Chiefs even the score with Bolts

The 8-3, tied for the division leading Chargers came into Kansas city to face the last place 5-6 Chiefs. In their first matchup, the Chargers won a shoot out 49-38.

The Chargers took the opening kick but only managed one first down before punting to the Chiefs. Two tosses by Trent Green to Priest Holmes (4-58) and Tony Gonzalez (5-70, 1 td) netted 60 yards and three plays later Green found Gonzalez in the end zone for a 2 yard td pass. The Chargers replied with a drive of their own but stalled on the Chiefs 32 and were forced to accept a Nate Kaeding 49 yard field goal. The Chiefs came right back but Quentin Jammer picked Green at his on 9 and denied the Chiefs a scoring opportunity. The Chargers couldn't capitalize and went three and out.

The second quarter opened with the Chiefs again driving the football only to have Green throw another interception, this time to Drayton Florence. Again the Chargers were unable to make a first down and punted the ball away. This time Green was more conservative with the football and drove his team to the SD 7 where Morten Andersen gave them a 10-3 lead. The Chargers would again go three and out and, starting from his own 41, Green (30-37, 325 yards, 3 tds, 4 ints, 1 sack) moved his team into the red zone and finished the drive with a 2 yard toss to Eddie Kennison. The half ended with the Chiefs comfortably in front 17-3

On the first play of the second half, Green was again intercepted, this time by Jerry Wilson. Drew Brees could only find room for one first down before SD again punted the ball away. And once again, the Chiefs drive was thwarted, this time by a Donnie Edwards interception. Brees found Keenan McCardell for 25 yards (1-25) and then Antonio Gates (3-31) for 20 more to the Chiefs 1. 4 Consecutive rushes by LaDanian Tomlinson (21-69) were stuffed by the Chiefs and they took over on their own 2. The Chiefs moved the ball out to their 17 when the third quarter came to a close.

The Chargers held and the Chiefs punted. In the return they then committed a flagrant face mask penalty and the Lightning Bolts were in business on the Chiefs 32. Again, though, Brees (9-27, 85 yards, 1 sack) could not engineer a first down and the Bolts accepted a 43 yard field goal from Kaeding. The Chiefs started from their own 38 and finished 10 plays later when Kennison (8-84, 2 tds) caught a 9 yard td pass. The Chargers were unable to get a first down in the remainder of the game (they had only 9 for the entire game) and it finished 24-6.

This was one of those rare games where the Chargers won the turnover battle 4-0 and yet could not find a way to win the game. Despite the turnovers, the Chiefs had a 34:15 to 25:45 edge in time of possession and 379-199 edge in net yard. --submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--