Week 7 Game Recap: San Diego Chargers 27, Kansas City Chiefs 30

What you need to know

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers committed turnovers on three of their first four possessions and consequently found themselves trying to dig out of a big hole. Kansas City turned those three turnovers into 14 points and jumped out to a 20-3 lead. Nate Kaeding would connect on a 31 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 20-6, which was the score at the half.

After the two teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, The Chargers scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to tie the game. However, Lawrence Tynes nailed a 53 yard field goal with only six seconds left to seal the win for Kansas City.

LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for only 16 yards in the first half on seven carries. His fumble on his initial carry of the game was the first lost fumble of the season for San Diego. Tomlinson was much more productive in the second half with 50 rushing yards. Tomlinson also caught a 37 yard touchdown pass and threw a one yard touchdown pass to Brandon Manumaleuna to account for the Chargers’ two fourth quarter scores.

Antonio Gates accounted for San Diego’s other touchdown, a short one yard play action reception. He has now scored a touchdown in each of the last three games. Gates finished with a season high nine catches for 63 yards.

Philip Rivers put the ball in the air 31 times in the first half, completing 17 passes for 161 yards. However, he lost a fumble and threw an interception. Rivers was turnover free in the second half and completed eight of his 12 passes for 104 yards and both of his touchdowns. He finished with 266 passing yards.

San Diego has now lost on nine of their last ten trips to Kansas City.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs forced turnovers on three of San Diego’s first four possessions. Those turnovers led to a missed field goal and two touchdowns and helped Kansas City secure a 20-3 lead. The Chiefs took a 20-6 lead into halftime and led 27-13 at the end of the third quarter. However, two San Diego fourth quarter touchdowns would tie the game. With 33 seconds remaining, Damon Huard completed three consecutive passes for 15, 19, and 18 yards to set up what would have been a 48 yard field goal attempt. A false start penalty on Kris Wilson added to the suspense and distance of the kick. However, Lawrence Tynes nailed the 53 yard field goal and secured the victory for the Chiefs. The kick provided redemption for Tynes, who had earlier missed a field goal and an extra point attempt.

After rushing for only 62 yards in his previous two games, Larry Johnson, broke out for a season high 132 yards with two touchdowns. Tony Gonzalez also had a huge game with six receptions for 138 yards. Gonzalez ran strong after the catch and often required multiple defenders to bring him down.

Damon Huard was very efficient subbing for the injured Trent Green. Huard completed 15 of his 27 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Huard now has seven touchdown passes with only one interception this season.

The Chiefs have beaten the Chargers nine out of the last ten times at Arrowhead Stadium and have won 11 of their last 12 division home games.

What you ought to know

QB Philip Rivers, Pass: 25 - 43 - 266 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 2 - 0

Rivers attempted 31 passes in the first half and completed 17 of them for 166 yards. However, Rivers overthrew Eric Parker and was intercepted on San Diego’s third possession. He then lost a fumble on their fourth. Rivers bounced back and completed eight of his 12 passes for two touchdowns in the second half finishing 25 of 43 for 266 yards.

Rivers, who is not fleet of foot, had a two yard sneak for a first down, but was stuffed trying to sneak in from the one yard line on his other rushing attempt.

Rivers was sacked by Jared Allen late in the second quarter and lost another fumble, but the play was negated due to an offsides penalty. He also was called for intentional grounding once. One of Rivers’ incompletions came when he spiked the ball to stop the clock.

Rivers was sacked four times by the Chiefs after being sacked only five previous times all season.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Pass: 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 15 - 66 - 0, Rec: 6 - 72 - 1 (10 targets)

Tomlinson lost a fumble on his first carry of the game. It was his first lost fumble since week three of the 2005 season. He gained only 16 yards in the first half, but had a 50 yard second half.

Tomlinson was the Chargers’ second leading receiver with six receptions for 72 yards. Tomlinson scored on a 37 yard reception. The Chiefs blitzed on the play and Tomlinson was uncovered. He took a quick pass put of the backfield down the sideline for an easy score. The rest of his receptions came on short passes and dump offs.

Tomlinson’s took a handoff on a play from the one yard line and sucked in the Kansas City defense before tossing a touchdown pass to a wide open Brandon Manumaleuna. It was Tomlinson’s fifth career touchdown pass (The first of this season).

RB Michael Turner, Rush: 4 - 18 - 0

Turner had runs of six, five, five, and two yards. He returned two kickoffs for 47 yards. He lost a 48 yard return on the opening kickoff to a holding penalty.

RB Lorenzo Neal, Rush: 1 - 10 - 0

Neal, the Chargers’ fullback, had one attempt for a ten yard gain up the middle.

WR Keenan McCardell, Rec: 4 - 51 - 0 (7 targets)

McCardell had receptions of seven, 15, 11, and 18 yards. He was tackled at the Kansas City one yard line on his last reception. The Chargers scored three plays later. McCardell also was targeted in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

WR Eric Parker, Rec: 2 - 39 - 0 (7 targets)

Parker had catches for 21 and 18 yards. He was the target on Philip Rivers’ intercepted pass, but the ball was thrown both over his head and behind Parker. Parker had a 50 yard punt return to set up the Charger offense at the Kansas City 30 yard line. His other punt return went for only two yards.

Parker was targeted deep twice, once in the end zone and once when he was open for a potential touchdown. On both occasions, Rivers barely overthrew him.

WR Malcolm Floyd, Rec: 1 - 19 - 0 (1 targets)

Floyd’s lone target resulted in a 19 yard reception. Floyd did a nice job in making a sliding catch with his arms extended.

TE Antonio Gates, Rec: 9 - 63 - 1 (15 targets)

Gates was targeted a game high 15 times and had a season high nine receptions for 63 yards. Gates was wide open after a play fake for a one yard touchdown catch. Gates has now caught a touchdown pass in three straight games. Gates was targeted unsuccessfully another time in the end zone.

Gates had a 14 yard reception overturned by a replay challenge.

TE Brandon Manumaleuna, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0, Rec: 4 - 23 - 1 (4 targets)

Manumaleuna caught all four passes thrown his way, including a one yard touchdown toss from LaDainian Tomlinson. Manumaleuna was given a short yardage carry on a second down and two play, but was stopped for a one yard gain. The carry was the sixth rushing attempt of Manumaleuna’s career. Manumaleuna also fielded one short kickoff and returned it 14 yards.

PK Nate Kaeding 2 - 3 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points

Kaeding hit field goals of 39 and 31 yards. His 47 yard attempt hit the right upright. All three of Kaeding’s extra point attempts were successful.

SD Rush Defense

Prior to this game, San Diego had not allowed a team to rush for 100 yards this season. However, Larry Johnson easily eclipsed that mark by himself and finished with 132 yards with two touchdown runs. The Chiefs averaged 4.5 yards on their 30 attempts. Donnie Edwards led the team with eight tackles and 2 assists. Shawne Merriman had seven tackles and one assist. After the game, it was reported that Merriman will be suspended four games by the NFL for a steroids violation.

SD Pass Defense

Damon Huard completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 232 yards. The Chargers sacked Huard twice. The first sack, by Marques Harris, forced a fumble that was recovered by Luis Castillo. Donnie Edwards and Derreck Robinson split the other sack. Outside Linebacker (and the team leader in sacks with six) Shaun Phillips injured a calf early in the second quarter and did not return. He is expected to be out four to six weeks.

QB Damon Huard, Pass: 15 - 27 - 232 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rec: 1 - -2 - 0

Huard was efficient in this game. He completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. The touchdown tosses went to Kris Wilson and Eddie Kennison. Huard did not throw an interception. He now has seven touchdowns with only one interception on the season. Huard did lose a fumble when he was sacked by Marques Harris in the fourth quarter.

Huard completed consecutive passes for 15, 19, and 18 yards late in the fourth quarter to set up Tynes’ 53 yard field goal attempt.

Huard completed a pass to himself for a two yard loss. The pass was batted at the line by Jamal Williams and fell back into Huard’s hands. Huard was called once for intentional grounding.

QB Trent Green

Starting quarterback, Trent Green, who has been out since suffering a severe concussion in week one, has been cleared to return to practice on a limited basis this week. The timetable for his return to game action is still uncertain.

RB Larry Johnson, Rush: 28 - 132 - 2, Rec: 2 - 29 - 0 (4 targets)

Johnson had a season high 132 rushing yards. He averaged 4.7 yards on his 28 attempts and had touchdown runs of 11 and one yards. Including the 11 yard touchdown run, Johnson had five runs of at least 11 yards. His long gain went for 22 yards. Johnson broke three tackles on his 11 yard touchdown run and frequently ran hard. He caught two passes for 29 yards.

WR Eddie Kennison, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0, Rec: 2 - 30 - 1 (4 targets)

Kennison had two catches for 30 yards. The first was a 21 yard touchdown catch on a post pattern. Kennison’s was stopped for a nine yard gain at the Charger one yard line on his other reception. Larry Johnson scored on the Chiefs’ next play.

Kennison had one rushing attempt on an end around for no gain.

WR Samie Parker, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 1 - 15 - 0 (4 targets)

Parker had one reception for 15 yards. He also had a two yard gain on an end around. He dropped a pass in the fourth quarter.

WR Dante Hall, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (3 targets)

Hall had one reception for nine yards. The dangerous return man had six chances on kickoff returns but averaged only 16.5 yards with a long return of 29 yards.

TE Tony Gonzalez, Rec: 6 - 138 - 0 (8 targets)

Gonzalez had a season high 138 yards on his six receptions. His long reception went for 57 yards. After the catch, Gonzalez cut back to find open running room. He then gained 24 yards after contact by the first defender. It took three Chargers to finally bring him down. Gonzalez fought for tough yardage all day. On another play, it took four San Diego players to tackle him.

TE Kris Wilson, Rec: 2 - 13 - 1 (2 targets)

Wilson caught an 11 yard touchdown pass for Kansas City’s first score. It was his first career touchdown. He later caught a short two yard pass. Wilson was called for a false start before Lawrence Tynes game winning field goal. The penalty pushed the Chiefs back five yards and made it a 53 yard try. Tynes bailed Wilson and himself out by making the kick.

PK Lawrence Tynes 1 - 2 FG, 3 - 4 XP, 6 points

Tynes missed a 42 yard field goal attempt and an extra point. Either of the kicks would have made his game winning field goal unnecessary. However, the kick was needed and Tynes delivered and redeemed himself with the 53 yard winner. Tynes hit his three other extra point attempts.

KC Rush Defense

Kansas City held LaDainian Tomlinson to 66 yards on 15 carries. Tomlinson was unable to get on track until the second half. He was held to only 16 yards in the first half. Patrick Surtain forced Tomlinson to fumble on his initial carry. The Chargers were held to 97 rushing yards overall. The Chiefs did not give up a rushing touchdown.

KC Pass Defense

The Chiefs gave ups 252 passing yards, but Philip Rivers threw the ball 43 times. The average yardage per pass was only 5.2. After being sacked only five times previously, Rivers was under pressure throughout much of the game and was sacked four times in this game. Jared Allen, in particular, put pressure on Rivers all day. Allen had two sacks, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble. Ron Edwards and Tamba Hali also contributed sacks. Greg Wesley had seven solo tackles and an interception.