GLENDALE, Ariz. – A critical moment went the way of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, helping end a two-game losing streak with a 17-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at University of Phoenix Stadium.

A week after taking flak for not throwing a challenge flag in a tough loss at Atlanta, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians tossed his red hanky Sunday praying he was right.

Gambling with his last timeout in a close game, he won the challenge and a red zone receiving first down by the Kansas City Chiefs was reversed into a fumble recovery by the Cardinals.

The play prevented the Chiefs from taking the lead or kicking a game-tying field goal.

The win gives the Cardinals (10-3) back-to-back, double-digit win seasons for the first time since 1975-76 and kept them perfect at home this season at 7-0, the most in franchise history over a 16-game schedule.

The Chiefs (7-6) thought they were driving toward a possible victory with less than six minutes remaining in the game when quarterback Alex Smith hit tight end Travis Kelce over the middle for what appeared to be an 18-yard gain and a huge first down.

Kelce somersaulted and initially, it looked as they he flipped the football forward on purpose as he signaled for a first down. But Cardinals defensive backs Deone Bucannon and Justin Bethel were convinced Kelce had fumble on the play.

After some quick consultation with his coaches up in the press box, Arians agreed and challenged the ruling on the field. He was correct after a lengthy review and the Cardinals held onto the ball long enough to snap their two-game slide.

Last week against the Falcons, Arians didn’t challenge a long reception made by Julio Jones even though replays clearly showed the receiver had only one foot in bounds on the play.

The Chiefs had only a minute left to try and get kicker Cairo Santos into field-goal position, but the game ended when Smith’s pass to Jason Avant in Kansas City territory fell incomplete.

Trailing 14-9, Arizona took its first lead of the game with 3:26 left in the third quarter when Drew Stanton hit wide receiver Jaron Brown for a 26-yard scoring strike. Arians elected to go for the two-point conversion and Stanton connected with tight end John Carlson on a quick screen to make it 17-14 Cardinals.

Stanton finished the game 15 of 30 for 239 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

The Chiefs, who have now dropped three in a row and may have to win out to have a shot at the playoffs, got two touchdowns from running back Jamaal Charles. He had 10 carries for 91 yards.

Smith was 26 of 39 for 293 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

With Andre Ellington announced out for the season with a hip pointer and a sports hernia and veteran Michael Bush cut by the team on Friday, the Cardinals activated running back Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad.

Williams carried 19 times Sunday for 100 yards — Arizona’s first 100-yard rusher of the season.

The Chiefs took a 14-6 lead into halftime thanks to a pair of touchdowns by Charles, their versatile tailback that can do just about everything.

After Arizona went up 3-0 courtesy of a 44-yard field goal by rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro, Charles wasted little time making his presence felt. On Kansas City’s third play from scrimmage, he took a handoff from Smith and danced to his right.

In a split-second, he had slipped through a crowded Cardinals defense, escaping potential tackles from Dan Williams and Tony Jefferson, and raced untouched to the end zone for a 63-yard score.

Disaster appeared to hit near the end of the first quarter when Charles was gang-tackled and had his body bent back awkwardly in a pile. His left ankle got the worst of it and it eventually sent him to the locker room.

Return he did and on the Chiefs’ final possession of the first half, he came back in and showed no signs of an ankle injury. Following a 21-yard scamper by Smith and a 22-yard reception by wide receiver Dwayne Bowe in which Bowe hurdled over Cardinals defensive backs Jerraud Powers and Rashad Johnson, Charles caught a swing pass from Smith on first and 15 from the Cardinals’ 18-yard line.

He had all kinds of room to run and wasn’t touched on his way to his fifth receiving touchdown of the season.

The Cardinals had a chance to close to within 14-9 but Catanzaro, who connected on a 33-yard field goal earlier in the second quarter, missed on a 36-yard attempt right before halftime when his kick caromed off the right upright.

NOTES: For the 12th time this season, the Chiefs did not allow a rushing touchdown. They have allowed just two this season. …. Arizona activated OLB Matt Shaughnessy off the injured reserve-designated to return list. He left the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. … The Chiefs still have yet to allow a 300-yard passer. … The Cardinals were without S Tyrann Mathieu, who is expected to miss at least another week and possibly two after undergoing surgery last week to repair a fractured thumb.