*Broncos rout Chiefs to snap two-game slide*
By Tony Desiere PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
DENVER (Ticker) - The Denver Broncos' offense finally broke out. It might still be too late to get them into the playoffs.
Jay Cutler threw a career-high four touchdown passes and running back Selvin Young rushed for 156 yards as the Broncos routed the Kansas City Chiefs, 41-7, on Sunday.
Denver (6-7) snapped a two-game losing streak but remained two games behind San Diego in the AFC West.
The Chargers stayed in control of the division by rallying for a 23-17 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
"Coming into the game, I was hoping for a complete game," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "I thought we did that today on offense, defense and special teams. It was a total team effort out there today."
The Broncos wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, driving 77 yards on four plays to grab a 7-0 lead on Cutler's 21-yard touchdown to Brandon Stokley just 1:40 into the contest.
Cutler was sharp throughout, completing 20-of-27 passes for 244 yards with no interceptions.
"He made some great plays against the defense," Shanahan added. "From a stat standpoint, definitely his best game this year."
Cutler was surprised how easily the Broncos dominated the Chiefs, who suffered their sixth straight loss. Denver outgained Kansas City by more than a three-to-one margin.
"You don't get many of these in the NFL," Cutler said. "Teams are just so tough that it is hard to get victories like this."
On its second possession, Denver marched 84 yards on seven plays to take a 14-0 lead on Travis Henry's 1-yard run.
It was Henry's first game since winning a successful appeal of a drug test on Tuesday that would have resulted in a one-year suspension.
"Our defense put our offense in a bad way," Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said. "We tried to blitz them but didn't get there. We can't fall behind like we did because we cannot just drop back and pass."
Down two touchdowns at the start of the second quarter, the Chiefs started to gamble. They converted three fourth downs before Brodie Croyle tossed a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez 6:09 left in the half.
But that was the lone bright spot for the Chiefs as Croyle struggled throughout, completing only 15-of 29 for 132 yards with an interception and two fumbles.
"I'm frustrated," Croyle said. "We only had that one drive. I put our defense in a bad situation."
Instead of only trailing by seven at the intermission, the Chiefs gave up 10 points in the final two minutes of the half.
Cutler tossed an 8-yard TD strike to Brandon Marshall with 1:55 left and Jason Elam kicked a 37-yard field as time expired made it 24-7 at the intermission.
In the second half, the Broncos' defense got into the act, converting a pair of turnovers into two touchdowns.
While harassing Croyle, Denver held the Chiefs to just 16 yards rushing on 17 carries.
"We haven't played this well since maybe the first two weeks of the year," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "We know what we are capable of and we have to do it."
Lineman Elvis Dumervil keyed the Broncos' defensive effort with three sacks of Croyle and a forced fumble that led to a touchdown.
"It's a good feeling," Dumervil said. "We had more opportunities than we did last week (against Oakland) to get to the quarterback. We were getting good push up front."
"He's got quickness, he's tough and he knocked out two defensive ends," Shanahan said of Dumervil. "He has a lot of confidence and that will just keep on growing."
