A win for the Chiefs

BALTIMORE – Winless no more, the Kansas City Chiefs rendered the Baltimore Ravens defenseless with an almost unimaginable display of ball control and patience.

Priest Holmes ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and the Chiefs wore down the highly touted Baltimore defense in a 27-24 victory Monday night.

Trent Green went 21 of 31 for 223 yards to help Kansas City (1-3) to its first win since Dec. 28. After going 13-3 a year ago, the Chiefs were off to their worst start since 1980.

Through three quarters, Kansas City had 22 first downs compared to four for the Ravens and a 361-126 advantage in yardage. A 1-yard touchdown run by Holmes on the first play of the fourth quarter put the Chiefs up 27-17, and that proved to be enough to end the Ravens’ seven-game home winning streak.

Holmes, who played for Baltimore from 1997-2000, became the first player to run for 100 yards against the Ravens in 10 games. He carried 33 times, 22 in the first half.

Baltimore’s last loss at home was last year to the Chiefs by a 17-10 score. Monday night, Kansas City had 17 points by halftime.

After Baltimore (2-2) closed to 27-24 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jamal Lewis with 9:14 to go, the Chiefs methodically moved downfield in seven plays before a punt left the Ravens at their own 14 with 5:50 left.

Baltimore went nowhere, but got the ball back on its own 27 with 2:33 remaining. The Ravens advanced to their own 40 before a fourth-down pass slipped off the fingers of wide receiver Kevin Johnson.

Lewis, the NFL rushing leader a year ago, was held to 73 yards on 15 carries.