Broncos hand Chiefs first loss of season

Demaryius Thomas (88) stiff arms his way past Eric Berry (29) after a second quarter catch.(Photo Isaiah Downing USA TODAY Sports)

Story HighlightsPeyton Manning threw for 323 yards and gasp just one TD as Broncos won on strength of running gameKnowshon Moreno rushed for 79 yards on 27 carries while rookie Montee Ball ran for two scoresBroncos and Chiefs both move to 9 1 with the rematch set for Dec. 1 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City

DENVER With quarterback Peyton Manning's balky right ankle wrapped up tight and then wrapped some more the Denver Broncos got their first statement win of the season 27 17 against the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

The Broncos for the first time all year didn't need Manning to be super Sunday night winning on the strength of their running game with a pair of touchdowns from rookie Montee Ball and a defense that sacked Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith three times.

BOX SCORE Broncos 27 Chiefs 17

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The Broncos and Chiefs both move to 9 1 with what should be an epic rematch set for Dec. 1 at Arrowhead Stadium.

But perhaps the best news for the Broncos is that after a week of agony throughout the Rocky Mountain Region about the state of Manning's ankle he emerged from Sunday's game unscathed. He was barely touched by the Chiefs who entered the game with an NFL best 36 sacks.

The only time Manning hit the grass was when he dove to try to make a tackle after a first quarter fumble his sixth lost fumble of the season and perhaps the only blemish on his MVP caliber season.

That fumble on a botched handoff with Ball provided a glimpse for the 77 022 Broncos fans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High a group that largely poo poo'ed the Chiefs on social media and talk radio all week of just how the Chiefs won each of their first nine games.

But that was it.

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The Chiefs' vaunted pass rush with its league leading 36 sacks in the first nine games never arrived as Manning operated the Broncos' offense quickly and with just enough precision. The Chiefs' secondary which entered the game looking like perhaps the only group deep enough to match up with the Broncos' trio of receivers could only survive for so long before Manning struck.

Near the end of the first quarter the Chiefs defense brought nine players up to the line of scrimmage threatening to blitz. But that left Marcus Cooper a rookie cornerback all alone with just one deep safety for help against Demaryius Thomas. It was an easy pitch and catch for a 70 yard gain down the right sideline. Manning hit tight end Julius Thomas for a touchdown two plays later and suddenly the Chiefs down 10 0 faced their biggest deficit of the season.

Perhaps it will all be different in two weeks in Arrowhead where the crowd won't be silent for Manning and where Tamba Hali and Justin Houston could get a jump on the Broncos' shaky offensive tackles.

But the questions about the Chiefs' offense will remain. When the Chiefs found themselves needing to match the Broncos score for score Sunday they couldn't keep up.

Smith completed 21 of 45 passes for 230 yards and Jamaal Charles the team's leading rusher and receiver ran for just 78 yards on 16 carries and had just two catches for minus 6 yards. The Chiefs managed just a handful of chunk plays like a 35 yard run by Charles a 26 yard pass to Dwayne Bowe and 17 yard scramble by Smith. Smith even tossed a pair of touchdowns to Bowe and tight end Anthony Fasano but it wasn't enough.

And 17 points likely won't be enough later against the Broncos.

Denver will have some more injury issues to deal with beyond Manning's ankle as they head to New England for another crucial AFC game next week. Tight end Julius Thomas and wide receiver Wes Welker left the game in the second half and did not return. Thomas paced on the sideline throughout the fourth quarter and Welker the former Patriot was evaluated for a concussion.

Safety Rahim Moore left the game in the first half with an injury to his lower right leg and did not return.

Follow national NFL reporter Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter bylindsayhjones.

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