Chargers News: Bolts Fail To Score TD For 2nd Straight Week, Fall To Chiefs 10-3
Kansas City Chiefs 10, San Diego Chargers 3
In a sloppy, rain filled game at Arrowhead Stadium, the San Diego Chargers (3-10) failed to score a TD for the third time in their last four games. The Chargers had a chance to tie it at the end but, like many times this season, failed to make the big plays when it mattered most. The defense played well, allowing just 10 points
(they gave up 10 points to Denver as well last week, the other TD was a pick six) to a hot Chiefs (8-5) team, that has now won 7 games in a row.
First Quarter:
The Chargers and Chiefs traded possessions ending in punts to start the game. On the Chargers second punt, linebacker Jerry Attaochu  knocked the ball free from punt returner Frankie Hammond and was recovered by the Bolts to give them great field position at the KC 26.
But the Chargers gained just 2 yards in three plays and the sure-footed rookie kicker Josh Lambo missed a 42-yard field goal.
Second Quarter:
On the second play of the quarter with the Chiefs driving into Chargers territory, Alex Smith took a shot down the sidelines for Jeremy Maclin but was picked off by Jason Verrett at the 4-yard line. It was Verrett’s third INT of the season, leading the team in that category. It also marked the first interception thrown by Alex Smith since week 3!
Smith had gone 312 consecutive pass attempts, second in NFL history behind Tom Brady‘s 358, before the pick by Verrett.
Starting their drive from their own 4-yard line, Philip Rivers and co. picked up two third downs and got defensive lineman Jaye Howard to jump in the neutral zone on a 4th-and-2 to keep the drive alive. Unfortunately, the drive would stall at the KC 42 and forced a Mike Scifres punt, who pinned them to their own four yard line.
The Chiefs would move the ball into Chargers territory, mostly on the ground as running back Spencer Ware went for 50, of his 52 yards, on that drive but left the game with a rib injury and never returned.
On a 2nd and 4 from the Chargers 44, Smith found wideout Albert Wilson on a slant route and hit him for a 44-yard TD. Smith finished 15/23 for 191 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT on the day.
With the Chargers in the two-minute drill to end the half, Rivers, who was playing with the flu, was looking for Malcom Floyd but the throw was late and the ball was deflected by Marcus Peters and intercepted by Derrick Johnson.
That led to a Cairos Santos 40-yard field goal and the Chiefs took a 10-0 lead in the half.
Third Quarter:
The Chiefs opened the second half with an 8 play 50-yard drive but on the 46-yard field goal attempt, a low snap led to a terrible hold and the kick by Santos was no good.
The Chargers would take advantage, leading a 52-yard drive of their own all the way down to the KC 12 yard line. On 4th and 1, Coach Mike McCoy decided to send out the kicking unit and Lambo, this time around, connected on a 30-yarder with 5 minutes to play in the third.
On KC’s next drive, Alex Smith found running back Charcandrick West who scampered 63-yards for a TD, but was nullified by offensive pass interference on tight end Travis Kelce. The drive would end with a punt.
Fourth Quarter:
The second half was not a kind one for Chargers’ left tackle Chris Hairston. Outside linebacker Dee Ford, who was starting in place of injured star pass rusher Justin Houston, ate Hairston alive. He sacked Rivers three times, and the Chiefs defense tallied 5 total on the afternoon. Ford also led the team in tackles with 7, and made his presence felt just about every drive in the second half.
The play of the game however came with 10 minutes left on a 2nd and 10 from the Chargers 42. Rivers found Malcom Floyd deep on a post route and hit him right in the stomach with a perfect pass, but Floyd dropped it and would have probably ended up scoring on the play. It was just Floyd’s 11th dropped pass of his career, if you ever need a reminder of how sure-handed he usually is, but that’s just how this seasons gone. The drive ended with a Scifres punt.
The Bolts defense would hold the Chiefs again, as they shut them out in the second half. Rivers and the offense would get the ball back with 5 minutes to go in the game still down 10-3.
On a 3rd-and-14 from their own 7, Rivers hit Floyd for 41-yards and made a crazy catch over the defender and somehow held onto the ball as they hit the turf.
Later on the drive, on a 4th-and-3, Rivers hit Javontee Herndon on a slant route, who held onto the ball even with the Chiefs defender draped all over him. The play picked up 6-yards and kept the game alive.
The Chargers would convert two more 4th downs, one to Gates for 16 yards on a 4th-and-10, the other was to recently signed Vincent Brown for 22 yards. The completion to Brown brought the Chargers to the 1-yard line but after a Chiefs timeout, Rivers was flagged for delay of game. I’m not sure how you don’t get the play off in time, coming out of a timeout, but they found a way.
Now, backed up to the 6th yard line, Chris Hairston was flagged for a false start backing them up to the 11. With 2 seconds left, the final play of the game, Rivers threw a dart to Danny Woodhead on a wheel route in the back of the end zone but Woodhead couldn’t hang on to possibly tie the game. It was an absolutely perfect pass from Rivers but Woody just  couldn’t hang on to it with Dee Ford (who else?) on the coverage.
The Chargers completed one third down, and three fourth downs on the drive but couldn’t punch it in at the end. Another fitting end as this season has gone completely sideways. I guess the silver lining is the Bolts have a legit shot at the #1 overall pick in the draft.
Top Performers:
Rivers – 24/43, 263 yards, 0 TD’s, 1 INT
Melvin Gordon – 14 carries, 35 yards
Antonio Gates – 6 receptions, 76 yards
Game Ball:
Jerry Attaochu and Jason Verrett get game balls for this one. Attaochu forced the fumble on the punt and added 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 4 tackles. Verrett picked off Smith to snap his streak without an interception and he also tied for the team lead with 7 tackles. It was Verrets second straight game with a pick.
Up Next:
Miami Dolphins (5-7) @ San Diego Chargers (3-10)
Quick Preview:
The Miami Dolphins come to town next week. I’m sure the Chargers are just happy they don’t play in the AFC West because they cannot score any points against their division rivals. The Dolphins are playing the New York Giants on Monday Night Football this week, so they will have one less day of rest. They are led by QB Ryan Tannehill who has thrown for 21 TD’s and 11 INT’s and his favorite target is Jarvis Landry who has over 800 yards receiving on 78 catches.
Nick was born and raised in San Diego where he became a Chargers and Padres fan, attending numerous home games throughout the years with his dad. He then went on to attend college at the University of Arizona. There he earned his degree in marketing and now lives in San Francisco where he dreams of the the sunny beaches of San Diego. Bear Down.