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Chargers D leads way in 43-14 win over Chiefs

Nov 30, 2009 - 2:42 AM 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.