Sports 4 Dorks

The Chargers hold essentially a two-game lead on the Denver Broncos in the AFC West Division.

The Chargers lead the Broncos by a game in the standings and also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker based on ther 41-3 victory in Denver on Oct. 7. The teams meet once more in San Diego on Week 16 in the Monday Night Football game.

How important is that two-game lead?

The Chargers are 1-4 on the road this season and face consecutive road games beginning Sunday in Kansas City followed by Dec. 9 at Tennessee.

The Chiefs, traditionally very difficult to beat at Arrowhead Stadium, are only 2-4 at home this season.

How rare is that 2-4 home record? The Chiefs entered this season with the best regular season home winning percentage in the NFL since 1990, going 102-34 (.750).

When the teams met Sept. 30 at Qualcomm Stadium, the Chargers led 16-6 at the half but were outscored 24-0 in the second half. It was San Diego’s third consecutive loss in a 1-4 start that they’ve since managed to crawl out from.

Kansas City converted Chargers turnovers into 20 points in the 30-16 victory.

KC outside linebacker Derrick Johnson had an interception that lead to the touchdown that tied the score at 16.

The Chiefs got a 49-yard scoring pass play to rookie receiver Dwayne Bowe on a third-and-19 play to break a 16-16 tie.

Later, with the Chargers trying to mount a drive to tie the score, Johnson sacked Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and forced him to fumble. Tyrone Brackenridge picked up the ball and returned it 50 yards for a clinching touchdown.

Since that game, the Chargers won at Denver, beat Oakland and Houston at home, lost at Minnesota, survived Indianapolis at home, lost at Jacksonville and pounded Baltimore at home.