Chiefs 27, Rams 13

ST. LOUIS - Matt Cassel returned to the lineup 11 days after an emergency appendectomy and threw a touchdown pass in leading Kansas City (9-5) to victory over St. Louis (6-8).

Jamaal Charles scored on a short run and helped clinch it with a late 80-yard burst for the Chiefs, who retained a one-game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West.

The Rams remained tied with Seattle, which lost to Atlanta, atop the NFC West.

Kansas City 0 14 3 10 – 27

St. Louis 6 0 0 7 – 13

First quarter

StL–FG Jo.Brown 37, 6:56.

StL–FG Jo.Brown 52, 4:43.

Second quarter

KC–Pope 2 pass from Cassel (Succop kick), 6:49.

KC–Charles 2 run (Succop kick), 1:47.

Third quarter

KC–FG Succop 53, 10:26.

Fourth quarter

KC–FG Succop 38, 12:20.

StL–Jackson 5 run (Jo.Brown kick), 4:04.

KC–Jones 2 run (Succop kick), 3:26.

Attendance: 55,669.

KC   StL

First downs 21   14

Total Net Yards 383   224

Rushes-yards 42-210   21-69

Passing 173   155

Punt Returns 8-74   3-48

Kickoff Returns 4-62   6-149

Interceptions Ret. 2-24   1-8

Comp-Att-Int 15-29-1   21-43-2

Sacked-Yards Lost 3-11   3-26

Punts 6-47.5   8-46.4

Fumbles-Lost 0-0   1-0

Penalties-Yards 5-40   9-60

Time of Possession 31:44   28:16

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Kansas City, Charles 11-126, Jones 22-62, Cassel 6-17, Battle 2-9, McCluster 1-(minus 4). St. Louis, Jackson 19-67, Bradford 2-2.

Passing: Kansas City, Cassel 15-29-1-184. St. Louis, Bradford 21-43-2-181.

Receiving: Kansas City, Chambers 3-42, Charles 3-27, Moeaki 3-25, Bowe 2-53, Jones 1-16, Castille 1-12, McCluster 1-7, Pope 1-2. St. Louis, Amendola 7-60, Jackson 5-37, Fells 4-47, B.Gibson 3-29, Robinson 2-8.

Missed Field Goals: None.