Johnson powers Chiefs to victory

The NFL rushing leader ran for 157 yards in the 19-10 win over Denver.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- NFL rushing leader Larry Johnson made the Denver Broncos' fifth-ranked run defense look ordinary.
Johnson ran for 157 yards, Lawrence Tynes kicked four field goals and Kansas City inaugurated the league's new Thanksgiving tripleheader with a 19-10 victory over the Broncos on Thursday night.
The Chiefs (7-4) charged into a second-place tie with Denver in the AFC West and gave the Broncos (7-4) their first two-game losing streak since late in 2004.
Johnson, raising his league-leading rushing total to 1,202 yards, consistently burned the Broncos with 8- and 10-yard gains, using his usual assortment of power moves and start-and-stop elusiveness. The Broncos came in giving up a shade better than 90 yards per game on the ground.
Johnson scored the Chiefs' only touchdown on a 1-yard vault late in the second quarter following a crucial mistake by the Broncos' Ebenezer Ekuban, who was called for roughing the passer on a failed third-and-4 play from the 9.
Tynes hit from 24, 34, 29 and 21 yards for the Chiefs, who have put themselves in a strong playoff position by shaking off a host of injuries and winning five of their last six.
Over the top
Johnson had a 21-yard run on the scoring drive that ended early in the fourth to push his rushing total to 108 yards, the seventh game this season he has rushed for more than 100 yards.
The Chiefs, who were 0-for-3 on third-down plays in the first half, converted two third-down plays on the 51-yard, 10-play drive to start the third quarter. Trent Green completed passes of seven yards to Tony Gonzalez and 31 yards to Samie Parker on third downs to keep the drive alive.
Tynes has kicked 17 field goals in 22 attempts this season.
The Broncos went 64 yards on 10 plays for their first touchdown on their initial possession of the second half. Stephen Alexander caught a 1-yard pass from Jake Plummer for the score.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.