Philip Rivers shines as Chargers crush Chiefs, end skid

San Diego, CA, United States (4E Sports) – Philip Rivers threw for 220 yards and two scores as the San Diego Chargers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 31-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday at Qualcomm Stadium.

Rivers completed 18 of 20 passes and set the Chargers’ offense with a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the game’s opening series en route to their fourth win in eight games, good for second in the AFC West behind the Denver Broncos (4-3).

Linebackers Jarret Johnson and Demorrio Williams also played key roles in the victory. Johnson had a strip sack in the end zone, resulting in a Chargers recovery for a touchdown in the fourth period while Williams intercepted a pass by Matt Cassel and returned it for a 59-yard touchdown.

Wide receiver Danario Alexander had three catches for 60 yards while fellow wideout Malcolm Floyd and tight end Antonio Gates had one touchdown catch each.

Cassel finished 19-for29 for 181 yards with no touchdown for the Chiefs, who lost their fifth straight games and dropped to 1-7.

Rivers opened the game with a perfect 4-for-4 in the 70-yard drive that culminated with a 14-yard touchdown heave to Gates for a 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Rivers continued his perfect passing, completing five heaves on a 12-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal by Nick Novak to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead.

Cassel answered with a 10-play, 49-yard attack that ended with a 49-yard field goal by Ryan Succop to cut the lead to 10-3.

The Chargers had a chance to extend their lead in the closing seconds of the first half but Rivers threw an interception in the end zone.

In the third period, Cassel sparked a 10-play, 70-yard drive capped by 41-yard field goal by Succop to close in at 10-6.

Rivers bounced back with a eight-play, 80-yard drive and found Floyd at the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass before Jarret Johnson stripped Cassel in the end zone for a 24-6 lead.

In the next play, the Chargers’ defense played big with Williams picking Cassel’s pass and returning it for a touchdown. The Chiefs scored on a Shaun Draughn two-yard run to peg the final score at 31-13.

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