San Diego Chargers-Kansas City Chiefs: The Chargers Weren't Singing in the Rain
On Monday night, the San Diego Chargers needed to prove that they were going to be a team to beat not only in the AFC but in the NFL as well.
On their opening drive, it looked like they were going to do just that. After a completed pass to a wide open tight end Antonio Gates to get them inside the 10-yard line.
They would finish off the drive with a touchdown pass, again to Gates, to put them up seven early in the first quarter.
When the rain came, it washed out whatever offense, or defense, the Chargers had.
A long touchdown run by Chiefs' running back Jamaal Charles was the first score of the game for Kansas City. Their second score came as a result from a fumble by Chargers' running back Ryan Mathews. But, to add insult to injury, it was topped off by the Chargers' special teams breakdown that led to a punt return for a touchdown by Dexter McCluster.
In the end, San Diego would board their flight home after a disappointing 0-1 start to what was a promising 2010 season.
Communication Problems Between Philip Rivers and Chargers' Offensive Line
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On more than one occasion, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers became enraged at his offensive line because of two delay of game penalties.
The television cameras caught Rivers, more than once, yelling at either a lineman or one of the coaches on the sidelines.
But, it also showed the lineman barking back at Rivers. You have to wonder if patience is running thin between the two sides.
Chargers' Defense, for the Most Part, Played Well
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They held quarterback Matt Cassell to just 10 completions on 22 pass attempts for 68 yards. The only big play they gave up was the 56-yard touchdown run by running back Jamaal Charles.
After giving up two first half touchdows to the Chiefs' offense, they shut them down for the entire second half, allowing just 62 total yards.
Chiefs' Fans Deserve a Lot of Credit
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Arrowhead Stadium was loud fright from the start and they stayed loud for most of the game, rattling the Chargers' offense and causing two of the delay of game penalties.
Can't say fans don't play a significant role in games.
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Ryan Mathews Had a Tough Debut
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When you're a rookie in the NFL, a regular season debut is always a nerve-wracking day for you. But when you're a rookie running back who's taking over for one of the most popular players in Chargers' history, there's a lot more added pressure.
Maybe that pressure got to rookie running back Ryan Mathews because his debut didn't go as well as he thought it might have gone. Or at least how he saw it playing out in his head.
One of the Chiefs' touchdowns was a direct result of a Mathews fumble deep inside their own territory.
He finished with 75 yards rushing on 19 carries.
Horrible First Half for the Chargers' Offense
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After gaining 92 total yards in three possessions in the first quarter, the Chargers mustered just 19 yards in the entire second quarter.
Philip Rivers Was Off-Balance
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Blame it on the rain or blame it on maturity issues. Whatever the case, Philip Rivers wasn't the quarterback that Charger fans have gotten used to seeing.
He was off balance for most of the night including the final drive in the fourth quarter. He threw three passes on the Chargers' final drive, the first was incomplete and the second was way too high.
On fourth down, the Chiefs chased Rivers out of the pocket and forced an off balance throw that missed it's mark and eventually clinched the victory for Kansas City.
Chargers' Special Teams Were Terrible
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The downfall of the Chargers last night was their special teams play who gave up what was the deciding touchdown.
A 95-yard punt return for a touchdown from Dexter McCluster left the Chargers' special teams looking like a high school team. McCluster went almost untouched with players slipping on attempted tackles or completely out of position.
The Chargers Were Cursed from the Start
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After all the things that went wrong for the San Diego Chargers, maybe they were doomed from the start. Maybe they should blame it on...their achy breaky heart?
I'm not sure why Kansas City had Billy Ray Cyrus sing the National Anthem but my ears would hurt for four quarters too if I had to listen to that.
The Half Time Show Wasn't Much Better
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I'm not sure what the name of the band was at halftime of the Chargers and Chiefs game, but they weren't much better than Billy Ray Cyrus was before the game.
I didn't last more than a minute listening to that. No wonder why a ton of fans headed for dryer ground when they started.
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