Chiefs Beat Chargers - Merriman Suspended - Defense Battered

What a weekend for Charger fans...

The Chargers almost come back from a 20-3 defecit to beat the Chiefs, but after tying the game the Chiefs were able to convert on a 53 yard field goal to win the game 30-27.

The Chargers were trying to hand the game to Kansas City in the first quarter, 3 turnovers on their first 4 possessions put them in a hole early. But the offense responded, especially in the second half.

The Charger defense comes out of this game extremely battered... Shaun Phillips who has been playing well left and did not return. Olshansky did not play and is likely out for a few more weeks. And to add to the mounting defensive injuries Shawne Merriman, probably the Chargers best linebacker, is being suspended for 4 games for taking steroids... great. Now is Merriman any good or just good when he is juiced up?

I did like to see the Chargers respond even though at halftime it looked somewhat bleak being down 20-6. Kaeding missed a 41 yard field goal just before the half and those points sure what have came in handy towards the end.

I think Phillip Rivers has done a fine job at quarterback so far. He still is making the occassional bad decision but he has looked fairly good at handling the pressure. The Chiefs were blitzing almost every down. Tomlinson is held for less than 100 yards rushing...again, but he did have a 37 yard td catch and he also threw for a touchdown, so his scoring stats are still quite impressive. Gates had a good game catching a touchdown pass and had 9 catches overall for 63 yards.

St. Louis is next up and they are coming off a bye week and the Chargers are coming off a very physical and mentally draining loss plus add in the Merriman story it even becomes a more defeating situation for the Chargers this week. Hopefully they will be able to respond.