SD _ Antonio Gates 19 pass from Philip Rivers (Nate Kaeding kick); 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:35 drive time, 4:13 remaining.
The game started well for the Chiefs. Darren Sproles dropped the opening kickoff in the end zone and could only get to the Chargers’ 7 before Quinten Lawrence made the tackle. Brandon Flowers broke up a deep pass for Vincent Jackson on second down and Alex Magee hit Rivers as he tried to pass on third down. The Chiefs took possession after the punt at their 44 . . . They earned one first down on a Matt Cassel to Mike Cox pass but eventually punted from the Chargers’ 41. The punt was ready to bounce into the end zone but Terrance Copper batted it back and San Diego started from its 6 . . . Brandon Carr broke up Rivers’ third-down pass for Jackson and the Chiefs took over after the punt at their 43 . . . Cassel’s 12-yard pass to Bobby Wade allowed the Chiefs to convert on third and 11. But the Chiefs again couldn’t take advantage of the good field position when Cassel’s next third-down pass was deflected and intercepted by Quentin Jammer at the San Diego 39 . . . Two runs by LaDainian Tomlinson gave San Diego one first down, a 16-yard pass to Gates gave them another and a 12-yard reverse by Jackson put San Diego in field goal range. The Chargers got the touchdown on third down when Gates was open in the middle of the field . . . The Chiefs continued to flounder offensively and punted three plays . . . The Chargers had the ball nead midfield at the end of the period.