Chiefs drown before the rain even hits 37-7

Kansas City’s hopes for a second straight win disappeared early in a 37-7 loss to the Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

The defense gave up another big day to an opposing wide receiver.  Vincent Jackson had five catches for 142 yards and a TD, all in the first half.

LaDainian Tomlinson broke loose for a 36 yard run, his longest of the year and Darren Sproles returned to his hometown and had a big touchdown as well.

KC was unable to move the ball at all in the first quarter and a half of play and didn’t have a first down until nearly eight minutes left in the half.  The offensive line was unable to protect Matt Cassel much of the game. Tackle Brandon Albert wasn’t active today and center Rudy Niswanger went out with a leg injury.  Cassel threw his first interception in 152 attempts and was later picked off twice more as the rain began to fall in the second half.

Some fans will question a first quarter decision to go on four and one from KC’s own 41 that failed and set up the second score by the Chargers, but Todd Haley was just trying anything to get the offense some momentum.

It was a 20-0 lead at the half for San Diego.

After dropping an easy pass for what might have been a TD in the 3rd quarter, Dwayne Bowe made a spectacular catch along the side of the end zone for KC’s lone touchdown and it was 20-7.

But Sproles burnt a KC blitz for a 58 yard touchdown scamper on a pass from Philip Rivers, who had 3 TD passes on the day..  The former K-Stater left a fellow Wildcat alum Jon McGraw in his wake, 27-7. 

Even the special teams broke down in this one as Jacob Hester blocked a Dustin Colquitt punt and recovered for a Charger TD.

Cassel was just 10 of 25 for 97 yards and the offense was outgained 403 to 203 by the Chargers.  The third down conversion fairy failed to show up again as KC was 3 of 15 for the game.

By winning, they Chargers at least keep the Broncos in sight in the division race.  The Chiefs fall to 1-6 and I’d expect more changes during the bye week before they get to take on Jacksonville on the road.