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11/29/2009 9:42 PM EST
Chargers D leads way in 43-14 win over Chiefs
SAN DIEGO 43, KANSAS CITY 14

By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO(AP) -- The hardest part for Paul Oliver was simply
staying on his feet for 40 yards.

In a play that seemed to sum up the afternoon, the San Diego
Chargers safety suddenly found the ball in his hands after the
Chiefs' Matt Cassel had it slip out of his, and Oliver turned
the fumble recovery into a touchdown.

"It bounced right to me," Oliver said. "It was about as easy of
a play as you can make."

The Chargers converted four turnovers into scores in a 43-14 win
over Kansas City on Sunday to run their winning streak to six
games.

LaDainian Tomlinson scored two touchdowns and moved into 10th on
the NFL's all-time rushing list. Philip Rivers threw two
touchdown passes to Antonio Gates as the Chargers improved to
8-3.

The Chiefs (3-8) lost a week after stunning the defending Super
Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime.

This win came courtesy of a defense that dominated despite
losing outside linebacker Shawne Merriman to a foot injury in
the second quarter. Cornerback Quentin Jammer had an
interception and forced a fumble, and Brandon Siler and rookie
Larry English also recovered fumbles.

The most spectacular play was Oliver's. Cassel dropped back and
cocked his arm to throw late in the second quarter and the ball
slipped out of his hand. Oliver grabbed it out of the air,
bobbled it, gained control, turned and ran 40 yards into the end
zone to give the Bolts a 28-7 lead.

"I came around the corner, saw he was about to throw, then the
ball popped up, bounced right to me," Oliver said. "All I had to
do was run it in. It felt like I was going to fall when I turned
around, then I was in the end zone."

It was San Diego's second TD in a span of 20 seconds. Rivers had
just thrown a 15-yard scoring pass to Gates to cap a drive set
up when Jammer forced a fumble by Jamaal Charles, which Siler
recovered at the San Diego 39.

"We put the offense in good field position and really helped
them out every way we could. It was a close game for the first
half, but then the turnovers took over and we capitalized on all
of them," Oliver said.

"You create those plays with an attacking mentality," coach Norv
Turner said.

After winning two straight, the Chiefs were knocked back.

Rookie coach Todd Haley said they were looking to take "another
baby step."

"But if you turn the ball over it's going to get out of hand
quick, which is exactly what happened," he said.

"You can't give a good team that's playing really well right now
28 points off turnovers," Cassel said.

The Chargers' winning streak began with a 37-7 rout at KC on
Oct. 25.

"I think we are a pretty good team," Tomlinson said. "I think we
can challenge any team and beat any team. I think it shows what
kind of a team we really are when we come play like this against
a team we are supposed to beat."

Tomlinson began the day 12th on the all-time list with 12,218
yards. He passed Marcus Allen (12,243) on a 5-yard carry in the
first quarter and Edgerrin James (12,246) on an 8-yard run in
the second.

Tomlinson had 39 yards on 13 carries, giving him 12,257 for his
career. Up next is Marshall Faulk in ninth with 12,279 yards.

KC's fourth turnover came early in the third quarter when a
shotgun snap went over Cassel's head on third-and-1 from the
Chiefs 31 and was recovered by English at the 10. Tomlinson
scored on a 3-yard run two plays later to make it 35-7.

San Diego's first touchdown, a 19-yard pass from Rivers to
Gates, was set up by Jammer's interception. Gates had seven
catches for 118 yards.

The only San Diego TD that didn't come after a turnover was
Tomlinson's 1-yard run early in the second quarter. That one was
set up when Malcom Floyd hauled in a 53-yard pass from Rivers.
Although he appeared to tumble into the end zone with the ball,
Floyd was ruled down at the 1.

Chris Chambers, released by the Chargers a month ago and quickly
signed by KC, caught a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at
7 in the second quarter. Charles scored on a 4-yard run in the
third quarter.

Tomlinson fumbled just as he was about to plow into the end zone
early in the fourth quarter. KC cornerback Brandon Flowers
caused the fumble and recovered it.

Rivers was 21 of 28 for 317 yards, with no interceptions, for a
rating of 135.6. He wasn't sacked.

San Diego's Nate Kaeding kicked a 55-yard field goal in the
third quarter, second-longest in club history to his 57-yarder
last year at Tampa Bay. He added a 23-yarder in the fourth.

Cassel was 19 of 31 for 178 yards. He was sacked once.

NOTES: Backup QBs Billy Volek of San Diego and Brodie Croyle of
KC came in late in the game. ... Merriman (foot) and S Eric
Weddle (knee) left in the second quarter and didn't return.
Chargers LB Kevin Burnett sustained a concussion. ... Chargers
long snapper David Binn, in his 16th season, played in his 250th
career regular-season game.

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