Now, whether that surge is enough to help the 1-3 Chiefs survive on the road against the 3-1 Carolina Panthers is another question.

But for the first time in four games, Kansas City's ultra-young defenders -- three rookies are among eight starters with less than three years experience -- showed signs that they're understanding what it takes to be successful against elite NFL teams like the previously undefeated Broncos.

That was especially true in watching the Chiefs shake off Denver's ability to move up and down the field, then make red-zone defensive stands that forced the Broncos to attempt five field goals, making four, while scoring only one second-period touchdown.

"After four games now they're kind of getting it, understanding what it takes. They're growing up," Edwards said of his young players, who include two starting rookie corners. "That's what I'm seeing. They've got a long way to go but they're a lot better now than they were our first game.

"The thing we did, and we talked about it all week, was maintain energy. They're not going to play perfect, so don't worry about playing perfect. Don't let your passion die because you've made mistakes and start over-analyzing things, thinking like a robot. It's about playing with energy and passion, and they did that for four quarters in a close game.

"We didn't do everything right," Edwards added. "But we played so hard we could cover up for it. If you continue to play like that you're going to get better."

Edwards' young corners, who face another great pair of receivers this week in the Panthers' Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad, took that message to heart last week when facing Denver's Brandon Marshall and rookie star Eddie Royal.

"We've had cases all year where we'd give up big plays and not rebound too good," said rookie corner Brandon Flowers. "(Against Denver) we said forget about the mistakes, come back and make a play.

"In other games we played with a lot of energy and emotion, but everyone was trying to make too many plays," Flowers added. "We'd get out of our gaps and break down. But (against Denver) we played with that same energy and we played smart. We stayed in our gaps, played fundamentally sound."

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme saw some of that in watching Chiefs-Broncos game film.

"I know those are two rookie corners, but they're the same rookies who helped hold a team averaging (38) points a game to 19," Delhomme said. "It's not a case where you can say, 'I'm going after two rookies.'"

"I thought they looked great, played with a lot of emotion," he added. "I know how good a receiver Brandon Marshall is, and the Royal kid. Brandon Stokley was my college receiver. I know how good that personnel is, and (the Chiefs) did a great job against them."

SERIES HISTORY: 4th meeting. Chiefs lead 2-1 after losing the last game in 2004, 28-17 at Arrowhead. Kansas City won its only game in Charlotte, but that 35-14 win was 11 years ago in 1997.