Kansas City Chiefs steamroll Browns to remain unbeaten

PRIEST HOLMES had 158 combined yards and two rushing touchdowns and Trent Green threw for 368 yards and three scores, as the Kansas City Chiefs remained the National Football League’s lone unbeaten team with a 41-20 triumph over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

"I think how they played today is a good indication they weren't thinking about letting down or being 16-0," coach Dick Vermeil said.

"They were thinking about being 9-0. The only game that is important is the one we play next."

"Each Sunday is its own Sunday and we are taking it one game at a time," Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber said.

"We have got a 16-week hill to climb and we're going to take it one step at a time."

The Chiefs who will play their next three games against teams on with losing streaksrecords just dominate opponents and, in this one, their attacking offence made it seem easy.

Kansas City had 27 points at the half and when Cleveland closed within 34-20 late in the third quarter, Green sealed the contest with a fourth-quarter scoring strike to Eddie Kennison.

Green completed 29-of-42 passes and found Holmes, Kennison and tight end Tony Gonzalez seven times each.

Holmes had 92 yards on 19 carries and 66 yards receiving.

"We knew we were going to have to spread the ball around," Green said.

Jake Delhomme hit Steve Smith with a five-yard touchdown with 1.06 mins left in the fourth quarter to give Carolina a 27-24 victory over Tampa Bay and a stranglehold on the NFC South Division.

The first-place Panthers (7-2) swept the season series, winning 12-9 in overtime at Tampa Bay on September 14, and now own a three-game lead over the defending Super Bowl champions.

"To sweep those guys and to do it the way we've been doing it, that is huge for our confidence and it's huge for this organisation," said Panthers safety Mike Minter, who returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown.

It also marked the first time the Bucs (4-5) have lost back-to-back games under coach Jon Gruden.

In Nashville, Steve McNair dissected the NFL's top-ranked scoring defence and the Tennessee Titans harassed Brian Griese en route to a dominating 31-7 victory over Miami.

Enjoying an MVP-type season, McNair entered the contest with an 0-3 record with one touchdown and five interceptions in his career against Miami.

But the Dolphins, who had allowed an NFL-low 110 points through eight games, were no match for McNair, who completed 17-of-23 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

In other games, Cincinnati defeated Houston 34-27, Dallas edged Buffalo 10-6, Detroit shaded Chicago 12-10, Jacksonville stopped Indianapolis 28-23, New York Jets beat Oakland 27-24 in overtime, Atlanta overpowered the Giants 27-7, San Diego hammered Minnesota 42-28, Pittsburgh beat Arizona 28-15, Washington stopped Seattle 27-20 and St. Louis slipped past Baltimore 33-22.