Final Score: San Diego 43, Kansas City 14

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Philip Rivers tossed two scores to help the San Diego Chargers to a 43-14 rout over the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC West battle.

Rivers went 21-for-28 with 317 yards for the Chargers (8-3), who have won six straight and maintained their one-game lead over Denver for first place in the division. LaDainian Tomlinson ran for two scores while Antonio Gates had seven catches for 118 yards and two scores in the win.

"Our receiving corps, just our skill position players as whole, have been doing a tremendous job this year," said Gates. "I can't tell you how honored I am to be here and be a part of this thing. They just make it easier for myself and I just try to do the same in return."

Matt Cassel was 19-for-31 with 178 yards, one touchdown, one interception and one fumble for the Chiefs (3-8), who were coming off a 27-24 win in overtime over Pittsburgh and had won their previous two. Jamaal Charles had 14 carries for 93 yards and a score in the loss.

"We went into it with one of our keys being to not turn the ball over," said Chiefs coach Todd Haley. "Against a very good team, we turned it over four times. That translated into 28 points we couldn't overcome. We gave up too many big plays that put us in a hole."

The Chargers put the first points up on the board on a seven-play drive that covered 61 yards and was capped as Gates caught a pass over the middle and scampered into the end zone for a 19-yard score with 4:13 to play in the first.

After an exchange of punts, the Chiefs tied the game on an eight-play, 91-yard drive when Chris Chambers caught the ball out in the left flat and twisted into the end zone on a seven-yard score with 10:46 left in the first half.

San Diego, though, responded with three straight scores to take a commanding 28-7 lead into the break.

On the second play of the following drive, Rivers threw a long ball and Malcolm Floyd came up with a leaping, 53-yard catch to put the ball at the one-yard line. On the next play, Tomlinson punched it in with 10:05 left in the second.

Charles fumbled the ball on the Chiefs' next touch and Quentin Jammer recovered to give the Chargers the ball back at their own 39.

Rivers capped the seven-play drive with a 15-yard touchdown catch over the middle by Gates with 2:52 left in the half.

On the first play of the next drive, the ball slipped out of Cassel's hand as he attempted a pass. Paul Oliver grabbed the ball and took it into the end zone on a 40-yard score.

Kansas City's struggles continued in the third as on its first touch a snap went over the head of Cassel and Larry English recovered at the Kansas City 10. Two plays later, Tomlinson punched it in from three yards out for a 35-7 lead.

The Chiefs responded with a strong eight-play drive that covered 79 yards in just over three minutes and made it a 35-14 game with 9:45 left in the third on Charles' four-yard run around the left end.

However, the Chargers answered with a season-high 55-yard field goal from Nate Kaeding for a 38-14 lead with 4:27 left in the third.

Tomlinson fumbled the ball at the KC end zone and the Chiefs recovered, but Cassel was called for intentional grounding and San Diego was awarded a safety.

Kaeding added a 23-yard field goal with a bit over five minutes to play to account for the final score.

Game Notes

Charles' rushing touchdown was just the second of the year on the ground for KC...Kaeding's career-long for field goals is 57 yards...The Chiefs host Denver next Sunday...San Diego plays at Cleveland next Sunday...San Diego has taken five straight against the Chiefs and nine of the past 12...Tomlinson had 39 yards on 13 carries...Chambers finished the game with seven catches for 70 yards.