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On a day full of history, Chiefs greats and the return of the Ring of Honor, the Kansas City Chiefs were plagued with turnovers from the start and could not overcome a difficult first quarter. The storyline coming into the matchup was a tale of two very different teams. The Chiefs were returning from an impressive hard fought overtime victory in New Orleans, while San Diego was licking their wounds after facing the undefeated Falcons and putting only a field goal on the board in the loss.

However, today, despite the aura of a packed house at Arrowhead and Will Shields name along with 41 other Ring of Honor members being unveiled at pregame on Alumni weekend, the Chiefs found themselves in an uphill battle right from start as they gave up 17 points early. The turnovers continued and eventually, Kansas City was facing a 20-0 deficit early into the second quarter.

A glimmer of hope for the Chiefs came when DB Brandon Flowers picked off Chargers QB Phillip Rivers as San Diego was threatening deep in Chiefs territory. The offense was finally in control and drove 85 yards as a scampering Jamaal Charles was determined to reach pay dirt. Momentum had swung to the Chiefs side, but quickly changed directions. A miscue on special teams saw a muffed snap on the extra point. P Dustin Colquitt was forced to go to the air with the ball, but threw it straight into the hands of the Chargers defense.

The Chiefs defense, then, dug in and held the Chargers on the very next drive and on the Chiefs next offensive possession, a Matt Cassel pass intended for Tony Moeaki careened off of his hands and was intercepted by Chargers LB Donald Butler who bolted into the endzone making the score 27-6.

The Chiefs went into the locker room trailing by 21 points, and needed to come out quickly and strike. They did just that. A 13 play, 80 yard drive, culminated in Charles reaching the end zone, this time through the air.

The defense then showed great fight as back-to-back sacks from DE Ropati Pitoitua and then LB Tamba Hali fueled a quiet offensive quarter for the Chargers. Unfortunately, San Diego’s defense also matched the Chiefs fight and Kansas City headed into the final stanza down by 14.

But the Chiefs were haunted by turnovers yet again – this time RB Shaun Draughn put the ball on the ground and Kansas City had given the Chargers another opportunity on offense.

Former Chiefs running back and 2011’s leading rusher for Kansas City, Jackie Battle capped a nine-play drive with a wide-open reception in the endzone from Rivers.

The Chiefs answered on the next possession when San Diego’s coverage was nowhere to be found and WR Dwayne Bowe caught a 29-yard pass from Cassel for a touchdown. But, it was too little too late.

San Diego’s special teams added 3 more points before the game was over, handing the Chiefs their third loss of the 2012 campaign. Next week it doesn’t get any easier for Kansas City as they host a surging Ravens squad at Arrowhead.

Notables:
- Pitoitua notched his first two sacks as a Chief.
- Bowe had seven receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.
- Hali recorded his first sack of the season.
- Flowers snared his first interception of the season.