ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Matt Cassel returned to the lineup 11 days after an emergency appendectomy and threw a touchdown pass in leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 27-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

Jamaal Charles scored on a short run and helped clinch it with a late 80-yard burst for the Chiefs (9-5), who retained a one-game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West.

Kansas City managed 67 yards in a 31-0 loss at San Diego last week with backup Brodie Croyle starting, and ended a seven-quarter scoreless drought on Cassel's 2-yard TD pass to Leonard Pope midway through the second quarter.

Thomas Jones became the NFL's 25th player to rush for 10,000 yards, and scored the final touchdown on a 2-yard run with 3:26 to go, one play after Ron Bartell ran down Charles just shy of the goal line.

Charles had 126 yards on 11 carries and Jones had 62 yards on 22 carries.

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