It was sort of a reunion between Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and Denver head coach Josh McDaniels. Both worked together in New England last year. It was the former offensive coordinator and his QB Kyle Orton who got the better deal of this one between AFC West rivals as the Chiefs lost 44-13 on the day they retired Derrick Thomas’ # 58.

Orton threw two touchdown passes and Denver (8-4) had 245 yards rushing. Correll Buckhalter ran for 113 yards and Knowshon Moreno had two touchdown runs. Kansas City gave up 17 plays of 10 yards or more. Cassel had a 14.6 quarterback rating before being pulled and the Chiefs finished with just 222 total yards.

The score was just 14-6 in favor of Denver when things fell apart in the second half. Cassel threw two interceptions in the third quarter and finished with 84 yards on 10-of-29 passing before being replaced by Brodie Croyle for the final 16:02.

The Chiefs tried a fake punt on their own 28, on 4th and 8th, another ill-advised decision by head coach Todd Haley. That led to a 44-yard field goal by Matt Prater. Cassel was intercepted by Andre Goodman, and the Broncos struck with Brandon Marshall’s seven yard touchdown. On the Chiefs, next drive, another Cassel interception led to the second of Prater’s three field goals, from 38 yards.

Goodman sealed it for Denver at the end of the third quarter, returning Jamaal Charles’ fumble 30 yards for a touchdown that put the Broncos up 34-6. Knowshon Moreno added an 18 yard touchdown run and Prater kicked his third field goal in the fourth after Jamaal Charles picked up a fourth quarter touchdown. Charles finished with 56 yards on 18 carries.