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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- For about two minutes, Todd Peterson and Gary Stills may have been the most miserable men in Kansas City.

Thank heaven for second chances. Peterson kicked a 32-yard field goal with 5:56 left in overtime and -- just as importantly -- Stills did not get called for holding.

Peterson's fourth field goal of the game gave the Chiefs a wild 26-23 overtime victory Sunday over a Denver team reduced to its third-string quarterback.

"I just said a little prayer," said Peterson. "We have gone through some tough times."

With a little more than eight minutes left in overtime, Peterson's apparent game-winner from 31 yards was wiped out by Stills' holding penalty.

Moved back 10 yards, Peterson's next kick banged off the right upright.

"It was bizarre," said Peterson, who had missed from 28 yards in the second half.

		What's the key to the amazing season that Priest Holmes is having? Holmes has finally gotten a chance to play. He was a backup in Baltimore, and now he's had a chance to be the featured guy. And he's definitely made the most of it. Holmes fits in well with what the Chiefs want to do. He runs the ball well and catches the ball well. And Kansas City is taking advantage of his skills. ESPN.com's Vinny Cerrato was director of player personnel for the Redskins and 49ers.

The Chiefs (4-9) did not waste time after Trent Green's 56-yard pass play to Marvin "Snoop" Minnis carried to the Denver 12. Coach Dick Vermeil immediately ordered Peterson and his kicking unit onto the field.

"I wanted to get out of here," said Vermeil, who broke into tears while talking about the win.

"Excuse me," he said, regaining his composure. "I'm proud of these guys."

The loss probably knocked the Broncos (7-7) out of playoff contention. Gus Frerotte, who started for the injured Brian Griese, left late in the third quarter with a separated shoulder he sustained while diving into the end zone on a 4-yard TD run that sliced the Chiefs' lead to 20-17.

Denver coach Mike Shanahan said he did not know how long Frerotte might be out. The Broncos have their bye this week and Griese, who sat out with a concussion, could be ready.

Jarious Jackson, who had never completed an NFL pass, was 7-for-12 for 73 yards.

"He didn't get very many reps during the week. I'm not sure if he got any," Shanahan said. "For him to come in in that situation and play as well as he did, I'm very pleased."

Priest Holmes, the NFL rushing leader had 121 yards on 29 carries and became the Chiefs' first runner with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in 10 years.

In the wild fourth quarter, Jackson hit Dwayne Carswell for 16 yards, his first NFL completion, and set up Jason Elam's 36-yard field goal made it 20-all.

Peterson, after missing a 28-yarder earlier in the day, put the Chiefs on top 23-20 with 5:12 left with a 41-yard field goal following a fumble by Denver's Tony Carter.

But Jackson guided the Broncos 40 yards with 1:13 left and Elam's 36-yarder tied it at 23.

Wide receiver Eddie Kennison, called "Benedict Arnold" by Denver linebacker John Mobley for walking out on the team earlier this year, was instrumental in two scoring drives.

Kennison caught two passes on a drive that resulted in Peterson's 51-yard field goal, then gained 14 yards on an end-around just before Green's 24-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Alexander put the Chiefs ahead 20-10 in the third.

Despite Mobley's statement that Kennison might be subject to "cheap shots," there were no incidents.

"Just straight, hard football," said Kennison. "I'm sure coach Shanahan told them not to say anything. The league was watching."

Said Mobley: "Damn Eddie Kennison. I'm not talking about Eddie Kennison."

A 52-yard pass interference penalty on safety Eric Brown on a third-and-18 play gave Kansas City (4-9) a first down on the 19, setting up Peterson's first two tries in overtime.

On the Chiefs' first TD drive, the Broncos were flagged for 49 yards in penalties, including a 34-yard pass interference penalty on Jimmy Spencer one play after he replaced injured cornerback Denard Walker.

Holmes went over the left side for the TD and a 10-0 lead with 3:23 left in the first quarter.

Rod Smith caught an 11-yard TD pass from Frerotte in the second quarter that shaved Kansas City's lead to 10-7.

Peterson's 43-yard field goal gave the Chiefs a 13-7 lead late in the second quarter. Elam's 34-yard field goal right before halftime made it 13-10.

Game notes
Jackson also replaced Frerotte for one play in the first quarter after Frerotte made a hook slide after a 3-yard gain and knocked helmets with Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards. ... Holmes' touchdown run was his seventh of the season, tying his career high set with Baltimore in 1998. ... Peterson's 51-yard field goal was his longest since he hit a 51-yarder on Sept. 26, 1999, against Detroit. ... Elam's miss was just his fourth in 30 attempts this season. ... Since 1995, Kansas City is 33-3 at Arrowhead Stadium when scoring 20 points or more, including a 5-0 mark against the Broncos.