SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 1, 2012
Chargers 31, Chiefs 13: Philip Rivers threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns as host San Diego snapped a three-game losing streak.
The Chargers (4-4) turned the game into a rout by scoring 21 points in a three-minute span of the fourth quarter, including a pair of defensive touchdowns, to complete a series sweep of Kansas City (1-7) and send the turnover-riddled Chiefs to their fifth consecutive loss.
With the exception of a head-scratching interception in the end zone in the final seconds of the first half, Rivers was nearly flawless, connecting on his first 13 passes and finishing 18-for-20 to pull San Diego within a half-game of AFC West-leading Denver.
Rivers' second scoring pass, a 13-yarder to Malcom Floyd with 11:33 to play, was followed by Shaun Phillips' fumble recovery following a sack in the end zone 54 seconds later to boost the Chargers' lead to 24-6.
Demorrio Williams intercepted a deflected pass by Matt Cassel on the next possession and returned it 59 yards for a score and a 31-6 cushion with 8:33 remaining.
Cassel went 19-of-29 for 181 yards with an interception and a fumble for the Chiefs, who have not led in regulation this season and have committed 10 of their league-high 29 turnovers against the Chargers. Shaun Draughn scored Kansas City's TD on a 6-yard run with 4:26 to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Chargers TE Antonio Gates' 14-yard scoring reception in the first quarter was the 79th of his career - two shy of Lance Alworth's franchise record - and marked San Diego's first touchdown in seven quarters. ... Kansas City's 29 turnovers are the most in the first eight games of a season since New Orleans committed 30 in 1997. ... Rivers set a team single-game completion record of 90 percent, surpassing the previous mark of 88 percent established by Drew Brees in 2004.