Chargers vs. Chiefs: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for San Diego
The San Diego Chargers came up short in their ploy to spoil the postseason plans of an AFC West rival on Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs held on to win 10-3.
Alex Smith connected with Albert Wilson for a 44-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and Cairo Santos added a 40-yard field goal before the break for Kansas City (8-5), which won a seventh straight game. The Chiefs defense sacked Philip Rivers five times and kept the Chargers out of the end zone on a pivotal goal-line stand in the closing seconds.
Josh Lambo's 30-yard field goal in the third quarter pulled San Diego (3-10) within a touchdown, but Rivers and Co. were shut out from getting one for the second straight week. Rivers converted on fourth down three times on the last drive of the game to get the Chargers down near the goal line, but time ran out after three incompletions, and the Chiefs swept San Diego for the second straight year.
Here are this week's postgame grades, notes and quotes for San Diego.
All quotes courtesy of Ricky Henne and Hayley Elwood of Chargers.com
Position Grades for Chargers
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Quarterback: A
Rivers was held without a touchdown pass for a second straight game, but his playing through illness and nearly leading the Chargers to a game-tying score at the end was nothing short of miraculous. He deserves more than to be 3-10 and playing for pride.
Running Back: D
Melvin Gordon had 18 touches and 63 yards from scrimmage. He's getting to be more comfortable as a pass-catcher, but we're still waiting for it to click in the running game. Gordon had 35 rushing yards against the league's seventh-ranked run defense. Danny Woodhead, meanwhile, had a mere 13 yards from scrimmage and dropped a catchable pass in the corner of the end zone that would have tied the game late.
Wide Receiver: D+
The slick conditions made catching passes a real problem for San Diego's receivers, but no one would have expected sure-handed Malcom Floyd to have the drop that he did on a deep pass with no defenders around. Had he caught it, Floyd was only a few steps away from the end zone and tying the game right then and there. The 10-year veteran somewhat made up for it, though, with a tremendous 41-yard catch to move the chains on the last drive of the game.
Javontee Herndon had five catches for 47 yards and came up with a couple of key completions, including the first of three fourth-down conversions. Vincent Brown, who was signed off the street this week to replenish a banged-up receiving corps, had one catch on the day, but it was a big one. His 22-yard snag on fourth down got the Chargers down to the 1-yard line in the closing seconds.
Tight Ends: B
Antonio Gates made up for lost time against the Chiefs with a team-high six receptions for 76 yards. He had just one catch in Week 11 against this same defense. And when the Chargers needed to convert a 4th-and-10, No. 85 came through with a 16-yard completion to keep the drive alive. Ladarius Green, who spelled Gates during his four-game suspension earlier this season, hasn't caught more than two passes in a game since Week 8. He finished with two for 26 yards.
Offensive Line: F
The Chargers got an early Christmas gift in the form of Justin Houston not playing due to injury, but it proved to be of little help as they surrendered a season-high five sacks. Dee Ford, the former 23rd overall pick in the 2014 draft, had a personal best with three sacks versus Chris Hairston, who replaced King Dunlap at left tackle in the first quarter. Ford's speed off the edge won out against the slower Hairston, but the interior of the offensive line also struggled.
Defensive Line: F
With Corey Liuget placed on injured reserve and Sean Lissemore inactive, many of the reserves saw extended playing time for San Diego, but none of them were impressive enough to mention. The Chiefs imposed their will up front with 25 rushing plays for 150 yards, and they picked up nine first downs on the ground.
Linebacker: B
Bookends Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu each had a sack, and Attaochu extended his range with a forced fumble on special teams. Meanwhile, Manti Te'o and Denzel Perryman combined for nine tackles at inside linebacker, a pairing that simply can do no wrong. But with a soft D-line playing in front of them, the Chargers' linebackers have to work harder than most to make plays.
Defensive Back: B+
What more can be said about Jason Verrett other than he's developing into a star corner right before our eyes in only his second season. He intercepted a pass for the second time in as many games, as Alex Smith tried to go deep to No. 1 receiver Jeremy Maclin. Meanwhile, Steve Williams gave up the lone touchdown of the game, a 44-yard catch to Albert Wilson, who beat his man on a slant with no safety help up top.
Special Teams: C
Josh Lambo was 1-of-2 on field goals. He made one from 30 yards and missed the other from 42 yards. Herndon's opening kick return went for 34 yards, but he would get no more after that, while the Chiefs totaled 60 yards in returns.
Coaching: C
This team, while not very good, is still fighting for Mike McCoy. The Chargers had no business hanging around with a team that is destined to make the playoffs, but they did, and they almost won too.
Jason Verrett Snaps Alex Smith's Interception Streak
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Alex Smith had gone 76 days and 312 pass attempts without throwing an interception, the second-longest streak in the NFL, until it was snapped by San Diego's Jason Verrett on a 33-yard pass intended for Jeremy Maclin. It was only the third interception thrown by Smith this season, and the second in as many games for Verrett.
The Chargers now have eight interceptions on the year, with three of them coming from Verrett. And if you recall, he took one back for a pick-six in Week 9 against the Chicago Bears.
Lambo Ties for 10th-Most Field Goals in Franchise History
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Lambo's 21st field goal, a 30-yard make in the third quarter, tied him for the 10th-most field goals in franchise history with Wade Richey and Dave Abbott. Next on the all-time list is Dick Van Raaphorst with 31 field goals.
This season, Lambo has made 21 of 25 attempts.
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Rivers' Flu Game
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While not as iconic or memorable as the flu game made famous by Michael Jordan in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Rivers' performance against the Chiefs while battling the flu bug was undeniably gutsy and impressive to say the least. With the season lost and playing in an otherwise meaningless game, most would have taken a sick day, but not Rivers.
He completed 24 passes for 263 yards, and had it not been for some key drops, he might have been able to tie it up late for San Diego.
Floyd on Dropped Pass
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"This one hurt me a little more. I think I had an opportunity to change the game for us and I left a play out there on the field. I wish I got the play back, but you have to move on. As a professional you just have to move on from it. I’m just sorry to my fans and my team.
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Floyd had the end zone in sight and a perfectly thrown pass en route but simply could not make the play. The normally reliable receiver has dropped passes in back-to-back games now despite having just one all of last season.
Rivers on Story of the Season
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"All those little things are what make up the story of the season. Decent in some games and really good in some games, but just not good enough. That’s what we’ve been.
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Not good enough is right. The Chargers have come up short on the last play of the game several times this season despite having ample opportunities. Take this game, for example. On the last drive, Rivers threw a catchable ball to Ladarius Green in the end zone, which he dropped, and then Danny Woodhead couldn't come up with the catch on the final play of the game.
It's just been that kind of season for the Chargers.
McCoy on How Proud He Was of Team
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"Unfortunately we came up a little short there. But I couldn’t be prouder of this football team and the way they fought to the bitter end. They just kept on fighting and the very last play there, unfortunately we didn’t make one more. Especially after the way the half ended, giving (the Chiefs) the 10 points there at the very end of the half, the players came into the locker room and had the right mindset going out. We came up short today. I’m very proud of the way they fought. Like I’ve said all along, this team has a lot of fight in them, and I’m proud of them for that, but it’s about winning.
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The Chargers didn't have fight in them when they were routed by Kansas City 33-3 at Qualcomm Stadium in Week 11, or when they trailed 37-6 against the Oakland Raiders in Week 7. For once, San Diego actually came to play against a division rival, but how can you explain zero touchdowns in the last three games against the AFC West?
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