Chargers-Chiefs Preview

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• Countdown Daily Recap: Chargers-Chiefs

SCOUTING REPORT

Chargers-Chiefs: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Chargers-Chiefs matchup. 1. San Diego needs to commit to the run: The Chiefs rank in the bottom third of the league at stopping the run. San Diego has, potentially, one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in the league in LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, who are averaging 3.7 and 2.4 yards per carry, respectively. If the Chargers can get their ground game on track it will do a lot to loosen up coverage at the back end to help their passing attack.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
SDG	7-3	269	205	3-2	4-1	4-1	5-3
KAN	3-7	169	239	1-4	2-3	1-2	2-4
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

San Diego Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rivers 63.2 2621 17 6

Kansas City Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Cassel 55.0 1720 12 6 Croyle 66.7 177 2 0

San Diego Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Tomlin... 135 458 3.4 6 Sprole... 60 210 3.5 1

Kansas City Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Johnso... 132 377 2.9 0 Charle... 64 313 4.9 1

San Diego Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jackso... 47 788 16.8 7 Gates 52 709 13.6 2

Kansas City Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Bowe 33 466 14.1 4 Chambe... 10 249 24.9 2

Full Player Stats: San Diego | Kansas City

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	SDG	336.0
	KAN	268.0
Yards Passing	SDG	248.3
	KAN	171.3
Yards Rushing	SDG	87.9
	KAN	96.8
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	SDG	321.1
	KAN	389.5
Pass Yds Allowed	SDG	202.6
	KAN	250.9
Rush Yds Allowed	SDG	118.5
	KAN	138.6

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
San Diego leads 9-8
Dec 14, 2008	SDG 22, KAN 21
Nov 9, 2008	SDG 20, @KAN 19
Dec 2, 2007	SDG 24, KAN 10
Sep 30, 2007	SDG 16, @KAN 30
Dec 17, 2006	SDG 20, @KAN 9
Oct 22, 2006	SDG 27, KAN 30
Dec 24, 2005	SDG 7, KAN 20
Oct 30, 2005	SDG 28, @KAN 20
Jan 2, 2005	SDG 24, @KAN 17
Nov 28, 2004	SDG 34, KAN 31
Nov 30, 2003	SDG 24, @KAN 28
Sep 7, 2003	SDG 14, KAN 27
Dec 22, 2002	SDG 22, KAN 24
Oct 13, 2002	SDG 35, @KAN 34
Dec 23, 2001	SDG 17, KAN 20
Nov 4, 2001	SDG 20, @KAN 25

Another 8-8 record probably won't be enough to get the San Diego Chargers another AFC West title. The Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile, would likely be thrilled with a .500 record at the end of the season.

After two straight humbling defeats left the Chargers way behind in the division, they look to avoid hitting a new low Sunday against a Chiefs team coming off its first victory.

San Diego (2-3) hoped a bye week would help it fix the problems that led to a 38-28 loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 4, but its defense had another terrible game in a 34-23 loss to Denver on Monday night.

A late-season meltdown by the Broncos allowed the Chargers to win the division title last season despite going 8-8, but San Diego will need to end its problems in a hurry if it hopes to win a fourth straight AFC West championship. Denver is 6-0, and San Diego is closer to last-place Kansas City (1-5) than it is to the division leader.

"I know it doesn't look good right now but we can still bounce back," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said.

San Diego could only muster one-point wins in its two matchups last season with Kansas City, which went 2-14.

The Chiefs (1-5) ended a nine-game losing streak last Sunday with a 14-6 win over Washington, giving coach Todd Haley his first victory.

"It's a big weight off your shoulders," Chiefs defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey said. "You don't want to be one of those teams without a win. We want to build on it and, hopefully, we can come out next week and get another one."

With Haley trying to instill confidence in the Chiefs and quarterback Matt Cassel playing well, this could be a dangerous game for the Chargers.

Opposing quarterbacks have completed 74.6 percent of their passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns without throwing an interception in their last two games versus San Diego. Cassel hasn't been picked off in his last four games while throwing for six TDs.

Rivers continues to be steady for the Chargers despite getting pressured much more often than coach Norv Turner would like. He's been sacked 15 times this season, including a career-high five against the Broncos.

"Philip does a good job in the pocket in finding the soft areas," Turner said. "We've got to do some things where we can get the ball out quicker to help him, based on what people are doing to us."

Rivers has still managed to throw for 1,519 yards and seven TDs while getting picked off three times. He isn't getting nearly as much help from San Diego's running game as he has in past seasons.

Though LaDainian Tomlinson returned after missing two games due to a sprained ankle, the Chargers were held to 73 yards on the ground against Denver. Tomlinson had 70 of those yards.

San Diego is tied for last in the NFL in rushing with 57.6 yards per game.

Kansas City is ranked 25th in that category, gaining an average of 98.0 yards, but it had 110 against Washington.

Larry Johnson helped complement a strong defensive performance with a gritty effort running the ball, gaining a season-high 83 yards on 23 carries. But the outcome remained in doubt until linebacker Tamba Hali tackled Todd Collins for a safety in the final minute.

Counting an 0-4 exhibition record, Kansas City had been 0-9 under Haley and general manager Scott Pioli.

"It's real nice to know that we're heading in the right direction and all the work that we're doing is paying off," Dorsey said. "It's nice to know the things we're doing, the practices, the meetings, are paying off."

The Chiefs' next challenge is to create some momentum by avoiding a third consecutive home loss to the Chargers -- something that hasn't happened since 1979-81.

"I think it's a big test for us," Haley said. "It's the next step in the development of this team. It's a problem for some teams and not for others. I just think it's very important that we understand the task at hand and having another very good week of practice and building on this performance."

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