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Chargers-Chiefs, Instant Analysis

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Out with a whimper.

That’s how it played out Sunday for the Chargers on a winter’s day in the Midwest.

They went into Arrowhead Stadium with a playoff berth on the line and departed with a 19-7 defeat, largely because Chiefs defenders whipped them up front.

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The Chargers’ offense, overwhelmed by a Kansas City pass rush that amassed seven sacks, never really got going.

Worse, the Chargers died with their guns holstered.

Needing one yard to stay in the game, they handed off twice in a row to their least capable rusher, Donald Brown.

When the Chiefs stuffed Brown each time at their 20, freezing a 19-7 lead with 3:33 left, Philip Rivers clasped hands to facemask and screamed.

Rivers is a $91 million quarterback and the team’s top playmaker. Why not have him decide the team’s playoff fate? One wondered if Rivers regretted not changing the call to a quick pass.

Brown’s best chance for the first down came on third-and-1. He was held to half a yard. He had no chance on fourth-and-1; safety Husain Abdullah, drafting off massive nose tackle Dontari Poe, stopped Brown in the backfield.

A victory would’ve given coach Mike McCoy two Wild Card berths in two seasons as head coach.

Undone in the end by their offense, which had only one touchdown in three of the last four games, the Chargers logged a 9-7 record for the second year in a row. They went against a tougher schedule this year, so consider San Diego improved from last season.

But against a Chiefs team that learned Thursday quarterback Alex Smith wouln’t play, the Chargers never led and had 10 penalties and three turnovers.

The Chiefs (9-7) were the faster, more physical team. The same was true in their Week 7 win at San Diego, and for the AFC West-winning Broncos against San Diego. The Chargers’ 0-4 record against their top two rivals was, in the end, too much to overcome.

The Chargers, in fairness, went with their fifth starter at center in Trevor Robinson and a first-time starter in rookie guard Jeremiah Sirles. In addition, D.J. Fluker was hindered by a knee injury that sidelined him for part of the second quarter.

NFL sack leader Justin Houston had four sacks, giving him 22 on the season.

The Chargers’ defense was excellent for most of the second half. But for the second game in a row, San Diego’s offense and defense looked a step slow for much of the first half.

The impression the game left is that General Manager Tom Telesco should invest in both lines this offseason. And if Houston leaves the Chiefs in March as an unrestricted free agent, so much the better.

Kansas City Chiefs 19, San Diego Chargers 7

Arrowhead Stadium, 12/28/2014

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