Johnson, Kansas City's top draft pick in 2005, has yet to become the consistent impact player the Chiefs thought he would be. They moved him from the strong side, where he played his three seasons, to the weak side this year, but his momentum-turning plays remain at a minimum.

Against Denver this week, Johnson will get his first start in the middle, a position where the team hopes he can retain the focus and intensity that seems to wane through the course of a game.

"We've got some decisions we need to make, and we need to see if he can play Mike," said coach Herm Edwards. "He played it some in college (at Texas) and was a very good player.

"I think he wants to do it, but it puts a little more burden on him, too. You have to be more focused because you have to get the team lined up and call the plays and make the checks. That might help him too.

"Playing in the middle of the field, he has a good feel for the run alleys like he did in college. He can go both ways as far as fitting the runs. You're on an island sometimes (at an outside spot) and you're not involved in the run game. Now he's in the middle of the field, and for the next month, he's going to play there."

--Turnovers were the key to Kansas City's surprising 33-19 Week 4 victory over Denver at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs intercepted Jay Cutler twice and recovered two of three Denver fumbles, one of which Brandon Flowers returned 37 yards to the 1 to set up an easy touchdown.

"He's got a very strong arm, and he'll make a lot of plays," Edwards said of Cutler.

"But he's also got a little bit of Brett Favre in him. He figures if he's going to throw 45 times, he might make some turnovers. But, he'll also make some big-time plays, too. I know Mike (Shanahan) doesn't like the turnovers; no coach does. But the great thing about (Cutler) is, the turnovers don't affect him. He keeps throwing and making big plays."

Cutler completed 29 of 49 passes for 361 yards and one TD in the loss in Kansas City. By contrast, the Chiefs' Damon Huard threw only 28 times, but completed 21 for 160 yards and one TD without a pick.

Kansas City's ball-control ground game was critical in the upset. Larry Johnson rushed for a season-high 198 yards and two TDs to help the Chiefs hold the ball for 33 1/2 minutes to the Broncos 26 1/2.

--Rookie corner Maurice Leggett was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his 67-yard touchdown return off a fumbled fake field-goal try that jump-started the Chiefs' 20-13 win last week over Oakland.

Leggett, one of three rookie corners playing in the Kansas City nickel, was preparing for the NCAA Division II national championship game at this time a year ago at small-school power Valdosta State.

He was an undrafted player who caught the eye of Kansas City coaches at a spring rookie tryout camp. Earning a spot in training camp, he's played in all 12 games and started two games when second-round draft pick Brandon Flowers was down with a hamstring injury.

"It's a great feeling to do what I do best and get paid for it," Leggett said of his unlikely rise to the NFL. "This is something I've dreamed about since I was five years old.

"Believing in yourself is always the key," he added. "I've seen improvements and I've had setbacks that show me what I need to improve on. That's what I work on each week."

--The Broncos have lost their last three home games, but have never dropped four in a row at Invesco Field.

BY THE NUMBERS: 17-1 -- Denver's record at Invesco when scoring 30 or more points.

5 of 7 -- Times the Broncos have put up 30 or more on the Chiefs in their seven-season winning streak at Invesco Field.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I tried to act like I've been there before." -- Rookie CB Maurice Leggett, on a very modest touchdown celebration following his first NFL touchdown on a 67-yard fumble return off a faked field-goal attempt by Oakland.