K.C. Slams Oakland

If the Kansas City Chiefs ever learned to play the first three quarters, they’d be unbeatable.

So far, with a lot of luck, they’re just unbeaten after three games.

Helped by a screen from an official, James Hasty returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown 4:27 into overtime to give the Chiefs a 23-17 home win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

“It was,” Hasty conceded “just a freak play.”

It was the second week in a row that Kansas City came back from a fourth quarter deficit to win - last week they scored twice in the final five minutes to tie it, then beat the New York Giants, 20-17 in overtime.

“We’ve raised the ticket prices, people have to get their money’s worth,” said Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer. “But I don’t know if I can take 20 games at this pace.”

For the Raiders, the freak play that led to the winning touchdown demonstrated that the red demon from Kansas City that plagued them during their 13 years in Los Angeles won’t disappear just because they’re back in Oakland. The gremlins this time were in the form of umpire Jeff Rice, who blocked Tim Brown’s pass route on Hasty’s interception.

The Raiders dominated for three quarters, led 17-7 entering the fourth period, but suddenly fell apart, losing for the eighth straight time at Arrowhead Stadium and the 11th time in their last 12 games with the Chiefs.

Broncos 38, Redskins 31

The king of comebacks did it again.

John Elway threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to rookie Rod Smith on the final play of the game and gave Denver a home win against devastated Washington.

With the game about ready to go into overtime tied 31-31, Elway took the snap on a fourth down with 6 seconds left. He dropped back, then stepped up to avoid the rush and found Smith at the goal line. He leaped and beat the Redskins’ Darrell Green to the ball.

The 35-year-old Elway now has his the 35th fourth-quarter comeback of his career.

Cowboys 23, Vikings 17 (OT)

Dallas wasn’t super, just good enough to win again.

Emmitt Smith overcame a rare fumble with a 31-yard touchdown run in overtime to give visiting Dallas a victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Smith, who also scored on a 2-yard dive in the fourth quarter, broke through a huge hole on the left side and outran Charles Mincy to the end zone marker just 2:26 into overtime.

Falcons 27, Saints 24, (OT)

Morten Andersen kicked the winning field goal at the Superdome, just as he had done so many times in the past. This time, however, his 21-yarder gave Atlanta the overtime victory against New Orleans.

Andersen, who now has 22 game-winning field goals in his career, made the winning kick eight times for the Saints against the Falcons before jumping to the NFC West rival prior to training camp in a salary dispute.

Chargers 27, Eagles 21

Junior Seau and Andre Coleman proved to be the problem for Philadelphia, not Randall Cunningham.

Seau scored on a 29-yard fumble return and Coleman returned a punt 88 yards for a score as San Diego rallied from a 14-0 deficit with a 17-point explosion in a 3:11 span for a victory host Philadelphia.

Bears 25, Buccaneeers 6

Chicago ruined Tampa Bay’s home opener under new management, intercepting two passes and blocking a punt within a two-minute span of the third quarter to pull away for the win.

Jeremy Lincoln returned one of the interceptions 32 yards to set up Robert Green’s 7-yard touchdown run. Anthony Marshall blocked Reggie Roby’s punt four plays later, picked up the ball and ran 11 yards for a TD that broke open the game slightly three minutes into the second half.

Jets 27, Jaguars 10

New York quarterback Boomer Esiason found rookie Wayne Chrebet for a touchdown on the first drive of the game, then connected with rookie Kyle Brady for another score on their opening series of the second half to lead New York to a home win against Jacksonville.

49ers 28, Patriots 3

Steve Young turned his duel with Drew Bledsoe into a one-sided affair with plenty of help from his defense.

Young threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as host San Francisco dominated New England and left Bledsoe still looking for his first TD pass of the season.

Packers 14, Giants 6

Brett Favre threw touchdown passes to Mark Ingram and Robert Brooks and Green Bay’s defense made it stand up over visiting New York.

Cardinals 20, Lions 17

Barry Sanders’ first fumble in three seasons set up Arizona’s final scoring drive and the Cardinals, overcoming a 17-6 deficit, defeated host Detroit. Dave Krieg passed to Anthony Edwards with 2:31 remaining for the go-ahead score.

Browns 14, Oilers 7

Cleveland cornerback Stevon Moore intercepted three passes by backup starter Will Furrer, a Pullman High grad, in the first half, helping the Browns get off to a 7-0 lead while Browns’ quarterback Vinny Testaverde rallied from a poor first half with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jackson with 9:17 to play, giving Cleveland the win at the Astrodome.

Bills 20, Colts 14

Jim Kelly bounced back from the worst game of his career and directed Buffalo on two first-half touchdown drives as the Bills held off visiting Indianapolis.

Rams 31, Panthers 10

St. Louis Rams spoiled Carolina’s inaugural home game at Clemson, S.C., by forcing seven Panther turnovers and turning four of those into 24 points on the way to a victory.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Sunday’s best Quarterbacks Jeff George, Falcons 27-39-386 Jim Everett, Rams 29-43-370 Running backs Barry Sanders, Lions 24-147-1 Emmitt Smith, Cowboys 20-150-2 Receivers Eric Metcalf, Falcons 11-155-0 Bret Perriman, Lions 7-114-1