Team Grades: Chiefs Boot Chargers' Five-Game Win Streak
By Dave Thomas
All good things must come to an end.
After rattling off a five-game winning streak, the San Diego Chargers watched the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs come into town and escape with a 23-20 win on a late 48-yard fourth quarter field goal by Cairo Santos. In the process, Kansas City (3-3) ended San Diego's (5-2) run of five straight victories after a season-opening loss in Arizona.
For the Chiefs, the game was just about a must-win situation. A loss would have essentially made the division a two-team race (San Diego, Denver), though the Chiefs still could have had a say in things with a long winning streak. As it turns out, the Chiefs are now right back in the race, with San Diego and Denver set to tangle this Thursday evening in the Mile High City.
San Diego Defense Couldn't Make Big Stops
While it wasn't like Kansas City went up and down the field on San Diego, the Chiefs were able to convert enough third down plays to keep drives going.
Part of that was San Diego's inability to make key tackles on a number of plays. When it seemed like the Chiefs would be stopped on a drive, they would find a way to make the big first down (Chiefs were 7-of-14 on third down conversions). On several other plays, missed tackles by the Bolts led to Kansas City getting the ball in the end zone.
After a great juggling catch by veteran tight end Antonio Gates in the end zone gave the Chargers the lead just before halftime, Kansas City didn't let that momentum impact it like it does some teams.
The Chiefs scored the game's next 10 points (field goal), which included an Alex Smith to Anthony Sherman 11-yard TD toss to make it 20-14 to start the fourth quarter.
Both teams traded field goals before Santos hit the game-winner with :21 remaining.
San Diego had one final chance to move down the field and get in position for a potential game-tying field goal, but Rivers was intercepted just short of midfield by Kurt Coleman to snuff out the five-game run.
TEAM GRADES:
OFFENSE (C) - One of San Diego's big bugaboos this season has been its inability to run the ball effectively for four quarters. Even with injuries to the likes of Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead (out for season) and Donald Brown, the Bolts had been doing a better job of running the ball as of late with newcomer Branden Oliver. On this day, however, Oliver was held to 67 yards on 15 carries, with the Bolts finishing with a team total of 69 yards net rushing. Face it, that stat will win you very few games. As for Rivers, he finished his afternoon going 17-of-31, 205 yards, 2 TD's and that interception to end the game. With tough road games coming up at Denver and Miami, San Diego needs to establish its running game in order to improve its chances of coming out with victories.
DEFENSE (C) - While Kansas City certainly has more offensive weapons than the likes of Buffalo, Jacksonville, the New York Jets and Oakland (San Diego's prior four wins), it isn't like the Chiefs are the most dominant offensive threat going in the league. That said Kansas City was able to mix up enough running and passing to keep San Diego's defense off balance for much of the day. On the ground, Jamaal Charles rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Dwayne Bowe had five catches for 84 yards on the receiving end. Going 50 percent on their third down conversions definitely helped the Chiefs leave town with the victory, a win that could be even bigger given the fact San Diego and Kansas City finish the regular season at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 28. Eric Weddle had another stellar game for the Bolts, finishing with 10 solo tackles, while Shareece Wright added seven.
For more Chargers news and updates, visit Chargers Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.