In the fourth quarter of a soggy game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd got open deep down the right sideline. The Chiefs had blown their coverage and Malcom was all alone. Quarterback Philip Rivers saw him and lofted a pass that hit Floyd right between the numbers.
He could have moonwalked in to the end zone and he outright dropped it. Malcom has some of the best hands you’ll find and he couldn’t hold on to the ball, something that has not happened often in his long career. It’s the perfect way to sum up not only Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the Chiefs but the Chargers entire 2015 season.
San Diego forced a pair of turnovers, one on a Jason Verrett interception and another when Jerry Attaochu forced a fumble on a punt return. But the Bolts only got three points out of those miscues.
Speaking of miscues, cornerback Stevie Williams had one that led to the game-deciding score. After starting a drive at their own 4-yard line the Chiefs ran the ball on eight straight plays to reach the Chargers 44. So Defensive Coordinator John Pagano pulled 10 defenders in close to the line of scrimmage to stop the run.
The problem there is, it leaves nobody deep to help if anyone breaks free. Kansas City wide receiver Albert Wilson got loose from Williams caught a short pass and ran 44 yards for the only touchdown of the game.
Shockingly, San Diego was in it until the end. With 20 seconds left they had a 4th and 10 at the Chiefs 23 yard line when Rivers hit Vincent Brown for a 22-yard gain. With five seconds to play the Bolts had it first and goal at the one yard line. Well, they did until San Diego took a delay of game penalty, an inexcusable error after Kansas City had just used a time out.
Rivers threw once to the end zone, an incomplete pass, before a false start penalty moved the Bolts back to the 11 yard line. From there it was just too far. Rivers could not connect with Danny Woodhead and the ballgame was over.
The Chargers offensive line once again failed to protect Rivers, who was sacked five times. But the Chargers once again neglected the running game, even though the game was close and the field was wet from constant rainfall. San Diego only called 18 running play that earned 44 yards.
The Bolts fall to 3-10 on the season while Kansas City stays in control of a Wild Card spot by improving to 8-5.
