Notes: Flowers injured; Liuget flagged
Brandon Flowers’ excitement was visible.
He breezed through a pre-game workout Sunday, team staff members clearing him to face his former team. He bounced around during warm-ups, talking to Chiefs defensive backs during their lap around the field.
Come the game, he played with energy. He collided with Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles inside the end zone of a second-quarter touchdown run.
That is when Flowers’ day took a different tone.
The Chargers cornerback suffered a concussion during a 23-20 loss to Kansas City, the team with whom he spent the first six years of his NFL career. It is improbable, however possible, for him to complete the league protocol in time to play Thursday in Denver.
As a player yet to be cleared from a concussion, he was not available for comment after the game.
San Diego Chargers 20, Kansas City Chiefs 23
10/19/2014 at Qualcomm Stadium
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- Gehlken: Flowers injured; Liuget flagged
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- Calkins: Chargers not as good as their record?
- Canepa: Bad taste left in Chargers’ mouths
- 3 big moments from Chargers vs. Chiefs
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- COMPLETE CHARGERS COVERAGE
Flowers and rookie first-round cornerback Jason Verrett are key reasons for the improved play on San Diego’s secondary this year. Neither may be available Thursday.
It’s part of an early trend.
Flowers, Verrett and Shareece Wright are the team’s three cornerbacks. With Verrett (shoulder) inactive Sunday, they haven’t played together for four straight weeks and five of the past six.
Flowers, a game-time decision with a groin injury, received a concussion test on the sideline after the Charles hit.
He returned on the field for the Chiefs’ ensuing possession but didn’t finish the drive. He was monitored further on the sideline before being escorted into the locker room.
Following halftime, he returned with the team to the sideline., and the Chargers announced he was questionable with a head injury. Flowers did not play in the second half. He returned to the locker room in third quarter, and the team announced his concussion.
Face mask?
Corey Liuget wasn’t about to make a fuss about it.
Not publicly, at least.
But the defensive end was flagged for a face-mask penalty on the second play of the Chiefs’ game-winning field-goal drive. It was debatable.
“I don’t believe I did. But the referee called it,” Liuget said. “It’s a face mask in the books. That’s what it went down as.”
The call was enforced after a 9-yard Alex Smith quarterback scramble. Instead of third-and-1 on its own 17-yard line, Kansas City had first-and-10 on the 32.
The Chargers had a number of chances to slow the Chiefs from there.
Ultimately, they ceded a 48-yard field goal to break a 20-20 tie.
San Diego overcame a questionable face-mask call a week earlier when outside linebacker Jerry Attaochu was flagged. Verrett intercepted a pass a few plays later, capping a win over the Raiders
Nuts ‘n’ Bolts
• Even in a loss, there was notable movement in the team record book. Kicker Nick Novak converted his 30th and 31st straight field goals, the longest streak in franchise history. He entered the day tied at 29 with John Carney.
• Quarterback Philip Rivers had his sixth straight game with multiple touchdown passes. The streak is tied with Dan Fouts (1981) for longest in franchise history. Rivers moved to 19th all-time with 239 career touchdown passes, surpassing Jim Kelly, and 25th all-time with 34,330 yards, surpassing Steve DeBerg.
• Rivers had five straight games with at least a 120 quarterback rating, the longest in NFL history. He was 17-of-31 for 205 yards, two touchdowns and a late pick, good for an 83.4 rating.
• Tight end Antonio Gates caught three passes for 61 yards, showing concentration on a 27-yard touchdown that deflected off a defender. He is 29 yards away from breaking Lance Alworth’s franchise record for career receiving yards (9,584).
• Leslie O’Neal, the Chargers’ all-time sacks leader, was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at halftime. His daughter was at his side. With her too young to have seen him play, he ended his speech asking fans to cheer as if he just sacked John Elway. A loud ovation followed.
• Punter Mike Scifres averaged 57 yards on five punts.