SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (2-3)
VS.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-5)

REGULAR SEASON GAME #7
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009 – 12:00 PM (CENTRAL)
ARROWHEAD STADIUM – KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Chiefs Television Network - KCTV-5 (CBS in Kansas City) - Play-by-play: Dick Enberg - Color Commentator: Dan Fouts

Chiefs FOX Football Radio Network - KCFX-FM (101.1 FM in Kansas City - Affiliates) - Play-by-play: Mitch Holthus - Color Commentator: Len Dawson - Sideline Reporter: Kendall Gammon

Chiefs to Salute Our Armed Forces with “Military Appreciation Day” at Arrowhead on Sunday

Public Transportation Returns to Arrowhead on Gamedays

THE MATCH-UP
The Chiefs face the Chargers for the initial time this season when Kansas City hosts San Diego at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the American Football League, both squads will wear classic uniforms for this contest. The Chiefs will play as the ‘62 Dallas Texans, a unit that captured the first of three league titles for Hank Stram.

Much has changed for the Chiefs since these two teams last met. Kansas City’s football fortunes are now under the direction of General Manager Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley. KC registered its initial victory of the Pioli/ Haley era last week as the Chiefs recorded a 14-6 win at Washington (10/18).

The Chiefs defense permitted just seven first downs in that contest, the fewest Kansas City had given up since allowing six first downs in a 23-7 win vs. San Diego (9/20/98). The win marked the fewest points relinquished by the Chiefs since KC registered a 41-0 victory vs. San Francisco (10/1/06). KC’s defense permitted Washington to convert 14.3% (2 of 14) of its third downs. QB Matt Cassel has now attempted 132 consecutive passes without an INT, the third-longest streak in the league behind Washington QB Todd Collins (217) and New England QB Tom Brady (176).

Haley’s squad is now charged with the task of constructing back-to-back victories, a feat Kansas City last accomplished in the final two games of the 2006 campaign. Last year, the Chiefs lost a pair of one-point games to San Diego. Dating back to the AFL’s inaugural season in ‘60, no series in pro football has featured more one-point games than the bi-annual Chiefs-Chargers tussle. Excluding ties, 12 contests in this division duel have been decided by a single point, including both contests in 2008.

The Chargers (2-3) enter this week’s game attempting to stay within striking distance of Broncos (6-0) in the division standings. San Diego is coming off a 34-23 loss vs. Denver (10/19) on Monday Night Football. The Chargers are seeking to become the first club to secure four straight AFC West crowns since Oakland accomplished the feat five straight years from ‘72-76. KC is attempting to claw back into the division race with four AFC West contests still looming after next week’s bye week. Up next for San Diego is a home contest vs. Oakland (11/1). The Chiefs resume their schedule at Jacksonville (11/8).

THE SERIES
Kansas City holds a 50-47-1 (.521) all-time advantage over San Diego in regular and postseason play. All 50 of those victories against San Diego have come in regular season play. The only teams the Chiefs have defeated more frequently are Denver (53) and Oakland (51).

San Diego owns a three-game win streak in the series, its first three-game winning stretch against the Chiefs since 2004-05. In 2008, the Chargers claimed a pair of one-point victories over the Chiefs, a 20-19 decision at Qualcomm Stadium (11/9/08) and 22-21 victory at Arrowhead (12/14/08). The two teams had split their regular season series each of the previous three years. Kansas City’s most recent victory in the series was a 30-16 decision at Qualcomm Stadium (9/30/07). KC’s last sweep of the series came in 2003.

The home team has won 18 of the last 26 games in this series dating back to ‘96. Kansas City owns a 10-4 (.714) record against the Chargers at Arrowhead dating back to ‘95, including a string of seven straight victories from ‘97-03. The Chiefs have won nine of the last 12 meetings at Arrowhead.

Chiefs-Chargers matchups are traditionally closely-contested battles. Excluding one tie between the two teams, a total of 12 games in this series have been decided by exactly one point, including the last two meetings. Those 12 one-point games are the most of any series in the league since ‘60.

The initial meeting between these two squads was the first regular season game in the history of both franchises when the Dallas Texans lost a 21-20 decision to the L.A. Chargers at the L.A. Coliseum (9/10/60).

The Chiefs and Chargers have met just one time in postseason play. San Diego claimed a win in the lone playoff tilt between the two clubs, registering a 17-0 victory in a ‘92 AFC Wild Card Playoff Game at San Diego (1/2/93).

Complete 16 page release (PDF)