American Football: Elam's kick in the teeth for profligate Chiefs

Few teams have scored with such flair and frequency this season as the Kansas City Chiefs. Led by their quarterback Trent Green and the prolific running back Priest Holmes, the Chiefs have proved themselves capable of scoring points against anyone. Sadly, their defence cannot stop anyone either, which is why they are unlikely to qualify for this year's play-offs.

Sunday's game at Arrowhead Stadium followed a predictably depressing script for Chiefs fans, who saw their team take a 34-20 lead into the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos, only to lose another heartbreaker in overtime.

Inspired by Shannon Sharpe's 212 receiving yards, the Broncos levelled the scores when Mike Anderson scored on a two-yard run with 21 seconds remaining, they then wrapped things up with a Jason Elam field goal in overtime. Among the usual catalogue of self-inflicted Chief wounds was a rare miss from Morten Andersen, which would probably have put things beyond Denver's reach.

Ironically, the veteran Danish kicker set a new all-time league record by converting his 479th field goal during the game, but the wasted 480th, a 43-yarder with less than five minutes remaining, put paid to any thoughts of celebration.

"It doesn't feel very good right now to be honest with you," he said. "It's a brutal game sometimes." Those are sentiments which are probably being echoed by the quarterback Ray Lucas of the Miami Dolphins, who stepped in for the injured Jay Fiedler against the Buffalo Bills, only to fluff his lines as opportunity beckoned. The hapless Lucas threw four interceptions, three of which were claimed by Nate Clements, and was also involved in two fumbles as the Dolphins self-destructed. Many Miami fans have clamoured for Lucas to be chosen over the unpopular Fiedler, but doubtless most are now hoping the latter's broken thumb heals as quickly as possible.

Healing is also on the cards for the Oakland Raiders, who not only lost to the San Diego Chargers in overtime, but will now be without the running back Terry Kirby (broken leg) and the defensive back Phillip Buchanon (broken wrist).

Similarly, the St Louis Rams will have to play the remainder of the season without their inspirational defensive leader, Aeneas Williams, who broke a leg and sustained an ankle injury in his side's 37-20 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks. The running back Marshall Faulk confirmed his return to form with four touchdowns, but the severity of Williams' injury meant there was little cause for cheer in the Rams' locker-room.

Even the seemingly indestructible Brett Favre has succumbed to the injury jinx. The Green Bay quarterback damaged a knee in his side's otherwise uneventful 27-9 stroll past the Washington Redskins, and faces a race for fitness if he hopes to extend his record streak of 164 consecutive starts.

Atlanta's thrilling young prospect, Michael Vick, demolished the Carolina Panthers with a virtuoso display of passing, running, and even receiving, generating 73 more yards on his own than the Panthers managed collectively in a 30-0 rout.