DAVIS RUSHES TO HEAD OF THE PACK.

Byline: John Mossman Associated Press

Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer wasn't just playing mind games last week when, before his team played Denver, he said the Broncos' Terrell Davis ``may be the best back in the NFL right now.''

Davis promptly proved Schottenheimer a prophet, ripping the vaunted Chiefs defense for 141 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard scoring scamper, in a losing cause.

The effort propelled Davis to the top of the NFL rushing charts, and no one is more surprised to see him there than the man himself.

Asked Wednesday if, as a sixth-round draft choice in 1995, he ever could have imagined himself leading the NFL in rushing, Davis said, ``No. Never. No way.''

The unassuming Davis, clearly uncomfortable with all the fuss, is quick to add, ``I don't look of it that way. It's only four weeks into the season. We're just running the ball right now, and it just so happens that I'm the leading rusher in the NFL. We've got 12 more weeks to go.''

The unheralded Davis contended for rookie of the year honors last season, rushing for 1,117 yards despite missing the last two games with a hamstring tear. He became the lowest-draft player in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards in his rookie season.

He's on an even faster pace in 1996. Davis has gotten better each week, gaining 72, 111, 137 and 141 yards for a league-high 461 yards on 88 carries, a 5.2-yard average, and four TDs.

Davis, who graduated from the same San Diego high school as Marcus Allen and had a mostly undistinguished and injury-riddled career at the University of Georgia, is the main reason the Broncos rank an unaccustomed first in the NFL in rushing.

But, in character, he said the credit belongs elsewhere.

``The offensive line is giving me excellent push up front, making holes,'' he said. ``I'm just doing my job.''

When Schottenheimer made his proclamation of Davis' superiority, he said he was including ``guys like Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. Davis has the strength of a fullback and the maneuverability of a halfback. He's a smaller version of (Pittsburgh's Jerome) Bettis. He steps through people and keeps on going. I can't remember seeing a single guy bring him down on the video I looked at.''

About the only thing that has brought the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Davis down is the migraine headaches he suffers.

Felled by one of the debilitating attacks early in the second quarter of a game against Tampa Bay two weeks ago, Davis figured his day was over. But doctors administered a nasal spray - a concoction of the painkiller lidocaine and oxygen - and the blurred vision and nausea abated.

Davis returned in the second half and gained 94 of his 137 yards, including the bulk of a fourth-quarter drive that ended on his winning 3-yard scoring run in a 27-23 victory.

The Broncos were aware of Davis' medical history, but still were so impressed with his ability and character that they tore up his old three-year contract and replaced it with a five-year, $6.8 million deal before the season.

``We're trying to get people who have played well - who can really help us in the future, who prove their quality on and off the field - and tie them to long-term contracts,'' coach Mike Shanahan said of Davis' contract. ``Terrell Davis is a great player and an exceptional person. We wanted to reward him.''