DENVER (Ticker) -- The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to the playoffs. They better hope they don't see Clinton Portis again.
Portis rushed for 218 yards and five touchdowns as the Denver Broncos rolled to a 45-27 rout of the Chiefs, who still clinched a playoff berth.
Already one of the NFL's top running backs in just his second season, Portis enjoyed one of the best days of his career at the expense of the Chiefs, who came into the game with the league's best record.
Portis was held to 30 yards on 11 carries in the first half before exploding after intermission when the Broncos easily overcame a 21-17 deficit. In the second half, Portis scored on electrifying runs of 59, 28 and 53 yards. He also had scoring runs of 11 and one yard in the first half, falling one shy of matching the NFL record for most TD runs in a game.
"I kind of expect it, to be honest with you, just about every time he touches the ball he has a chance to go the distance," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "Seems like he gets stronger as the game goes on, and that was a big plus."
Portis, who was displaying a championship belt on the sidelines, made it known that he thinks he's the NFL's elite running back.
"I thought I went out and out-performed Priest Holmes in head-to-head competition, I can't help but feel that I am the best back in the NFL," Portis said. "So I brought my belt just in case I out-performed him, and I think I did that, and now I feel I am the best back in the NFL."
Portis' rushing yardage also was 10 shy of matching his career high. He has five straight 100-yard games, rushing for 770 yards during that span.
With Portis having a monster game, the Broncos (8-5) remained in the thick of the AFC wild card race. They are tied with Miami for the second wild card.
It also was a big game for Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, who was an efficient 20-of-29 for 238 yards and a touchdown.
Trent Green completed 34-of-47 passes for 397 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score for the Chiefs (11-2), who failed in their bid to clinch their first AFC West title since 1997. But they still secured a wild card spot when Miami lost at New England.
"It's a tough day to find out (about the playoffs)," Green said. "Coming into the season, we had a lot of goals. The first was to make the playoffs, and we've accomplished that. In due time, we'll be excited about that."
Priest Holmes added a pair of first-half touchdown runs for the Chiefs. But he was held to 44 yards on 12 carries.
Dante Hall, who returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a 24-23 win over the Broncos in October, had 11 catches for 124 yards. He also amassed 178 yards on six kickoff returns.
