KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning received a concussion test during his team’s 17-9 victory Sunday against Kansas City. Manning took a blow to the head while throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Jacob Tamme with 18 seconds left in the first half. After Manning threw, Chiefs defensive lineman Tyson Jackson reached the quarterback and knocked him to the ground.

As Manning fell, the back of his helmet slammed against the turf. He got up holding the back of his head with his right hand as right guard Chris Kuper checked on him.

Manning was administered a concussion test by the team’s medical staff and was cleared. He never missed a snap in the hard-fought game.

“I’m fine. Everything checked out OK, ” Manning said as he walked out of Arrowhead Stadium toward the team bus. “I took a hit there, but I was cleared.”

Remember in training camp, when Manning was often asked if he needed to take a hit to become assured his surgically repaired neck would hold up?

“I’ve got that covered,” Manning said.

Clady’s streak ends. Entering play Sunday, Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady was the only NFL tackle who had started every game and not allowed a sack.

The streak ended in the first quarter of game 11 when Clady was beaten by Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston, who sacked Manning for an 8-yard loss.

“I blew it,” Clady said. “it was bound to happen. It’s the NFL. Those guys get paid, too.”

Clady prevented his former nemesis Tamba Hali from registering a sack for a third consecutive time in their head-to-head meetings. So did Clady feel good about his performance overall?

“No,” he said. “At times, but not the way I want to play, though.”

Hester likely to join roster. The Broncos are expected to start a new week by adding running back Jacob Hester to their 53-man roster.

The Broncos have an open spot on their roster after they placed starting running back Willis McGahee on injured reserve last week.

Hester, who played the previous four seasons with the San Diego Chargers, worked out with the Broncos on Wednesday but it was too late for him to pick up the playbook and help the team this week.

Noise control. The Chiefs were flagged for four false-start penalties, a rare showing for an offense in its home stadium. But the Chiefs said after the game the Broncos’ defense was shouting some presnap cadences.

Defenses can use their checks to get out of plays but are not supposed to shout similar calls as the opposing offense.

“Did we hear it out there? Yeah, we did,” said Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn. “But it is what it is, so what are you going to do? I haven’t heard it when I have been playing this year.”

Ayers plays with heavy heart. Broncos defensive lineman Robert Ayers learned late Saturday night that his father had died suddenly. The news shook the entire Broncos team. With a heavy heart, Ayers played in the Broncos’ 17-13 victory. He had one quarterback hit and was awarded with the game ball.

“It was an emotional game for us,” said Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas. “We wanted to win this one for Robert.”

The team helped Ayers make travel arrangements so he could join his family for the next few days.

Ayers walked out of the Arrowhead Stadium visiting dressing room with tears in his eyes. “I want to keep this personal with my family,” Ayers said.

Footnotes. Though cornerback Tracy Porter returned to practice last week, he was a game-day inactive. … The Broncos are the only team in the league to have six-game winning streaks in each of the past two seasons. … With a sack Sunday, Von Miller is tied with Houston’s J.J. Watt for the NFL’s lead in tackles for loss with 24.

Mike Klis and Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post