San Diego-Kansas City: Chargers Pull Off Crazy Comeback Over Chiefs

Playing from behind is never easy, but the San Diego Chargers did their best to make it interesting Sunday.

The Chargers overcame a 21-10 forth quarter deficit and in the end hanging on for a key 22-21 win over the Chiefs in Kansas City. The Chargers improve to 6-8 with the win. While a loss would have ended any playoff hopes, they still have a shot after the victory for a postseason birth.

The game-winning score came with just 0:36 left, as Philip Rivers hit Vincent Jackson with a 10-yard score to give San Diego a 22-21 lead. The Chargers then had to hold their breath as rookie Conner Barth missed a 50-yard field goal on the final play of the game for the now 2-12 Chiefs.

Rivers had to air it out a lot, going 34-for-48 for 346 yards with two TD’s and one pick. The Chargers piled up 394 yards, but playing from behind almost all day will do that. The run game for the Chargers was in almost non-existent, as they had just 68 yards on 19 carries for a 3.6 yards per carry average.

The Chiefs built leads of 14-0 and 21-3, but could not put the Chargers away as Rivers was able to rally the troops. Running back Larry Johnson threw a TD to Tony Gonzalez to get the Chiefs going early. Tyler Thigpen ran for a score and threw for another.  Thigpen finished 19-for-28 for 171 yards with one TD and a pick.

The Chargers were down 21-10 when they were able to get in the end zone as Rivers led San Diego on an 89-yard drive, hitting Malcolm Floyd with a four-yard scoring pass with 1:13 left, making it 21-16. After the two-point conversion pass failed, the ensuing onside kick bounced off the chest of KC’s Dwayne Bowe, and San Diego's Kassim Osgood fell on the ball at the Chargers 39.

After a long pass to Jackson, Rivers then pulled off the comeback with a TD to Jackson down the middle for the go-ahead score with 36 ticks left. The Chiefs had their last shot, but were not able to convert on the Barth field goal that would have won it.

The Chargers will have another tough road test next week as they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Bucs. The Chiefs will stay at Arrowhead as they play their home finale against the Dolphins.