Kansas City, Mo. ? With all the hoopla surrounding Thursday’s game – a Super Bowl-scale halftime show, a national television broadcast and playoff implications galore – it hardly seemed likely an athlete would steal the show.

Larry Johnson found a way.

Johnson rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown, and Lawrence Tynes kicked four field goals in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 19-10 victory against the Denver Broncos.

“I felt really good,” Johnson said. “I got into the cold tub and stayed in that for a long period of time.”

The Chiefs ran 19 running plays and just 10 passes in the first half as they built a 10-3 lead. The momentum shifted early in the second half, however, when an illegal-contact penalty on the opposite side of the field nullified an apparent Patrick Surtain interception. Afterward, Jake Plummer eluded the Chiefs’ rush and completed several short, horizontal passes, including a one-yard touchdown to Stephen Alexander that made the score 13-10.

The Chiefs answered with a field goal, but opened the door wider for the Broncos when Trent Green threw an interception at the Denver 30-yard line on their next drive.

Green, in his second game back following a severe concussion, completed 13 of 22 passes. He has yet to throw a touchdown this season.

“We really did a great job coming back and trying to control the tempo of the game,” Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. “I thought we had a few opportunities in there where we did stop them.”

Denver went three-and-out and never again crossed its own 40-yard line.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) tries for yards after the catch while covered by Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams. The Chiefs beat the Broncos, 19-10, on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.

Bronco runners, minus the injured Tatum Bell, uncharacteristically struggled, gaining 38 yards on 16 attempts. Plummer attempted 39 passes.

“We were really focused,” K.C. defensive end Jared Allen said. “You could feel the energy in the locker room. There wasn’t a lot of joking around. We’re just trying to keep pace with San Diego, and hopefully they’ll lose a couple.”

With the victory, the Chiefs leapfrogged the Broncos into second place in the AFC West. Both teams are 7-4, but the Chiefs have a better division record. The 8-2 Chargers are in first place and will play host to Oakland on Sunday.

The Chiefs will play next at Cleveland on Dec. 3, and Edwards said the Chiefs would benefit from nine days without a game.

“We’ll need this time off to heal a little bit and to rest,” Edwards said, referring to Johnson, who compiled 66 touches between Sunday’s and Thursday’s victories. “After that, it’s a five-game season.”

Chiefs linebacker Kawika Mitchell, left, brings down Denver quarterback Jake Plummer.

Johnson’s backup, Michael Bennett, said he was ready to take a few days off and celebrate Thanksgiving after gaining 56 yards, including a 41-yard dash off right tackle that was the Chiefs’ longest play of the night. The fourth-quarter burst propelled Kansas City to its last field goal.

“I’m ready to eat. That’s my thing,” Bennett said. “Coach told us not to go home and eat ourselves out of this game tonight.”

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Injury update: Guard Brian Waters, tight end Tony Gonzalez and safety Greg Wesley started after sitting out Sunday because of injuries. Linebacker Derrick Johnson played sparingly. Defensive tackle James Reed injured his groin in the first half.

“I felt pretty good,” Waters said. “There were a couple of plays out there where 100-percent Brian would have done better.”