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Chiefs exploit bye, Chargers’ soft pass D

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Visits to San Diego had left the Kansas City Chiefs feeling like the tourist who gets seasick, sunburned and then lost while driving around Hotel Circle wondering where the exit is.

It got to be repetitive. Six trips to Qualcomm Stadium, six defeats and then on back to Flyover Country, wondering what it would take to beat Philip Rivers on his home field.

Sunday brought a familiar chance, and a new result.

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The Chiefs hogged the ball most of the afternoon, a tactic the Chargers (5-2) have mastered in many recent games.

Their opponent gasping, the Chiefs created a chance to kick the winning points much like last December at Qualcomm Stadium.

A rookie from Brazil named Cairo Santos lined up the 48-yard kick, facing El Cajon. The Chargers called timeout. Santos barely moved.

The snap and hold were spot on. Santos hit the ball flush--and it cleared the crossbar.

Final score: Chiefs 23, Chargers 20.

“I’m speechless,” Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe said.

Running back Jamaal Charles was still grinning an hour later.

“This is my first time winning here,” said the seventh-year player, “and that was a big win against a good team.”

A San Diegan led them.

Alex Smith, playing on the same field where Reggie Bush and he twice guided Helix High to CIF championship victories, directed an offense that was 7 for 14 on third down and held the ball 39 minutes to San Diego’s 21. Completing passes to 12 teammates, running for 29 yards and faking to good effect, Smith (19 for 28, 221 yards) showed the advanced skills the Chiefs lacked at quarterback for several years before his arrival last year.

He sized up a Chargers defense that lacked super-fast cornerback Jason Verrett (hamstring) and lost starting corner Brandon Flowers (concussion) in the second quarter.

“It felt like they were playing soft, especially early,” Smith said.

Even Rivers hasn’t figured out how to win without the ball.

The Chiefs’ offense ran 70 plays to San Diego’s 49.

“Sometimes the best defense against Philip Rivers is keeping him on the sideline,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

Afforded extra days to prepare by an open date, Reid and offensive coordinator Doug Pederson devised a “tight little plan together for us,” Smith said, and the players turned it into Reid’s 14th victory in 16 games when coming off a bye.

Chargers pass-rusher Dwight Freeney, 34, mentioned the scheduling advantage.

“They had an extra week to prepare for this game,” he said. “They came out with everything, so hat’s off to them.”

Calling it a must win, Bowe was close to the mark. Trailing the Chargers and Broncos, who were 4-1 entering Sunday, the Chiefs (3-3) would’ve faced a Rocky Mountain climb within the AFC West had they again lost in San Diego. Bowe led the pass-catching brigade with five catches for 84 yards, and Charles, gaining 95 on 22 carries, supplanted Priest Holmes as the franchise’s career rushing leader.

San Diego Chargers 20, Kansas City Chiefs 23

10/19/2014 at Qualcomm Stadium

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