SAN DIEGO (AP) — Antonio Gates caught a 14-yard yard scoring pass from Philip Rivers on the game's opening drive to snap San Diego's streak of six straight quarters without a touchdown and the Chargers led the lowly Kansas City Chiefs 10-6 after three quarters of a lackluster game Thursday night.
The only scoring in the third quarter was Ryan Succop's 41-yard field goal for Kansas City, his second of the game. Succop missed a 39-yard attempt earlier in the third after Kansas City recovered a fumble by punt returner Eric Weddle.
Gates' first-quarter score was San Diego's first touchdown since the star tight end caught an 11-yard pass in the first half against Denver on Oct. 15. That score gave San Diego a 24-0 lead, but Peyton Manning rallied the Broncos to a 35-24 win.
The Chargers got only two field goals from Nick Novak in a 7-6 loss at Cleveland on Sunday, their third straight defeat.
After San Diego scored on the opening drive, Kansas City went on a 17-play drive, converting four third downs, but Dwayne Bowe fumbled after a 10-yard reception. It was Kansas City's NFL-high 26th turnover this season. Demorrio Williams caused the fumble and Quentin Jammer recovered.
The Chiefs had six turnovers in a 37-20 home loss to the Chargers on Sept. 30.
Bowe's fumble set up Novak's 25-yard field goal with 9:10 left in the second quarter.
The Chiefs' 26 turnovers — 13 fumbles and 13 interceptions — have led to 90 points for opponents.
After Kansas City decided not to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the San Diego 31, Succop kicked a 49-yard field goal with 2:51 left before halftime.
The Chargers had a third-and-goal from the 1 in the closing seconds of the half when Rivers was intercepted by Eric Berry.
Rivers was 14 of 16 for 179 yards in the half. Kansas City had only 107 yards in total offense.
Kansas City, which entered the game with a 1-6 record, has lost four straight.
Both coaches, San Diego's Norv Turner and Kansas City's Romeo Crennel, are on the hot seat.
At the start of halftime, some fans in one end zone unfurled a big yellow banner that read: "Mr. Spanos, please fire A.J. & Norv."
Team president Dean Spanos decided in January to bring back both Turner and general manager A.J. Smith even though the Chargers missed the playoffs for the second straight year.