Kansas City, Mo. ? At the perfect time, the Kansas City Chiefs may be hitting full stride and top strength.

They’re coming off their finest game of the year, a 26-16 victory over New England that launched a brutal stretch of six consecutive playoff contenders in six consecutive weeks.

And when they play host Sunday to Denver – a game they absolutely have to win to stay competitive in the AFC West – they’ll be healthier than they’ve been since training camp.

Linebacker Shawn Barber, out for a year after major knee surgery, returned last week against the Patriots and enhanced special teams, particularly kickoff coverage. Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf came back after missing four games because of a hamstring injury and made an immediate impact, helping quarterback Trent Green have his best passing game of the year.

And head coach Dick Vermeil said Tuesday that Ryan Sims, who went out because of a foot injury in the opener, could be on the verge of adding his hulking frame to the defensive line.

“There’s a chance,” Vermeil said at his weekly news conference. “What we’re going to do is put him in pads against some rookies after practice Wednesday and Thursday and let him bang around.”

Taken sixth overall in the 2002 draft, the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Sims has had a slow beginning. Finally, last summer in camp, he began showing the dominant run-stopping ability the Chiefs had envisioned.

Then he hurt his foot on one of the first plays of the season and has spent almost three months working to get back.

“It wouldn’t be fair to just throw him in the game and say we’ll find out if it’s OK Sunday,” Vermeil said. “We’ll put him on the field in pads and let him

do some one-on-one drive-blocking defensive techniques and pass-rushing techniques and all that kind of stuff to help condition himself. If he’s ready on Sunday, we’ll try to have him active.”

Sims’ weight, a problem in the past, is not a concern.

“He’s certainly paid his dues. He’s kept his weight down to actually a few pounds less than he was before he got hurt,” Vermeil said. “So he’s really been disciplined, and it means a lot to him.”

As important as anything is having No. 77 back at left tackle. With Roaf back from his hamstring injury Sunday, Green was 19-for-26 for 323 yards and a TD. Roaf was holding back the pass-rush, so Green had more time to let receivers get downfield. That resulted in some big gainers, including a long touchdown pass to Dante Hall that put the game out of the reach of the defending Super Bowl champs.

“You picture yourself in (offensive coordinator) Al Saunders’ spot,” Vermeil said. “And you’re concerned about this and that. Then all of a sudden, it dampens your enthusiasm to try certain things that require (the quarterback to take) more time.

“When Al feels more confident with what’s going on up in front, he’s much more in attack mode than conservative, less relying on small yardage gains, trying for chunks.”

Since a disheartening loss Nov. 13 at Buffalo, the Chiefs have rebounded with two straight victories. Vermeil had noted during last week’s practices that his team appeared to be shrugging off the disappointment and focusing its attention on the task at hand.

“Most coaches know their team. I think I know my team,” he said. “There are sometimes you have a feeling. Sometimes as I study all the offensive tapes and defensive tapes, it’s not like I’m offensive coordinator and it’s not like I’m defensive coordinator. And I form my own opinions as to this is the best thing to do against these guys with our scheme, utilization of our scheme.

“And I felt very comfortable with the approaches we were taking. You knew they were going to play well. Then they come back and you could just feel the team growing.”