Chargers atop AFC West with second straight win

Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

Earlier this year Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson spoke about how he was waiting for his up-and-down team to hit a hot streak.

Two wins in a row may not count as a hot streak, but the Chargers coaches and players talked about their overall improvement following a 24-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The victoryin the cold and wind of Arrowhead, where the Chargers rarely win, maintained the Bolts’ lead in the AFC West standings with a 7-5 record.

“I think we’re getting better, and I think we’ve been getting better all year, but unfortunately we’ve had some periods when we didn’t play well,” Chargers head coach Norv Turner said. “But a lot of our players have improved. It was nice to see a lot of guys step up and make plays today. It was a complete team effort.”

Tomlinson led the way with 23 carries for 177 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground. He surpassed Hall-of-Famer Walter Payton with his 110th and 111th career rushing touchdowns, both in the second half, after the teams played to a 10-10 tie at halftime.
“Our guys are playing well and playing with confidence,” Turner said. “Our guys were determined to win this football game. I’m very proud.”

The game was tied at halftime when Tomlinson broke off a 31-yard scoring run for a 17-10 lead on the Bolts’ first possession of the second half with 12:16 left in the third quarter.

The play began with fullback Lorenzo Neal clearing a hole in the middle of the line and then wide receiver Vincent Jackson tying up the cornerback to provide a path for LT to the end zone down the sideline.

Tomlinson’s second touchdown came on a third-and-one play when he broke off a 28-yard touchdown run around the left side for a two-touchdown lead with 10:15 remaining in the game.

Tight end Antonio Gates opened some running room off left tackle on the inside and Neal’s block to the outside provided a seal for Tomlinson to reach the sideline on his way to the end zone.

Defensively, the Chargers had eight sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery for a fourth turnover.

“I think it was our best game of the year,” said inside linebacker Stephen Cooper, who led the team with 10 tackles that included one sack. “Our defensive backs played great, and that’s what caused all the sacks.”

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie intercepted two passes and cornerback Drayton Florence picked off one. Cromartie’s interceptions were both on passes to the end zone as he now leads the NFL with eight picks.

Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman had three sacks and recovered a fumble when outside linebacker Shaun Phillips sacked Damon Huard and knocked the ball loose.

The Chiefs scored the game’s first points on a field goal for a 3-0 lead and later scored the game’s first touchdown for a 10-3 advantage.

“We got down by three, tied it up and got down 10-3, but our guys didn’t blink,” Turner said. “They believed they would find a way to win.”

The Chargers tied the game at 3-3 after Nate Kaeding booted a 25-yard field goal with 5:24 left in the first quarter for a 3-3 tie. The first-quarter score was set up by a 47-yard pass from quarterback Philip
Rivers to wide receiver Chris Chambers on a third-and-12 play.
In the second quarter, Rivers beat the blitz with a 38-yard touchdown pass down to Jackson down the middle of the field for a 10-10 tie with 3:29 left in the first half. Jackson split two defenders and was behind them when Rivers hit him in stride for the score.

“I thought the big play was the throw to Jackson,” Turner said. “That play really gave us a lift before halftime.”

Rivers finished the completing 10-of-21 passes for 157 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Six players caught balls from Rives, with Tomlinson catching three for 20 yards.

The Chargers are on the road again next week at Tennessee before returning home to play the Detroit Lions Dec. 16 at Qualcomm Stadium.