KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Having already clinched a division title and a playoff berth, Priest Holmes' run at history was the only things for the Kansas City Chiefs to address.
Holmes reached the end zone twice in a 31-3 win over the Chicago Bears to set a pair of NFL records - most touchdowns and most rushing scores in a single season.
Holmes entered the day tied with Emmitt Smith for most rushing TDs with 25 and was one behind Marshall Faulk's total of 26 set in 2000. He took care of both marks as the Chiefs (13-3) completed their best regular season since 1997.
The three-time Pro Bowl running back, who started in Baltimore's Super Bowl victory in 2000 and totaled 24 TDs last season, eclipsed Smith's mark on a one-yard scoring run with 13:40 left in the second quarter. He took a pitch from Trent Green on a sweep play to the left and tip-toed into the end zone.
The crowd responded with a standing ovation as Holmes celebrated with his teammates in the end zone before running to the sideline to hug coach Dick Vermeil.
"I feel joy, excitement," Holmes said. "Things were happening so fast, being a running back we can always stop on the dime and that's what happened."
"We wanted Priest Holmes to leave with both records today," Vermeil said. "That's an unbelievable accomplishment when you stop and think how many running backs have carried the ball in the National Football League and nobody's done it more efficiently in the goal line area, scoring touchdowns than that guy."
Vermeil then gave Holmes a chance to make history when he decided to go for it on 4th-and-goal with 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter. With the fans urging him on, Holmes leaped over the middle into the end zone with 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Holmes rushed for 12 TDs in the last five games and finished the day with 50 yards on 20 carries, giving him 1,420 yards this season.
"Well, the first one I wanted to savior the moment so I had to walk in and the second one was a matter of getting up high enough off the ground to get across the line of scrimmage," Holmes said. "I know once your up in the air, it's all just a matter of momentum."
The Chiefs took a 14-0 lead into the locker room behind Holmes' first TD and a six-yard TD catch by Eddie Kennison. They were ahead 14-3 when safety Greg Wesley intercepted Kordell Stewart at the Chicago 32 and Holmes capped the ensuing drive by breaking Faulk's record.
Chicago concluded its fourth losing season in coach Dick Jauron's five-year tenure. The Bears were a surprising 13-3 two years ago but just 11-21 in the last two seasons and Sunday's visit to Kansas City may have been his final game with Chicago.
"We'll find that out," Jauron said. "We'll find that out pretty quickly. "Through the course of the year, you get a sense of the guys and these are a really good group of guys. You know obviously we got a ways to go but I think out of this group will come a fine football team."
