Chargers at Chiefs
THE STORY: The Kansas City Chiefs are feeling a lot better about themselves heading into this weekend’s matchup with the San Diego Chargers than they did when the teams met last month. The Chiefs will be seeking their fourth consecutive win and can pull within a half-game of the AFC West lead when they host the division-leading Chargers on Monday night. Such a scenario seemed highly improbable when the Chiefs suffered a narrow 20-17 loss at San Diego to drop to 0-3 – after having been outscored 89-10 in the first two weeks and losing star running back Jamaal Charles to a season-ending knee injury.
TV: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET. LINE: Chargers -3.5, O/U 44
ABOUT THE CHARGERS (4-2): San Diego appeared on the way to its fourth straight win – and muzzling Rex Ryan – before blowing an 11-point halftime lead in a 27-21 loss at the New York Jets last week. San Diego was scoreless in the second half and received another shaky outing from QB Philip Rivers, who threw for a season-low 179 yards and had his fourth two-interception game – both coming in the fourth quarter. Rivers was also picked off twice by the Chiefs, but RB Ryan Mathews ran for 98 yards and a pair of first-half touchdowns. TE Antonio Gates had five catches for 54 yards and a TD last week in his return from injury.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (3-3): Kansas City rode six interceptions to a 28-0 win at division rival Oakland last week. Kendrick Lewis and Brandon Flowers returns picks for touchdowns, helping the Chiefs survive a mediocre outing by Matt Cassel, who threw for 161 yards and was intercepted twice. Bruising RB Jackie Battle has rushed for 195 yards in the last two games after having 10 carries in the first four. Kansas City has turned its season around thanks to a soft schedule, beating Minnesota and Indianapolis (a combined 1-13) and a Raiders team that lost star RB Darren McFadden to injury in the first quarter and was without starting QB Jason Campbell.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Kansas City is looking to become the first team since Pittsburgh in 2000 to open the season with three straight losses and follow with four consecutive wins.
2. Gates, who had been sidelined by plantar fasciitis, hauled in his 70th career TD last week. Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez (92) – a former Chief – is the only other tight end to reach that mark.
3. Chargers Pro Bowl LG Kris Dielman will not play after sustaining a concussion last week. He reportedly had a seizure on the team flight home.