter when Reid got
down, and has now thrown cute with the play-calling.