Chiefs-Chargers Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Chiefs playing better, but not well enough to beat rested ChargersThe Chiefs are coming off a tough home loss to Tampa Bay and now travel to San Diego to play the rested Chargers, who are very much alive in the AFC West race. The Chiefs are playing better lately, but for the second week in a row fell short and this time, let Tampa Bay steal a victory in overtime. The Chargers have struggled defensively and recently fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell. Will the change to Ron Rivera make the Chargers a more aggressive blitzing team, or is the personnel just not good enough on that side of the ball without Shawne Merriman? The Chiefs' defense will be challenged to find ways of stopping Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
KAN	2-14	291	440	1-7	1-7	2-4	2-10
SDG	8-8	439	347	5-3	3-5	5-1	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Kansas City Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Cassel 55.0 2924 16 16 Croyle 57.5 230 2 0

San Diego Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rivers 65.2 4254 28 9 Volek 64.5 231 1 1

Kansas City Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Charle... 190 1120 5.9 7 Johnso... 132 377 2.9 0

San Diego Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Tomlin... 223 730 3.3 12 Sprole... 93 343 3.7 3

Kansas City Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Chambe... 36 608 16.9 4 Bowe 47 589 12.5 4

San Diego Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jackso... 68 1167 17.2 9 Gates 79 1157 14.6 8

Full Player Stats: Kansas City | San Diego

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	KAN	309.0
	SDG	349.0
Yards Passing	KAN	195.6
	SDG	241.1
Yards Rushing	KAN	113.1
	SDG	107.9
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	KAN	393.2
	SDG	349.9
Pass Yds Allowed	KAN	234.3
	SDG	247.4
Rush Yds Allowed	KAN	158.9
	SDG	102.6

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 8-8
Dec 2, 2007	KAN 10, @SDG 24
Sep 30, 2007	KAN 30, SDG 16
Dec 17, 2006	KAN 9, SDG 20
Oct 22, 2006	KAN 30, @SDG 27
Dec 24, 2005	KAN 20, @SDG 7
Oct 30, 2005	KAN 20, SDG 28
Jan 2, 2005	KAN 17, SDG 24
Nov 28, 2004	KAN 31, @SDG 34
Nov 30, 2003	KAN 28, SDG 24
Sep 7, 2003	KAN 27, @SDG 14
Dec 22, 2002	KAN 24, @SDG 22
Oct 13, 2002	KAN 34, SDG 35
Dec 23, 2001	KAN 20, @SDG 17
Nov 4, 2001	KAN 25, SDG 20

As poorly as the San Diego Chargers have been playing lately, they know they have enough time to make a playoff run. Getting a win over the lowly Kansas City Chiefs would be a good place to start.

The Chargers look to come out of their bye week rejuvenated and avoid dropping their third straight game Sunday when they host the Chiefs.

San Diego (3-5) was expected to contend for the Super Bowl this season, but has already lost as many games as it did last year, when it advanced to the AFC championship game.

Despite their struggles, the Chargers are within 1 1/2 games of AFC West-leading Denver.

"I think we realize we're in a very tough position right now," defensive end Luis Castillo said. "But at the same time, the attitude is we realize there's hope, because it's a lot tougher to be 3-5 in a division where you're four or five games behind already."

The Chargers hope to come out for the second half of the season fresh following an 11,000-mile, two-loss road trip through Buffalo and London. San Diego hasn't played since losing to New Orleans 37-32 in Wembley Stadium on Oct. 26.

The Chargers return to action with a new defensive coordinator after linebackers coach Ron Rivera was promoted to replace Ted Cottrell, who was fired two days after the loss in London.

Defense has been a major disappointment for San Diego this season after it led the NFL with 30 interceptions and 48 takeaways last year.

The Chargers have no sacks or interceptions in the last nine quarters and have only six picks and 10 takeaways on the season. They are also last in the league in pass defense (265.1 yards per game) and 23rd in scoring defense (24.9 points per game).

"I think we're better than 3-5, but we have to play it as it says right now," inside linebacker Matt Wilhelm said. "Our record says we're 3-5. With the changes that have been made, I think we're excited to go out and play."

Offensively, San Diego has been one of the strongest teams in the league. Led by Phillip Rivers, the Chargers are third in scoring (28.0) and should be able to put up points against the Chiefs (1-7), who give up an average of 27.9 points.

Rivers, who leads the NFL with a 107.8 passer rating and has thrown 19 touchdowns and six interceptions, has passed for 855 yards, eight TDs and two picks in his last three games.

LaDainian Tomlinson has gotten off to a slow start, but hopes having a week off helped his injured big toe heal. The toe didn't seem to bother him as much against the Saints, as the two-time defending NFL rushing champion ran for 105 yards on 19 carries -- his second 100-yard game of the season.

Tomlinson hasn't had any trouble running against the Chiefs lately, amassing 508 yards and five touchdowns on 68 carries in his last three games versus them. He should be able to find some running room Sunday, as the Chiefs are last in the league in rush defense (182.4) and have given up an NFL-high 14 rushing touchdowns.

The Chargers and Chiefs split their two meetings last season with each team winning on the road, but this season's Kansas City team has been in a funk.

The Chiefs have lost four in a row since a 33-19 win over Denver on Sept. 28 and have dropped 16 of 17 dating to last season.

Kansas City looked like it would earn its second victory last Sunday as it led Tampa Bay 24-3 with a little more than 2 minutes to go in the second quarter, but the Buccaneers rallied to win 30-27 in overtime. It was the biggest lead the Chiefs ever lost.

"We still have to learn how to finish the game," coach Herm Edwards said. "We have to make plays in certain parts of the game that you need to make. I think that comes with some experience."

Tyler Thigpen, making his third career start, was 14-for-25 for 164 yards and a touchdown and also caught a 37-yard TD pass from wide receiver Mark Bradley last Sunday. Thigpen has thrown for 444 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in his last two starts after throwing three picks in his first.

Running back Larry Johnson, suspended for this week's game by the NFL for violation of player conduct policy, will miss his fourth straight game.

Kolby Smith, who had started the three previous games while Johnson served a team benching for violating franchise rules, was lost for the season with a knee injury early in the second half against the Buccaneers.

That means rookie Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 106 yards on 18 carries last Sunday, will likely get a bulk of the carries versus San Diego.

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