Colts drop Chiefs to 1-6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After combining for 34 yards in a miserable first quarter, Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James proved once again it's not how you start, it's how you finish that counts.

Manning, 3-of-9 in a scoreless, punchless first period, regained his touch to go 19-of-30 for 201 yards and two touchdowns as the Indianapolis Colts snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

James had just 21 yards to show for his first 10 carries, then exploded for 81 in his next 17. He went to the sideline with a strained knee with 4:24 left after getting up and walking off the field under his own power.

Dominic Rhodes had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Then, with 1:02 left and the Colts trying to run out the clock, Rhodes broke loose on a 77-yard touchdown run for a 35-21 lead with 4:45 to go.

Manning's 47-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison put the Colts (3-3) on top 28-14 with 8:21 left. The Chiefs (1-6) got within 28-21 on Larry Parker's 11-yard touchdown reception and moved downfield for a third-and-10 from the 11. But Idrees Bashir intercepted a pass by Trent Green in the end zone as the Chiefs lost their fourth straight and dropped to 0-4 at home for the first time in 25 years.

Mike Vanderjagt kicked two field goals for the Colts, who beat the Chiefs for the sixth straight time.