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Holmes Sets Record, Chiefs Rip Bears 31-3

Posted on: Sunday, 28 December 2003, 06:00 CST

Priest Holmes scored twice, erasing NFL records by Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears 31-3 Sunday for their 13th straight home win.

The Chiefs (13-3) were already locked into the No. 2 seed and guaranteed a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. But blowout losses in two of their last three games had shaken confidence in a team with one of the league's lowest-ranked defenses.

The Bears finished 7-9 amid speculaton coach Dick Jauron's job was in jeopardy. Jauron, who began his Bears career with a victory over Kansas City in the 1999 opener, is 35-46 in five seasons.

Holmes strutted across the goal line on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, breaking the NFL record of 25 TDs rushing Smith set for Dallas in 1995.

Greg Wesley's interception of Kordell Stewart's pass seemed to snap the Chiefs out of a lethargy. Holmes capped the ensuing 28-yard drive with a 2-yard TD for a 21-3 lead with 58 seconds left in the third period. Vaulting a pack of linemen, he broke the overall record of 26 touchdowns Faulk scored for St. Louis in 2000.

Stewart entered the game in the second quarter when rookie quarterback Rex Grossman injured his hand. Stewart was 5-for-15 for 86 yards and two interceptions.

The Chiefs made it 24-3 on Morten Andersen's 38-yard field goal after the Bears had penalties for pass interference and for arguing the call.

A defensive holding penalty helped the Chiefs sustain a 67-yard drive in the fourth quarter capped by rookie Larry Johnson's 5-yard run.

By midway through the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had benched Holmes and quarterback Trent Green, whose 7-yard TD pass to Eddie Kennison put the Chiefs on top 14-0.

The defense, which had fallen to 30th overall, gave up only a 48-yard field goal by Brad Maynard.

Certain to fuel Jauron's critics were two botched scoring opportunities. At the end of the first half, they had a third down on the Chiefs 8 with 12 seconds left.

The Bears were out of timeouts, but instead of throwing into the end zone, Stewart tossed a flare pass to Bobby Wade, who was tackled in bounds.

Another embarrassing gaffe came in the fourth quarter when Chris Chandler, who replaced the ineffective Stewart, hit David Terrell over the middle for a long gainer.

There was no defender near him, but Terrell inexplicably cut right and headed straight for safety Shaunhard Harts, who tackled him on the 17. Then successive sacks by R-Kal Truluck pushed the Bears out of field-goal range.

Kansas City's Dante Hall, who had four touchdown kick returns in the first five games, failed to get his record fifth.

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