DENVER (AP) – Quentin Griffin might make the Denver Broncos forget Clinton Portis after all.

Griffin ran for 156 yards and scored three touchdowns in his first game as Portis’ replacement, lifting the Broncos to a 34-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver traded Portis to Washington to get cornerback Champ Bailey, a potentially risky move because Portis rushed for over 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Portis was superb in his debut with the Redskins, but Griffin was just as good.

He dashed and dived his way to touchdown runs of 25 and 47 yards and caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer in the first quarter. Griffin even did Portis one better, breaking his team record for most yards on opening day. Portis had 120 last year.

Bailey made the trade look even better.

He tipped away a pass to Tony Gonzalez in the second quarter on the first ball thrown his direction, and intercepted another just before halftime when Trent Green scrambled and tried throw over his head. Bailey even got involved in the offense, lining up for a handful of plays and catching an 11-yard pass in the first half.

The game was supposed to be more of a defensive matchup than in years past after both teams made changes.

Kansas City’s defense ranked 29th in the league last season, costing defensive coordinator Greg Robinson his job. The Chiefs didn’t look any different under Gunther Cunningham.

Denver scored on its first three possessions, Plummer threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns and the Chiefs couldn’t keep up with Griffin’s jitterbug moves. Denver finished with 413 yards.

The Broncos added Pro Bowlers Bailey and John Lynch in an attempt to get better on defense.

They were better than the Chiefs, but still gave up 151 yards and three touchdowns to Priest Holmes.

Kansas City’s defense didn’t put up much of a fight from the start.

Jason Elam started things off with a 43-yard field goal, then Plummer hit Griffin on a 1-yard touchdown pass to put the Broncos up 10-7. The Broncos kept it going early in the second quarter, moving 50 yards in six plays for Griffin’s dashing 25-yard touchdown run.

The Broncos weren’t much better at the start.

Green hit Eddie Kennison for a 57-yard pass on the game’s second play after Lynch bit on an out-fake, and Holmes capped the 80-yard drive by bulling in from the 2.

The Chiefs managed just 93 yards the rest of the half to trail 17-7, but needed just 31/2 minutes of the third quarter to get back in it – thanks to Plummer.

His first pass of the third quarter was intercepted by Monty Beisel, leading to Lawrence Tynes’ 50-yard field goal. Plummer then tried to throw left-handed to avoid a safety on the next drive. That one ended up in the hands of Shawn Barber and Holmes scored two plays later on a 4-yard run, tying the game at 17 as Plummer stood on the sideline shaking his head.

The Broncos needed just 89 seconds to answer, with Griffin taking off through a big hole and shaking Greg Wesley near the 20 for a 47-yard touchdown run.

Kansas City came right back, blowing the Broncos off the line for 77 yards on seven straight runs. Holmes finished it off, bouncing off Lynch, planting his hand for balance and breaking two more tackles for a 33-yard touchdown run.

Denver took the lead back on Elam’s 45-yard field goal, then sealed it on Plummer’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Hape after Griffin juked his way to a 19-yard run.

Chiefs cornerback William Bartee was carted off the field with a sprained neck. Bartee was injured late in the first quarter when the side of his head hit Denver’s Rod Smith on the hip during a punt.