Bolts lost too many duels to Chiefs’ D
With a playoff berth on the line Sunday at noisy Arrowhead Stadium, the Chargers can’t expect to win if Chiefs defenders win as many solo duels as they did Oct. 19 at San Diego.
Chiefs pass-rushers got past Chargers blockers as no other team had this year.
Chiefs pass defenders, led by a rookie cornerback, delivered big plays.
Coupled with an offense that held the ball for 39 minutes, the defensive playmaking created Kansas City’s first victory in San Diego in seven years.
Kansas City’s defensive personnel Sunday will be the same as Oct. 19, though Chris Owens is expected to start for the aforementioned rookie, Philip Gaines, out due to illness.
The Chargers hadn’t faced Gaines, who started for the injured Owens.
Philip Rivers went after Gaines; however, the 6-foot rookie won against Eddie Royal, Malcom Floyd and Keenan Allen (and Royal dropped a pass). Shadowing Allen in the end zone, Gaines turned his head to find the ball and swatted it. The play, which ultimately saved four points in a game the Chargers lost by three, is beyond most young corners.
Kansas City’s explosive pass rushers, all healthy and well-rested, were in peak form.
Tamba Hali got past King Dunlap -- San Diego’s best blocker -- to hit Philip Rivers 2.5 seconds after the snap and also strip-sacked Rivers in 2.1.
Justin Houston bowled over D.J. Fluker to sack Rivers in 2.4 as Dontari Poe, a quick 340-pounder, forced rookie guard Chris Watt into Fluker.
End Allen Bailey beat Chad Rinehart and hit Rivers in 2.5 on San Diego’s first dropback. He also bull-rushed Fluker, causing an incompletion.
The rematch will dial up new ingredients. Fluker is healthier and coming off two of his better games as a pro. Teammates say Dunlap has had a Pro Bowl-caliber season. A few Chiefs linemen look less spry than Oct. 19. Kansas City isn’t coming off a bye. Fresh-legged Dontrelle Inman, coming off a seven-catch debut, will go for the injured Allen, and 225-pound RB Ronnie Brown has rejoined the Chargers and become a playmaker. The center-guard tandem of Trevor Robinson and Jeremiah Sirles are expected to be together for just the second game.
