Call it a blow out, call it a rout, call it getting taken to the wood shed, whatever you want to call it the Chiefs had it handed to them on Sunday in San Diego as they were defeated 43-14. The game started out as sloppy as it ended , on the Chiefs second drive Matt Cassel was intercepted by Quentin Jammer after his pass was deflected off of a defensive lineman’s helmet. The Chargers would turn that turnover in to a 19 yard touchdown pass from Phillip Rivers to Antonio Gates. This would turn out to be the story of the game as the Chargers would score 28 points off the Chiefs four turnovers. The Chiefs would tie the game briefly as Matt Cassel hit Chris Chambers on a seven yard touchdown to pull even at seven all. After that play insanity would begin to ensue.

Two plays after the Chiefs pulled even Phillip Rivers would answer right back hitting Malcolm Floyd on a 53 yard strike that would set the Chargers up at the Chiefs one yard line the Chargers would chip it in with a LaDainian Tomlinson touch down dive to go up 14-7 a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the afternoon. The Chiefs follow up drive would be ended by a Jamaal Charles fumble that again set up a Phillip Rivers to Antonio Gates touchdown with the Chargers now up 21-7. One play later Matt Cassel would fumble the snap directly in to the hands of San Diego safety Paul Oliver who took it back to the house 40 yards giving the Chargers the 21 point advantage.

After receiving the opening kickoff of the second half it would only take three plays for the Chiefs to turn it over again as Rudy Niswanger’s shotgun snap flew over Matt Cassel’s head only to be recovered by Larry English. Three plays later it was LaDainian Tomlinson up the middle for a three yard touch down run to put the game out of reach at 35-7. The Chiefs would answer back with a four yard Jamaal Charles touch down run bringing the Chiefs back within 21, but the Chargers would again answer right back and take the wind out of the Chiefs sails for good as Nate Kaeding hit a 55 yard feld goal to make it a 24 point advantage with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter.

Believe it or not San Diego could have had more points as LaDainian Tomlinson had a chance for another short yardage touchdown run on his next drive but was stripped by Brandon Flowers, the Chiefs would get possession at the Chargers four yard line only to have Matt Cassel be flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone resulting in a safety giving the Chargers the ball and two points and a 26 point lead. The Chargers would turn the good field position from the Safety free kick in to another Nate Kaeding field goal to make the Final Score 43-14, The Chiefs simply could not get out of their own way today and gave the game away more than they got physically beat in this one. After a big win versus the Steelers the Chiefs definitely took a step back today and gave Coach Haley plenty to work on as practices resume this week. For the Season the Chargers have out scored the Chiefs 80-21.

Grading the keys to the Game

1. Don’t let L.T. get rollin: The Chiefs did a good job of not letting L.T. get a ton of yards and keeping him contained to only 39 yards on 13 carries, the Chiefs however did let him find the end zone twice but they were both short yardage runs and Brandon Flowers did strip him and recover the fumble as L.T. tried to run it in from the one yard line.

Grade: C-

2. Protect Matt Cassel: Cassel actually went the whole game without getting sacked for what seems like the first time all season, but Cassel did have to breakdown and take off running with the ball at least four times due to the line crumbling around him. However the line was not to blame for this loss and they did a good job of opening holes for Jamaal Charles as well.

Grade: C+

3. Get after Phillip Rivers: If the Chiefs failed at any one thing in this game besides not turning the ball over it was stop Phillip Rivers and his passing game. Rivers went 21 for 28 and 317 yards, Rivers would have had more yards but the Chiefs turnovers kept giving him short fields to work with. The Chiefs generated absolutely no pass rush all day and generated no sacks Rivers simply played pitch and catch with his receivers all day,

Grade: F-