2:05 p.m., Chargers by 6
Last meeting
Chargers won 24-17 at San Diego on Jan. 2, 2005
Who knew
Eight of past nine games between these two have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Spotlight on: Antonio Gates
If Chargers narrowly miss playoffs, they’ll look back at their decision to suspend the tight end for their season opener as a big factor. And if they don’t do it, the media will no doubt do it for them. Gates is that big of a factor in the Chargers’ offense. He has surpassed the Chiefs’ Tony Gonzalez as the premier pass-catching tight end in the business. Numbers? You want numbers? Gates, a former college basketball player at Kent State, caught 81 passes last season and averaged 11.9 yards a catch. He’s averaging 5.5 catches per game this season, putting him on pace for 83 despite missing the opener. So what happened to the Chargers in that game? They lost to the Cowboys in part because Drew Brees didn’t have his go-to guy around in the closing seconds with the Chargers near the Dallas goal line.
Etc.
Things looking hopeless for Chargers at 3-4. Then again, they were 3-3 last season before catching fire and reeling off eight straight Ws. … Chargers still mad as heck for losing at Philly last week on a blocked field goal returned for a TD. … Chiefs QB Trent Green is 6-3 in nine career starts vs. Chahguhs. … S.D.’s LaDainian Tomlinson leads AFC with 10 TD runs, but had streak of 18 straight games with at least one rushing TD snapped at Philly. … Gates in his last start vs. Chiefs: Seven catches, 92 yards, two TDs. … K.C. S Greg Wesley has streak of three straight with an INT vs. Chargers. … Chargers swept season series in 2004. … Chiefs plus-4 in turnovers, Chargers even.
Prediction: Chargers 30, Chiefs 23
