OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Kansas City Chiefs continued the best start in franchise history, barely.
Tim Brown caught a pass with his back to the goal line as time expired, allowing the Chiefs to escape with a 17-10 victory over the rival Oakland Raiders and remain one of only two unbeaten teams in the NFL.
The Chiefs had knocked out quarterback Rich Gannon and built a 14-point lead with less than five minutes remaining before Oakland began a furious comeback.
With unproven Marques Tuiasosopo under center, the Raiders cut their deficit to a touchdown with 2:25 remaining when fullback Zack Crockett scored on a one-yard run.
Kansas City went three-and-out on its next possession, missing a first down by inches, and the Raiders got the ball at their own 6-yard line with 1:47 left. Tuiasosopo marched his team to Oakland's 14 with seven seconds left before taking the final snap.
The fourth-year quarterback scrambled right out of the pocket and found Brown, who stepped out of the end zone to make the catch and immediately was gang-tackled by safeties Jerome Woods and Greg Wesley.
"We keep finding ways to win," quarterback Trent Green said. "We're 3-0 in our division. Winning a division game on the road is always key. We're a hungry team that hasn't been there in a while."
Priest Holmes and Green scored on two-yard runs for the Chiefs, who improved to 7-0, continuing the best start and matching the longest winning streak in the 43-year history of the franchise.
The Minnesota Vikings are the only other unbeaten team in the NFL at 6-0.
The defending AFC champion Raiders fell to 2-5 and lost Gannon to a shoulder injury. He did not play in the second half after being blindsided by linebacker Shawn Barber in the final minute of the first half.
The NFL's reigning Most Valuable Player, Gannon tested his throwing shoulder just before the start of the third quarter but could not continue. He completed 10-of-19 passes for only 58 yards with an interception.
"There was no way I could have played," he said. "Marcus did an admirable job. He played hard, but it was too late."
While Oakland's offense continued to sputter, its defense held the Chiefs in check. Kansas City had averaged more than 32 points per game this season.
Green was 11-of-22 for 206 yards with an interception. Tight end Tony Gonzalez caught three passes, increasing his franchise-record reception total to 417, for 87 yards.
The Chiefs opened the scoring on Green's short run with 4:16 left in the first quarter. Green set up the three-play, 44-yard drive with a 43-yard pass to Eddie Kennison.
Morten Andersen kicked a 37-yard field goal with 68 seconds to play in the first half, making it 10-0.
With 34 seconds left in the half, Gannon dropped back on a 3rd-and-4 but was drilled from behind by Barber. Gannon immediately began to favor his shoulder and did not return.
"I don't know the severity of Rich Gannon's shoulder injury, but he said he couldn't throw," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said.
After the teams traded empty possessions and interceptions in the third quarter, Sebastien Janikowski got Oakland on the board 6:54 into the fourth with a 27-yard field goal.
Raiders cornerback Phillip Buchanon then gave away the game, muffing a punt at his own 25. Backup receiver Marc Boerigter recovered it at the 11.
"I saw him miss it and the ball rolling," Boerigter said. "I knew I couldn't advance it. I just fell on it. I was able to beat the double-team on the outside."
Buchanon had picked off a pass earlier in the game.
Holmes gave the Chiefs a 17-3 lead with 4:57 to play when he scored from two yards. The league's reigning Offensive Player of the Year carried 27 times for 123 yards and caught another four passes for 50 yards.
With the Chiefs in a prevent, Oakland needed only 2:32 to march 65 yards in seven plays. Crockett finished the drive with a one-yard run up the middle with 2:25 to play.
Kansas City then failed to get a first down, giving the Raiders one last chance. They started their drive at their own 6 following an outstanding punt by Jason Baker.
Tuiasosopo completed a 23-yard pass to Jerry Rice on 3rd-and-3 to get things going, then hit Jerry Porter for 35 yards. Faced with a 4th-and-10, he found Rice again, this time for 15 yards, giving Oakland a first down at the 14.
Instead of throwing the ball to the ground to stop the clock, Tuiasosopo faked a spike and threw incomplete to Tim Brown on the left sideline. It was almost intercepted.
The Raiders had only seven seconds to score the tying touchdown. Tuiasosopo rolled right and threw to an open Brown near the end zone, but Oakland came up just short.
"This one's really tough," Callahan said.
