Chargers rally to lead, then survive Chiefs Rally in 20-19
win
Clinton Hart and the San Diego Chargers avoided the kind of
upset that really could have ruined their season.
Hart, the strong safety, knocked down Tyler Thigpen’s 2-point conversion pass
with 23 seconds left and the Chargers held on to beat the scrappy Kansas City
Chiefs 20-19 on Sunday.
The Chiefs pulled within one on Thigpen’s 3-yard pass to tight end Tony
Gonzalez. The Chiefs went for the win, but Thigpen’s pass to Gonzalez was
deflected by Hart to cornerback Quentin Jammer, who made the interception while
on the ground.
Coincidentally, San Diego lost to Denver 39-38 in Week 2 when the Broncos made a
last-minute 2-point conversion.
The Chargers were booed off the field Sunday while trailing 13-6 at halftime,
but rallied behind Philip Rivers in the second half.
Rivers threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Malcom Floyd to tie the game late in the
third quarter, then hit star tight end Antonio Gates on a go-ahead, 8-yard score
with just less than 7 minutes left. Rivers completed 27 of 36 passes for 316
yards.
Gates’ TD gave the Chargers (4-5) their first lead of the game. San Diego
remained one game behind Denver in the anemic AFC West...
Scoring Summary
KC - SD
1st Quarter
3:15
KC
TD
Tyler Thigpen passed to Mark Bradley to the right for 30
yard gain (Connor Barth made PAT)
7 - 0
2nd Quarter
14:03
SD
FG
Nate Kaeding kicked a 34-yard field goal
7 - 3
6:47
SD
FG
Nate Kaeding kicked a 26-yard field goal
7 - 6
3:11
KC
TD
Tyler Thigpen passed to Tony Gonzalez down the middle
for 34 yard gain (2pt attempt failed, Dustin Colquitt pass to Brad
Cottam)
13 - 6
3rd Quarter
3:43
SD
TD
Philip Rivers passed to Malcom Floyd down the middle for
5 yard gain (Nate Kaeding made PAT)
13 - 13
4th Quarter
6:55
SD
TD
Philip Rivers passed to Antonio Gates down the middle
for 8 yard gain (Nate Kaeding made PAT)
13 - 20
0:23
KC
TD
Tyler Thigpen passed to Tony Gonzalez to the left for 3
yard gain (2pt attempt failed, Tyler Thigpen pass to Tony Gonzalez)
19 - 20
Team Statistics
KC
SD
First Downs
19
23
Passing
13
18
Rushing
5
3
Penalty
1
2
Third Down Efficiency
7-14
6-11
Fourth Down Efficiency
1-1
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
339
400
Total Plays
60
64
Average Gain Per Play
5.7
6.3
NET YARDS RUSHING
76
92
Rushes
18
26
Average Per Rush
4.2
3.5
NET YARDS PASSING
263
308
Completions-Attempts
27-41
27-36
Yards Per Pass Play
6.3
8.1
Times Sacked
1
2
Yards Lost to Sacks
3
8
Had Intercepted
0
2
PUNTS
6
3
Average Punt
40.7
44.0
PENALTIES
3
5
Penalty Yards
16
37
FUMBLES
0
1
Fumbles Lost
0
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
25:10
34:50
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
As poorly as the San
Diego Chargers have been playing
lately, they know they have
enough time to make a playoff
run. Getting a win over the
lowly Kansas City Chiefs would
be a good place to start. The
Chargers look to come out of
their bye week rejuvenated and
avoid dropping their third
straight game Sunday when they
host the Chiefs. San Diego (3-5)
was expected to contend for the
Super Bowl this season, but has
already lost as many games as it
did last year, when it advanced
to the AFC championship game...more
Pick: The Chargers have not
looked good at all this season, but for a brief week, Rivers and Tomlinson will
look like their old selves as they get to take on the Chiefs horrid defense. Chargers 27 - Chiefs 20
Video Preview:
The San Diego Chargers
still have a shot at winning the AFC West and the first step in doing that is
beating the Kansas City Chiefs. Charley Casserly and Jason Horowitz look at the
upcoming game
21.9
12.6