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Limping out of the gate

Broncos lose second straight to open season

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Posted: Monday September 20, 1999 06:18 PM

Terrell Davis tries to elude Chiefs defenders Jerome Woods (21) and Donnie Edwards in the Broncos' 26-10 loss. AP

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Chiefs are happy John Elway's gone. The Denver Broncos probably wish they had him back.

Converting points off a Terrell Davis fumble and two turnovers by Brian Griese, the Chiefs beat the Broncos 26-10 on Sunday, dropping the two-time defending Super Bowl champions to 0-2 since Elway retired earlier this year.

"There's a big difference," Kansas City linebacker Donnie Edwards. "Elway wasn't just a great player. He also was a leader. Their guys really rallied around him and when the going got tough, they believed in him and they stepped it up.

"When you have a young quarterback, he doesn't have the history Elway had."

That young QB, Griese, was 11-of-16 for 107 yards, with one interception and one fumble, before being replaced by Bubby Brister with 9:17 left in the game. Brister didn't fare any better, throwing an interception that led to Pete Stoyanovich's fourth field goal, a 27-yarder with 2:14 left.

"We haven't been playing well," said Griese, who threw just three passes last year in his rookie season. "But we are not giving up as a team. I'm not giving up on myself."

Denver coach Mike Shanahan said Griese would remain the starter.

"I've got a lot of confidence in Brian. But it's 22 guys working together," he said.

Perhaps most embarrassed was Dale Carter, Kansas City's former Pro Bowl cornerback who was making his first appearance in Arrowhead Stadium since signing a free-agent contract with the Broncos.

Carter got beat twice on deep patterns by Derrick Alexander, who totaled 117 yards on six catches. He also nullified a 15-yard sack of Elvis Grbac when he was called for illegal contact on the Chiefs' last touchdown drive.

"I didn't have a great day," said Carter, who came into the Kansas City locker room after the game to greet his old teammates. "They came out and were the better team. It's a long season. We will definitely see them again."

The victory might have proved costly for the Chiefs (1-1), who got their first win under first-year head coach Gunther Cunningham. Kimble Anders, converted from fullback to running back this season, rushed for a career-high 142 yards but went out late with what could be an Achilles' tendon injury.

The Broncos cut the lead to 16-10 on the first play of the fourth on Davis' 1-yard leap following a Kansas City turnover deep in its own territory.

But then Elvis Grbac moved the Chiefs 66 yards on 9 plays, aided by Carter's penalty and capped by Bam Morris' 5-yard run with 9:25 to play for a 23-10 lead.

Alexander, who also went over 100 yards in the opener in Chicago, beat Carter for 30 yards on the drive.

"We didn't exchange too many words," Alexander said. "He told me 'good play.' I told him 'nice tackle.' Before the game we heard him talking, but during the game we just played football."

After a scoreless first quarter, Jason Elam put the Broncos on top 3-0 with a 50-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Then Griese, who did not throw an interception in Denver's 38-21 loss to Miami last Monday night, was picked off by safety Jerome Woods on the Chiefs 43. A few minutes later, Stoyanovich made it 3-3 with a 19-yarder.

As the last second ticked off the clock in the first half, Stoyanovich kicked a 42-yarder for a 6-3 lead.

Early in the third quarter, Cris Dishman recovered Davis' fumble and Alexander immediately beat Carter on a 49-yard gain to the 6, setting up Tony Richardson's 1-yard score.

Derrick Thomas sacked Griese, stripped him of the ball and recovered the fumble on the Denver 27 late in the third, and Stoyanovich converted a 44-yarder for a 16-3 lead.

Davis, who had 61 yards against Miami, gained 79 yards on 21 carries against a Chiefs' defense that was specially geared to stop him.

"This team needed a victory," Chiefs center Tim Grunhard said. "We needed something to hang our hat on, to build confidence."

Notes: Elam needs six points to pass Jim Turner for first place on the Broncos' career scoring list. Elam has 737 points. ... Kansas City's 16-point margin of victory was its widest over Denver since the Chiefs won 42-20 on Dec. 27, 1992. ... Stoyanovich's four field goals tied his career high. ... Denver linebacker John Mobley and Chiefs guard Dave Szott both sprained knees in the first half and did not return. Szott's sprain was an aggravation of an earlier injury. ... Shannon Sharpe caught six passes for 52 yards, giving him 6,858 yards receiving for the Broncos. He needs 15 yards to pass Lionel Taylor for the team record. ... Broncos right tackle Matt Lepsis was flagged four times for false starts.

 

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