The Denver Broncos maintained the pressure on the New England Patriots in the race for the number one seed in the AFC as they eased to a 29-16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
John Fox's side went ahead on their first possession as Peyton Manning drove his team downfield before he found Demaryius Thomas in the endzone for a 23-yard score.
The visitors extended their advantage when CJ Anderson carved his way through the Chiefs' defense on the ground, and he collected a short pass from Manning in the redzone to notch a 15-yard touchdown.
In the second quarter, the Broncos had the chance to score their third touchdown of the game, but Jacob Tamme and Thomas had drops in the endzone, which forced Connor Barth to kick a 22-yard field goal.
The Chiefs finally got into the game when Jamaal Charles managed to raid into Broncos' territory, and that allowed Alex Smith to use play-action to find Anthony Fasano in the endzone for a 20-yard score.
Manning engineered a drive late in the half to put his side on the Chiefs' five-yard line, but he failed to find the endzone, and Barth kicked a 24-yard field goal to put his side in control of the game.
In the second half, the Chiefs forced a turnover when Justin Houston strip-sacked Manning, but Smith and his offense were unable to take advantage as they could only muster a field goal from the boot of Cairo Santos.
The Broncos responded with a field goal to maintain their lead as they were kept out of the endzone, Barth firing his kick between the posts from 30 yards.
Barth added another 33-yarder after the Chiefs were unlucky to lose possession of the ball when Britton Colquitt's scuffed punt hit the leg of Marcus Cooper and bounced into the hands of Omar Bolden.
However, the Chiefs got back into the game when Charles beat the tackle of Tony Carter to score a 12-yard touchdown having been found by Smith on a curl route. The home side went for two but Smith's pass to Fasano was broken up by Brandon Marshall.
Denver put the game beyond the reach of Andy Reid's men with another field goal from Barth, and their defense made a late stand to stop the Chiefs' offense as Rahim Moore forced a fumble from Donnie Avery to secure their ninth win of the season.
Simon Sinclair
