Chiefs 27, Ravens 24

BALTIMORE (AP) — Now that they've got that elusive first win out of the way, the Kansas City Chiefs should find life quite a bit more tolerable.

After going through the torment and ridicule associated with an 0-3 start, the Chiefs righted themselves Monday night by beating the Baltimore Ravens 27-24.

”This doesn't get us into the playoffs, but it gets us going,” coach Dick Vermeil said. ”To come in here and win when you've already lost three and people have written you off and took a lot of sarcastic shots at us, to do what they did, I respect them and love them for it.”

The Chiefs dominated a highly touted Baltimore defense with a formidable display of ball control. Priest Holmes ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns, and Kansas City nearly doubled the Ravens' numbers in yardage and time of possession.

”To think that we would be able to control the clock like we did, that's incredible,” said quarterback Trent Green, who went 21-for-31 for 223 yards and a touchdown.

By holding the ball for 39 minutes, 43 seconds, the Chiefs effectively kept Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis off the field. Lewis finished with 73 yards on only 15 carries.

”If you're the Kansas City Chiefs, what would you do? You'd keep our offense off the field so we don't run it down their throats,” Lewis said.

After going 13-3 a year ago, the Chiefs were off to their worst start since 1980. Now they can attempt to build on their first win since Dec. 28.

”We had to come in here and earn respect, and I think we did,” defensive tackle Lional Dalton said.

Kansas City finished with a 398-207 advantage in total net yards. Were it not for a trick play that resulted in a touchdown pass and a 58-yard punt return for a score by rookie B.J. Sams, Baltimore (2-2) wouldn't have even been close.

”It's very disappointing to not play as physical as we're capable of,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said. ”They were more physical in every facet of it, which is something unique for us. We are not going to win too many games when we're not playing our game, if they out-physical us.”

Through three quarters, Kansas City had 22 first downs and limited the Ravens to just four. 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.

”We were fortunate to do it in Raven-esque fashion,” Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said. ”People have been talking and putting us down, but we're making a turnaround.”

Holmes, who played for Baltimore from 1997-00, became the first player in 10 games to run for 100 yards against the Ravens. 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. On Monday night, Kansas City had 17 points by halftime.

”They came out, had a nice rhythm and made plays,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said.

After Baltimore closed to 27-24 on Jamal Lewis' 1-yard touchdown run 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.

Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller went 10-for-17 for 154 yards. His lone touchdown pass came after Jamal Lewis tossed him a lateral, and Boller hit Randy Hymes in stride for a 57-yard first-half score.

”We have to hit those third-down passes and run the ball,” Boller said. ”It's our job to give our defense a rest. We have to have long drives to do that.”

Baltimore did not have a drive that lasted more than nine plays. The Chiefs had four possessions of 10 plays or more.

”We will have days like this,” Ray Lewis said. ”We need to move on and get better.”