Kansas City, Mo ? If only Priest Holmes and Dante Hall could play a little defense, too.

Maybe then the great days the Kansas City standouts turned in on offense would not have gone to waste. But a defense that was tied in knots by quarterback Peyton Manning was embarrassed in a 38-31 loss Sunday to Indianapolis in the AFC playoffs.

With Manning making big play after big play, the Colts scored on six of their first seven possessions and kept the Chiefs without a postseason victory for the 10th season in a row.

“It’s very frustrating,” Hall said. “We didn’t get it done. It takes away from any individual accomplishment you had.

“You have to tip your hat to Peyton first.”

Hall caught a TD pass and had 208 yards on seven kickoff returns, including an electrifying 92-yard touchdown burst that cut the Colts’ lead to 31-24 late in the third quarter.

Holmes, who set an NFL record with 27 touchdowns during a 13-3 regular season, ran for 176 yards on 24 carries with two scores and also caught five passes for 32 yards.

Hall did not have even an inch on punt returns because the Colts’ offense was so efficient, Indy never had to punt.

“I don’t know any other quarterback who could have made plays like he did,” Hall said. Asked if he planned to buy Manning a drink at the Pro Bowl, he replied, “No. But I am going to ask him for his autograph.”

Holmes, who had a record-breaking season following offseason hip surgery, got off to a quick start with 44 yards rushing on the Chiefs’ first drive for a field goal.

He had 71 yards rushing in the first half and 105 in the second, when his one-yard run brought the Chiefs within seven points with 4:22 left.

Kansas City returner Dante Hall breaks past the Indianapolis defense for a 92-yard touchdown return during the third quarter. Hall scored two touchdowns in the Chiefs' 38-31 loss Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.

“You can break all the records you want, but you still have to win,” Holmes said.

Holmes also had the game’s only turnover. At the end of a 48-yard run, he was stripped by David Macklin.

“I didn’t see the guy,” Holmes said. “I made the mistake of trying to score. They made the play.”

Indianapolis turned that into a 45-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt for a 24-10 lead and the Chiefs never were able to catch up.

“Priest averaged over seven yards per carry,” quarterback Trent Green said. “The offensive line did a pretty good job, too. That’s why he sets records. He never lets up. He keeps his legs moving. It’s go-go-go. He broke tackles and got yards after contract. You can’t say enough about him.”

Hall caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Green in the second quarter for the Chiefs’ first touchdown.

Then Hall, who hadn’t taken a kick back for a score since Oct. 5 , pumped up the home crowd.

Right after Indianapolis scored on Manning’s 19-yard pass to Reggie Wayne for a 31-17 lead, Hall took the ensuing kick at the eight, cut inside, then got loose as the crowd of nearly 80,000 roared.

He picked up a good block from Quinton Caver near the 50, then juked inside Vanderjagt and made it into the end zone.

“Once I got through the first wave and saw there wasn’t anybody to stop me or slow me down, I felt pretty good about it,” he said.

It looked for a moment like Vanderjagt might get him.

“He couldn’t turn the hips on me,” Hall said. “He was about to cut me off on an angle. But most kickers can’t pivot and turn their hips. So when I saw him try to cut me off, I put on a move and cut back across his face.”