Chiefs keep heads

NASHVILLE -- Two of the league's most disappointing teams put on quite a show in prime time.

And after all the wild plays and big offensive numbers last night, a phantom penalty, followed by a 9-yard touchdown catch by Eddie Kennison, lifted the Kansas City Chiefs past the undermanned Tennessee Titans, 49-38.

Trent Green capped a 64-yard drive in just over a minute with his third touchdown pass. One play earlier, he was aided immensely by a personal foul on rookie Travis LaBoy for a hit to Green's helmet. But LaBoy clearly hit Green on the shoulder.

The teams combined for 925 yards, 233 by Titans receiver Drew Bennett, a career high and the most in the league this season. Bennett, a converted quarterback, caught three touchdown passes from Billy Volek, who threw for a career high 426 yards in replacing the injured Steve McNair.

Tennessee (4-9) gained 542 yards and lost.

But the Titans had gone ahead, 38-35, when rookie Randy Starks pounced on Tony Richardson's bobbled handoff at the Kansas City 17, and Gary Anderson kicked a 27-yard field goal with 1:39 remaining. Then the Chiefs (5-8), who got two long touchdown runs from Larry Johnson, surged back.

They completed the scoring on Kawika Mitchell's 39-yard return of a fumble as the Titans messed up a lateral play with 8 seconds remaining.

Johnson's 46-yard touchdown run helped the Chiefs tied the game at 28-28 in the third quarter.

Bennett caught a 7-yard TD pass at 7:22 of the third, giving him 212 yards receiving on 10 catches against one of the league's worst pass defenses.

That topped the 208 yards Denver receiver Rod Smith had Oct. 31 against Atlanta.

Kansas City answered right back with Johnson's TD run, the longest run of his career. He broke loose down the right sideline and scored at 6:29 to tie the game.

Volek, subbing for McNair for a second straight week, found Bennett early and often. Chris Brown had 15 carries for 91 yards but was sidelined in the third quarter by his aching left toe.

By the end of the third quarter, the Titans, who came into the game missing nine starters because of injuries, lost two more on their offensive line when right tackle Fred Miller limped off with a sore right ankle and center Justin Hartwig hurt a finger.

Volek was starting his fifth game this season in place McNair, the co-MVP of 2003 who watched from the sideline wearing a stocking cap instead of a helmet because of the bruised chest that has bothered him most of this season.

Kansas City had rallied from a 14-0 deficit when Green threw two TD passes in the second quarter, hitting a wide-open Kennison for a 58-yarder and Johnnie Morton on a 30-yarder in which Morton rolled into the end zone with 1:08 left in the half.

Derrick Blaylock also scored on a 1-yard run, tying the game at 21-21 on the opening drive of the third quarter.