KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Dante Hall's 100-yard kickoff return, nearly mistakenly called back by the referee, and Priest Holmes' three touchdowns Sunday led the Kansas City Chiefs to a 41-20 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Once things did get sorted out and Hall's play stood, the slow-starting Chiefs owned the momentum as they scored on offense, defense and special teams.

Holmes, proving again his recovery from offseason surgery is complete, had 122 yards rushing. The All-Pro running back capped the scoring with a 31-yard run with 5:06 left, putting a beauty of a move on defensive back Mike Logan at the 5.

Hall's kickoff return, the longest for the Chiefs (2-0) in almost 36 years, came just moments after the Steelers (1-1) had taken a 10-0 first-quarter lead.

Hall fielded Jeff Reed's kickoff at the goal line, cut left and sped virtually untouched up the sideline. Reed, the last Steeler between him and the end zone, flicked out his foot in an obvious attempt to trip Hall, who stumbled, regained his balance and kept going to score.

A yellow flag flew, and referee Larry Nemmers brought a groan from the crowd when he announced the touchdown was nullified by a tripping penalty against Kansas City. But as the Chiefs screamed in disbelief, Nemmers huddled with other officials and reversed himself, giving Hall his fourth touchdown return in less than two years.

The Chiefs' revamped defense recovered a fumble and intercepted three passes from Tommy Maddox, who'd been nearly flawless the week before against Baltimore.

That's not the way things started. The first six times the Chiefs touched the ball, they had two penalties, 4 yards rushing, one incompletion and allowed one Pittsburgh touchdown.

Chad Scott picked off Trent Green's pass on the 26 and scored for a 7-0 lead just 48 seconds into the game.

A few minutes later, Maddox hit Hines Ward for a 50-yard gain to the Kansas City 7 that set up Reed's 20-yard field goal.

After Hall's return, the Steelers went up 17-7 when Maddox, following James Farrior's interception, connected with Plaxico Burress on a 33-yard TD strike.

Then, it was all Kansas City.

Hall, who went to the Pro Bowl last year as a kick return specialist, had a 45-yard punt return in the fourth quarter that led to Holmes' 4-yard TD run and a 34-20 lead.

Jerome Woods, who returned an interception 46 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, recovered a Pittsburgh fumble in the fourth period. Holmes quickly converted it into his third TD and a 41-20 lead.

The Chiefs had scored three touchdowns in 10 minutes on Holmes' 3-yard run, Green's 3-yard pass to Jason Dunn, and Woods' 46-yard interception return.

Dexter McCleon knocked the ball loose just as it hit Antwaan Randle El and Woods caught it and had an unobstructed path to his first career TD.

Reed's 51-yard field goal as time expired in the half brought the Steelers to 27-20.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-09-14-03 1640EDT