Portis runs for 218 yards

DENVER (AP) -- Clinton Portis had already scored four touchdowns,

so Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer figured it was time to pound

the ball into the line and salt away the win.

Allen's Analysis

Question on the Chiefs: Was this simply a result of a bitter rivalry or did Denver expose a weakness? Denver merely spotlighted a weakness the Bengals exposed a few weeks ago: the Chiefs' woeful run defense. The lack of defense is going to be a hindrance to the Chiefs because it could allow good teams to keep up with its explosive offense. This defense has to start helping the offense or it could lead to an early playoff exit. Question on the Broncos: Was there some extra motivation because of Kennison's comments last week? There was motivation for the coach Shanahan, but maybe not the players. I'm sure Kennison's comments sharpened his play calling and probably helped this team play a flawless game. I'm sure Shanahan wants more opponents to talk before games. Eric Allen played cornerback for 14 NFL seasons with the Eagles, Saints and Raiders.

But receiver Rod Smith had other ideas. He wanted Portis to

score and finish things off right.

That's just what he did.

Portis scored from 53 yards for his team-record fifth touchdown

and finished with 218 yards, helping Denver stay in the AFC playoff

hunt with a wild 45-27 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on

Sunday.

"Jake was like 'Just protect the ball, let's move the ball and

we can run out the clock," said Portis who finished 10 yards

short of his career high, set in the final game of 2002.

"Rod was like 'Just score.' And I did. I need to stop taking

Jake's advice and listen to Rod more often."

Portis impressed teammates with a 34-carry, 170-yard game in the

rain last week against Oakland, but was even better this time.

He had touchdown runs of 11 and 1 yards in the first half, then

added scores of 59, 28 and the final 53-yarder in the second.

Portis had 188 yards after halftime and finished with his fifth

consecutive 100-yard game -- third straight with at least 160 yards.

He has 2,960 yards his first two seasons, moving past LaDainian

Tomlinson (2,919) and Ottis Anderson (2,957) for fourth in league

history.

"I kind of expect it, because every time he touches the ball

he's got a chance to go the distance," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan

said. "He has made so many big plays and it seems like he gets

stronger as the game goes on."

Portis' effort helped Denver (8-5) tie Miami for the final AFC

playoff spot and prevented Kansas City (11-2) from winning its

first division title since 1997.

Trent Green threw for 397 yards and Priest Holmes scored two

touchdowns, but the Chiefs struggled after a big first half to lose

for the second time in four weeks after a 9-0 start.

"I don't know what the problem was," Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil

said. "We couldn't make a first down, we couldn't stop them. When

that happens, you're not going to win many football games."

Denver scored on three of four possessions in the first half,

and kept rolling in the second to finish with 508 yards.

The Broncos opened the third quarter with a 78-yard scoring

drive, capped by Reuben Droughns' 3-yard touchdown catch that put

the Broncos up 24-21.

Portis took over from there.

He broke free up the middle on Denver's next drive, freezing

safety Jerome Woods with a move around the 30 before going in for a

59-yard touchdown.

Portis seemed bottled up at the line on Denver's next drive, but

waited for the hole to open and burst through for a 28-yard

touchdown.

He completed the rout on Denver's next play from scrimmage,

going off left tackle to put the Broncos up 45-21.

"It was an unbelievable day," Chiefs cornerback Eric Warfield

said. "It was his day. Not ours."

The second half was a contrast to the first, when the teams

traded scores as though it was an Arena League game.

Portis opened with an 11-yard touchdown run on Denver's first

drive. The Chiefs answered quickly, moving 66 yards in 13 plays for

Holmes' 2-yard touchdown run.

Kansas City had an answer -- of course -- scoring on Holmes'

1-yard dive. Dante Hall set it up with a 61-yard kickoff return to

Denver's 36.

Then something odd happened: Denver had to kick a field goal.

Jason Elam's 47-yarder made it 17-14.

Kansas City followed with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Green to

Eddie Kennison, who rankled the Broncos by predicting a Chiefs win

and criticizing coach Mike Shanahan.

Kennison celebrated by winding up for a windmill spike behind

the end zone, to the boos of the crowd. But it was Kansas City's

final points until Green scored on a 1-yard run with :02 left.

"It was humbling," Green said. "We had energy coming at

halftime and felt good about the position we had put ourselves. I'm

sure no one would have anticipated the way the second half

unfolded."Game notes
The NFL record for touchdowns in a game is six, held by

Ernie Neverls, Dub Jones and Gale Sayers. ... Denver's Shannon

Sharpe caught six passes to become the first tight end to reach 800

receptions (805). ... Kansas City G Will Shields played in his

172nd straight game, breaking Jack Rudnay's team record. ... Denver

played without WR/PR Deltha O'Neal, who spent most of last week in

the Bay Area with his father, who has cancer. ... The Broncos

averaged 8.44 yards per carry -- 270 yards on 32 carries -- breaking

the team record 8.09 set last Dec. 29 against Arizona.