Chargers Fall In Sloppy Loss

Two days after Ryan Leaf got out of the hospital, his game took a turn for the worse.

The

Leaf wound up 1-for-15 for 4 yards, breaking the team record for fewest completions. The previous record of three was set 23 years ago by Hall of Famer Dan Fouts.

But he refused to blame the flu symptoms that hospitalized him overnight Thursday.

"We lost, man. We didn't play well, especially on my part," he said. "I take full blame."

The first rookie quarterback since John Elway in 1983 to start his career 2-0 had three fumbles and two interceptions against a Kansas City defense that planned all week to fool and confuse him.

But instead, the Chiefs blitzed less than normally and just let the driving rain and San Diego's own mistakes do the Chargers in.

"He had a long day today," linebacker Anthony Davis said. "A rookie is a rookie. But he'll get better."

All but three of Kansas City's points followed turnovers, but the Chiefs (2-1) had problems of their own on the slippery field and committed a team-record 15 penalties.

A driving rain fell throughout the first half while the Chiefs took a 16-0 lead over the punchless Chargers (2-1). Rain fell much of the fourth quarter as well.

"The conditions today were as tough as any that I've ever been involved with," Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "It was a monster out there."

On their first three possessions, the Chiefs got field goals of 35, 31 and 33 yards from Pete Stoyanovich, who became the 25th NFL player to score more than 1,000 points. Then they quickly went up 23-0 starting the second half after the Chargers on back-to-back plays fumbled during a punt return and committed a 36-yard pass interference penalty.

With a hard rain falling, the Chargers' first seven possessions went fumble, punt, fumble, interception, punt, fumble, interception. Leaf, who did not commit a single turnover in beating Tennessee 13-7 the week before, was guilty of every giveaway.

The Chargers' net passing was minus 19 yards, still better than the team record of minus 22.

"I told him I love him," San Diego linebacker Junior Seau said. "We have to take care of him. He's going to have those hard times. As veterans, we need to support him and protect him."

Natrone Means provided the Chargers' only offense, picking up a career-best 160 yards, including a career-long 72-yard touchdown run in the third.

Leaf fumbled the exchange from center on the Chargers' first possession and Derrick Thomas recovered. Following a San Diego punt, the Chiefs went 47 yards on 11 plays to set up Stoyanovich's second field goal.

Thomas blindsided Leaf a few minutes later and knocked the ball loose, and Donnie Edwards took possession on the San Diego 25 to set up Stoyanovich.

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Dale Carter's interception led to the Chiefs' first touchdown soon after. (AP)

A few minutes later, Leaf tried going deep to Bryan Still, but Dale Carter intercepted and returned the ball 23 yards to the Chargers 41.

On third-and-13, Rich Gannon, making his second start in place of the injured Elvis Grbac, hit Andre Rison on a 44-yard touchdown pass. Rison left the game, however, after aggravating a pulled hamstring.

Lotario Rachal fumbled on the Chiefs' first punt of the second half, and Kansas City took over on the 37. Terrance Shaw was flagged for pass interference in the end zone, then Tony Richardson scored from the 1.

The Chiefs drew extra incentive from comments they'd heard that Leaf had made on television about Arrowhead not being as intimidating as everyone said.

"To say that Arrowhead is just another stadium, there was a rude awakening awaiting him today," Chiefs cornerback James Hasty said.

Notes

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