| Chiefs rally for 24 straight points to shock Chargers
SAN DIEGO (AP) — This was the game when the San Diego Chargers were supposed to get better. They didn't. In fact, they look a whole lot worse.
With Philip Rivers melting down, the Kansas City Chiefs shocked the Chargers 30-16 on Sunday, scoring 24 straight points in the second half and getting huge plays from two rookies.
Dwayne Bowe, the Chiefs' first-round draft pick, caught a go-ahead, 51-yard touchdown pass from Damon Huard early in the fourth quarter, and cornerback Tyron Brackenridge raced 50 yards for a score after Philip Rivers was sacked and fumbled with just more than seven minutes left.
It was the third straight loss for the Chargers (1-3), which exceeds their loss total from last year, when they were an NFL-best 14-2 before their playoff pratfall against New England.
Philip Rivers was mercilessly booed in the second half. Those fans who weren't streaming out of the stadium showed their displeasure by chanting "Marty! Marty! Marty!" late in the game, an obvious reference to Marty Schottenheimer, who was fired in February due to his icy relationship with general manager A.J. Smith, and replaced with Norv Turner.
The Chargers have been unproductive and disorganized under Turner, whose overall record in three NFL head coaching stints is 59-85-1.
The chants came after Philip Rivers threw four straight incompletions from the 5-yard line with less than four minutes left. Philip Rivers had two interceptions and one fumble, which led to 17 points.
Philip Rivers completed only 21 of 42 passes for 211 yards and no touchdowns. His passer rating was 44.8.
Huard was 17-of-29 for 284 yards and two TDs, with two pickoffs.
Larry Johnson gained 123 yards on 25 carries for the Chiefs (2-2). LaDainian Tomlinson finally cracked triple digits for the Chargers, gaining 132 yards on 20 carries, surpassing his season total of 130.
The Chargers led 10-0 after their first two possessions and were up 16-6 at halftime.
The Chiefs scored 24 straight points in a span of 13 minutes, 4 seconds spanning the third and fourth quarters to take a 30-16 lead.
With the score tied at 16 early in the fourth quarter, there was an incredible momentum swing over two plays. Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman sacked Huard for an 8-yard loss, then did his spasmodic "Lights Out" dance.
Huard, though, came right back on third-and-19 and hit Bowe in stride for a 51-yard touchdown pass that put the Chiefs ahead.
Chargers safety Clinton Hart intercepted Huard midway through the fourth quarter at the Kansas City 41. Three plays later, though, Philip Rivers was sacked by Derrick Johnson and fumbled, with Breckenridge scooping up the ball and raced into the end zone for a 30-16 lead.
Kansas City had scored 10 points in the third quarter to tie it at 16.
Dave Rayner kicked a 41-yard field goal, then the Chiefs got a huge break when Philip Rivers' pass to Tomlinson was intercepted by linebacker Derrick Johnson at the Chargers' 36. Tomlinson hadn't turned around and the ball went right to Johnson. Huard threw an 11-yard pass to Johnson, then, after an incompletion, hit tight end Tony Gonzalez in double coverage for a 22-yard touchdown that tied it.
Tomlinson had 116 yards in the first half. He scored untouched on a 5-yard run late in the first quarter, just his second rushing touchdown in four games. He's also caught a touchdown pass and thrown one.
Last year, Tomlinson set NFL records with 31 touchdowns (28 rushing) and 186 points, while winning his first rushing title with 1,815 yards.
Tomlinson had his longest run of the season, gaining 37 yards late in the second quarter before strong safety Bernard Pollard tripped him up at the Kansas City 41.
Philip Rivers had three overthrows in the next five plays, including missing Vincent Jackson and Craig Davis in the end zone. The Chargers had to settle for Nate Kaeding's 38-yard field goal for a 16-6 lead as the first-half clock expired.
Rayner also had field goals of 21 and 25 yards, while Kaeding also hit from 24 and 51 yards.
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