Close Calls Have Been Frequent For Chiefs, Chargers

Dating back to 2000, the Chargers hold a slim 10-9 series lead vs. KC. Over that span, 11 of those 19 contests have been decided by seven points or less with the Chargers holding a 6-5 edge in those 11 close games. Two of Kansas City’s three wins this season have been decided by seven points or less. Dating back to 2008, the Chargers are 4-8 (.333) in contests decided by the same margin. Two of San Diego’s three losses this season have come at home.

Kansas City Needs Another Strong Defensive Performance at SD
The 20-point barrier will be the line of demarcation in Sunday’s contest at San Diego. Dating back to ‘90, the Chiefs are 16-2 (.889) vs. the Chargers when holding them to less than 20 points, including a 6-1 (.857) mark at Qualcomm. The Chiefs have held their opponents to 20 points or less in eight of their last nine victories, winning those games by an average margin of 21.3 to 14.2. KC will face a San Diego squad that has scored 20 points or more in 14 consecutive games, posting an 11-3 (.786) mark in those contests. The last time the Chargers were held under the 20-point plateau was a 22-16 loss vs. Atlanta (11/30/08). Dating back to 2005, San Diego is 1-13 (.071) when it scores less than 20 points, including a string of eight straight losses. The Chargers only win in such a circumstance during that span was a 14-3 win vs. Chicago (9/9/07).

More Chiefs-Chargers Scoring Stats
San Diego has permitted 30 points or more in all three of its losses this season. Two of those three setbacks have come at home. The Chargers have lost nine straight home games when allowing 30 points or more dating back to 2002, including KC’s most recent win at Qualcomm, a 30-16 victory (9/30/07). The last time the Chiefs topped the 30-point barrier was in a 33-19 win vs. Denver (9/28/08). KC scored a season-high 27 points vs. Pittsburgh (11/22). Regardless of location, the Chargers are 2-21 (.087) since the start of the 2002 campaign when permitting 30 points or more. In this season’s first five games, the Chargers compiled a 2-3 record and were outscored by an average margin of 27.2 to 24.8. San Diego is 5-0 in its last five contests and has outscored its foes by an average margin of 29.0 to 13.8 in those games, topping the 30-point plateau in three of those five games.

KC, SD Both Seeking a Strong Second-Half Finish in 2009
The Chiefs are 2-0 in the second half of the 2009 campaign and are seeking to post a winning record in the final eight games of the season since going 5-3 in 2005. The Chargers have won three straight AFC West titles thanks in large part to their performance in the second half of the season. From 2006-08, SD was 13-11 (.542) in its first eight games, but finished 20-4 (.833) in the final eight games of those three campaigns, including an 11-2 (.846) mark at home.

After a 32-3 win at Denver (11/22), the Chargers are also 2-0 to begin the second half of the 2009 campaign and are in the midst of a five-game winning streak. Miami was the last team to halt a Chargers single-season winning streak of fi ve games or more, registering a 23-21 win at Qualcomm (12/11/05).

Chiefs Rank Among the NFL’s Best in the Turnover Column
The Chiefs are a combined +3 (7 takes/4 gives) in their three victories this season. After forcing three INTs in the season’s first eight games, KC’s defense has registered four INTs in back-to-back victories. The Chiefs are tied for fourth in the NFL along with San Diego and Baltimore, committing just 11 turnovers in 2009. Kansas City has also thrown just six INTs to tie with San Diego and four other clubs for the third-lowest total in the NFL.

Opponents have scored 23 points off Chiefs giveaways. Only Baltimore (13), New England (17) and Indianapolis (21) have relinquished fewer points after turnovers than Kansas City (23). Those three clubs that rank ahead of KC in that department own a combined 22-8 (.733) record. Only Baltimore (7.6%) has given up a lower percentage of its total points off giveaways than KC (9.6%).

SD has permitted just 29 points off giveaways to rank sixth in the league. Kansas City went an uncharacteristic -3 (0 takes/3 gives) in its initial meeting with San Diego, marking only one of two games this season where KC hasn’t forced a turnover. The Chargers own a 30-3 (.909) home record with a positive turnover margin dating back to 2002. Over that same span, San Diego is just 4-15 (.211) at home with a negative turnover margin. KC was +2 (3 takes/1 give) in the club’s most recent visit to Qualcomm, a 20-19 loss (11/9/08).

During the season’s first five games, San Diego was even (7 takes/7 gives) in the turnover column. San Diego was +3 (3 takes/0 gives) in a 32-3 win at Denver (11/22). SD has forced 16 turnovers and has 44 points off takes, while KC has registered 14 takeaways and 43 takeaway points in 2009.

Another Wild Fourth-Quarter Finish Could Be in Store at SD
Teams leading at the half have won 16 of the last 21 games in the Chiefs- Chargers series dating back to ‘97. The Chiefs have led at halftime in two of their three victories this season, as well as a 26-20 OT loss vs. Dallas (10/11). KC rebounded from a 17-7 halftime defi cit for a 27-24 win vs. Pittsburgh (11/22). SD is 43-8 (.843) when leading at halftime dating back to 2004, including wins in 18 of their last 20 such contests. The Chargers are just 4-9 (.308) when tied or trailing at the half dating back to 2008. SD has been ahead or tied at halftime in five of its last six contests, owning a 5-1 record in those games.

SD ranks fourth in the league in second-half scoring with 145 points. However, the Chargers have allowed 110 points in the second half, while KC has permitted 115. SD has scored 86 points in the fourth quarter to rank fourth in the NFL, while KC’s 77 fourth-quarter points are tied for sixth in the league. Exactly 45.6% (77 of 169) of KC’s points have come in the fourth quarter, while 32.0% (86 of 269) of SD’s total points have come in the final frame.

KC Among NFL’s Defensive Leaders in Three and Outs
The Chiefs currently rank fifth in the NFL, forcing three and outs on 28.0% of opponents’ drives (35 of 125). Houston leads the league in that department at 34.9%. In terms of total three and outs forced, only Minnesota (38) and Houston (37) have registered more than Kansas City (35). The Chiefs defense is tied for eighth in the league with a 55.6 goal-to-go TD percentage, allowing just 10 TDs on 18 goal-to-go possessions. SD’s offense ranks ninth in the NFL, going three and out on just 20.6% (22 of 107) of its drives, while the Chargers defense is 21st in the NFL, forcing three and outs at a 22.2% (24 of 108) clip. Kansas City’s offense has converted on fourth down a league-high 12 times. Only Green Bay (1) has converted fewer fourth downs than San Diego (2).

K Ryan Succop Continues to Prove His “Relevance”
While Chiefs K Ryan Succop earned the label of “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 256th and fi nal selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, the rookie specialist has proven a valuable asset to Kansas City’s special teams. He has connected on 16 of 20 FGs (80.0%), needing just six more made FGs to surpass the Chiefs rookie record of 21 established by Hall of Fame K Jan Stenerud in ‘67.

Succop has accounted for 52.6% of Kansas City’s points (30 of 57) in its three wins this year, hitting a career-high four FGs in a 14-6 win at Washington (10/18) and making three FGs in a 16-10 victory at Oakland (11/15). He also nailed his first game-winning FG from 22 yards out vs. Pittsburgh (11/22). He has a pair of FGs from 50+ yards this season. Only KC’s all-time leading scorer, K Nick Lowery, has registered more 50-yard FGs in a single season.

Charles in Charge – RB Jamaal Charles, KC-SD Rushing Stats
Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles owns 161 rushing yards, a 97-yard KO return TD and three total TDs during KC’s two-game winning streak. SD ranks 22nd in rushing defense, allowing 118.5 ypg, but they have only relinquished a single 100-yard game. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall had 165 yards in a 38-28 victory vs. San Diego (10/4).

San Diego is one of four teams that has not registered an individual 100- yard rusher in 2009, joining Arizona, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. The Chargers rank 30th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 87.9 ypg, a figure that is 8.9 ypg less than the Chiefs rushing average of 96.8 ypg. San Diego has won 24 consecutive games when it records 30 or more rushing attempts dating back to a contest vs. Pittsburgh (10/8/06). The Chargers ran the ball a season-high 43 times for 203 yards with two TDs at Denver (11/22).

Chiefs Defense Set to Square Off Against QB Philip Rivers
Chargers QB Philip Rivers has thrown at least one INT in six of his seven career starts vs. Kansas City. The Chiefs have been particularly effective in slowing Rivers down at Qualcomm. He has completed just 55.4% (56 of 101) of his passes, throwing two TDs and six INTs for a 55.9 rating in three home starts against KC, numbers that clearly fall below the standard he has established against Oakland and Denver at home. Rivers’ six home INTs against the Chiefs are by far his highest tally against any club, representing 33.3% of the 18 career INTs he has thrown in 33 career regular season starts at Qualcomm. During SD’s five-game win streak, Rivers has completed 68.8% (95 of 138) of his passes for 1,102 yards with 10 TDs and three INTs, good for a 107.8 rating.