2003 Kansas City Chiefs season The 2003 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 13 – 3 record , beginning with a nine - game winning streak — the franchise ’ s best start in their 40 - year history . The Chiefs won the AFC West and clinched the second seed in the playoffs . Kansas City lost in an offensive shootout at home in the AFC Divisional Playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts 38 – 31 , a game notorious for involving no punts from either team ' s kicking squad . The season is best remembered for the Chiefs ’ record - breaking offense . On December 28 , running back Priest Holmes broke Marshall Faulk ’ s single - season rushing touchdown record by scoring his 27th rushing touchdown against the Chicago Bears . Quarterback Trent Green threw for 4 , 000 yards and kick returner Dante Hall returned four kicks for touchdowns . However , as successful as the Chiefs ’ offense was , the Chiefs ’ weak defense failed to stop the Colts in the playoffs . Offseason . Vermeil ’ s third year . At Dick Vermeil ’ s previous coaching tenure with the St . Louis Rams , Vermeil won Super Bowl XXXIV , so expectations in Kansas City were high of Vermeil ’ s new offense . 2003 NFL Draft . The Chiefs originally had the 16th pick in the 2003 NFL Draft . Coach Dick Vermeil was intent on selecting a defensive player , but felt that there were no defensive players available with their pick , and traded the pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 27th pick , as well as the Steelers third and sixth round picks . With the 16th pick , the Steelers selected Troy Polamalu from USC . With the 27th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft , the Kansas City Chiefs selected running back Larry Johnson from Penn State . Regular season . After beginning the 2003 season 9 – 0 , the Chiefs finished the regular season with a record of 13 – 3 . The Chiefs ’ offense topped the NFL in almost all categories and Kansas City became favorites to win Super Bowl XXXVIII . The Chiefs clinched their first AFC West title since 1997 with a 45 – 17 win vs . Detroit ( December 14 ) as QB Trent Green became the first player in team history to register a “ perfect ” 158 . 3 passer rating in a game . Kansas City concluded its 13 – 3 regular season with a 31 – 3 victory vs . Chicago ( December 28 ) , marking a perfect 8 – 0 record at home and the club ’ s 13th consecutive regular season victory at Arrowhead Stadium . In that win , Priest Holmes set a trio of TD records . He finished the season with 27 rushing scores , establishing NFL single - season records for both rushing TDs and total TDs . Holmes ( 61 ) also bypassed WR Otis Taylor ( 60 ) for the most career TDs scored by a player in Chiefs history . The Chiefs five - game improvement in the win column from the previous season tied as the best mark in franchise history . Kansas City became the first AFC team to lead the NFL in scoring in consecutive seasons since San Diego in ‘ 81 – 82 as the club produced a franchise - best 484 points . The team also led the NFL with a + 19 turnover differential . Nine Chiefs players received Pro Bowl recognition , the third - highest total in team history , while the club ’ s six offensive Pro Bowlers marked the most in club annals . Playoffs . AFC Divisional Playoffs . This offensive shootout became the first punt less game in NFL playoff history . Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns ( to Reggie Wayne , Brandon Stokley and Tom Lopienski ) , while Edgerrin James ran for a career postseason high 125 yards and two scores . On the Kansas City side , Dante Hall caught a touchdown and returned a kickoff for another ; and Priest Holmes , who set the regular - season rushing touchdown record in 2003 , rushed for 176 yards , caught 5 passes for 32 yards , and scored twice . Kansas City quarterback Trent Green threw for 212 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 18 yards in his first career postseason game . The Chiefs defense failed to stop the colts offense . Kansas City ' s defensive coordinator Greg Robinson was asked to resign the following week .