The Chiefs pulled off a 23-20 overtime win in a sloppy game against San Diego Chargers where each team turned the ball over four times. However, no turnover was bigger than in the final minute of regulation with the Chargers set to kick the game winning field goal.
With the ball on the Chiefs 15, Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers fumbled the snap, and it was recoverd by Andy Studebaker sending the game in overtime. After the Chiefs held S.D. to a three and out, the offense put together a 14 play/74 yard drive and won the game on Ryan Succop’s 30 yard field goal.
The game started just like it ended. The Chiefs held the Chargers to a three and out and opened with a 10 play/59 yard drive ending with Succop’s first field goal from 36 yards. Late in the first quarter, Cassel found Jonathan Baldwin in the endzone on a pass just past the reach of a defender as Baldwin hauled in a 39 yard pass to put the Chiefs up 10-0. The teams traded field goals in the 2nd quarter with the Chiefs up 13-3.
In the second half, San Diego mounted a comeback. On back to back to back drives, the Chargers got field goals, but wasted a Matt Cassel interception that set S.D. up at the K.C. 28.   The Chiefs did a good job of tightening up inside the redzone, but at the same time it looked like the Chargers could move the ball when they wanted to, but just shot themselves in the foot. They were just 1 of 4 inside the 20 and 12 penalties for 105 yards cost San Diego a win. Yet, they still put themselves in position late in the game. Three field goals in the third cut the Chiefs lead to 13-12.
Jackie Battle appeared to give K.C. some breathing room as they put together another 75 yard drive. It looked like Battle scored on a 19 yard run, but the play was reveresed saying Battle didn’t break the plane. The next play, Battle went in from a yard out to open a 20-12 lead. Rivers led the Chargers back on the next possession with a touchdown and two point conversion.
What’s disturbing about this second half is that the Chiefs gave up points or at least put the the Chargers in position to score points on every second half possession. If Rivers doesn’t fumble in the final minute, they pull off the win scoring on five straight opportunities.
Matt Cassel was 19 of 32 for 261 with his TD and two picks. Cassel was successful with the play action fake. Cassel completed 4-of-5 passes using play-action, including a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Baldwin. Battle rushed for 70 yards on 19 carries and Baldwin finished with five catches for 89 yards.
Defensively, the Chiefs forced four turnovers, but also gave up 447 total yards of offense.
