Kansas City, Mo. ? Healthy and confident, the Kansas City Chiefs appear to be peaking at the perfect time – and just in time.

As they make the turn into what coach Dick Vermeil calls the fourth quarter of the regular season, just about everything that’s supposed to be up – such as yards per carry, yards per game and points scored – is going higher.

Conversely, things that are supposed to be down, such as yards allowed and points allowed, are headed south.

Perhaps just as importantly, good health has returned to a team that a month ago was hobbled at key spots. Left tackle Willie Roaf, who missed much of the season with a hamstring injury, has not only returned, he has regained the dominating form that took him to 10 Pro Bowls. Right guard Will Shields also has shrugged off back problems and is playing the way he did while earning 10 Pro Bowl trips himself.

As a result, quarterback Trent Green is not fighting for his life on every passing down and was able in a 31-27 victory over Denver last week to have his finest game of the year.

Even the defensive line has gotten a boost. Tackle Ryan Sims, out since the season opener with a foot injury, made his return last week against Denver. While he did not play much, he played well and even had a hand in the play of the game, when the Broncos were stopped on fourth-and-one near midfield with 2:01 remaining.

Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil encourages a Chiefs' special-teams unit late in their victory over Denver. The win Sunday in Kansas City, Mo., was part of K.C.'s resurgence.

“We’ve become close to what we’re going to be,” Vermeil said. “It took awhile. We had to get healthy, stay healthy. The defense had to continue to mature. Those things have all happened.”

The one thing the Chiefs have not yet done is beat a winning team on the road. This week sends them to Dallas (7-5), where the Cowboys will be out to halt a two-game slide that has put them in the same position the Chiefs are facing – one game out of the lead in their division.

“Dallas was 5-7 last year at this time, and now they’re 7-5,” Vermeil said. “We were 4-8 last year at this time, and now we’re 8-4. So both organizations have turned their seasons around and now compete Sunday to see which one can keep it going. The only thing our performance has done right now is guarantee us eight wins.”

Ironically, the Chiefs launched the season thinking their toughest stretch would be early, with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles coming to town, along with road trips to Denver and Oakland. But as things have worked out, the Jets and Eagles are having down years, and the Raiders are trailing everybody in the AFC West.

But their last six are against teams with winning records who are solid playoff contenders. Already beaten in Arrowhead Stadium the past two weeks are New England and Denver. Now comes trips to Dallas and the New York Giants, followed by home games against the San Diego Chargers and AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals.

“I believe we’ll play well from here on out,” Vermeil said. “I don’t know how many we’re going to win, but I believe we’re going to play well. Right now, we’re competitive enough to line up and play against anybody. Whether we can beat them or not, I don’t know. Our schedule is so demanding that we can’t afford a bad game.”

In every one of their three straight victories – over Houston, New England and Denver – the Chiefs have appeared to play better than the week before.

“When you win three in a row, that’s a good indication,” Vermeil said. “But your concern with three in a row is that sometimes you start feeling so good about yourself, you forget how you won three in a row.”

Experience has taught the NFL’s oldest head coach to be wary of overconfidence.

“The games played this late in the year, regardless of what you’ve done winning-wise, you have to regenerate that sense of urgency on Sunday,” he said. “And sometimes it’s a little bit harder coming off three wins. I’ve been a victim of that. I’m very much aware of it.”