Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Sunday, December 12, 2010, 4:15 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Chargers -7
Current Line: Chargers -9.5
Opening Total: 47
Current Total: 46
Money Line: Chargers -410 / Chiefs +330

The San Diego Chargers (6-6) will need a break down the stretch if they are going to overtake the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) for the division lead in the AFC West.  The Chargers (-7) are hoping that will come this Sunday when the Chiefs visit without starting quarterback Matt Cassel under center.

Cassel underwent appendectomy surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss at least one game to recover if not two.  If that happens, backup Brodie Croyle and his 0-9 career record as   a starter would take the field against a San Diego team looking for revenge from a season-opening 21-14 loss at Kansas City.

The Chargers seemed to be turning the corner on their way to a fifth straight division title, but their four-game winning streak was snapped last week at home with a 28-13 loss to Oakland.  They had won 18 straight games in December prior to getting swept by the Raiders, as quarterback Philip Rivers had never lost during the final month of the regular season in his career.

Rivers is fully capable of helping his team bounce back though.  San Diego has won five of the last six home meetings with the Chiefs, and he remains worthy of NFL MVP consideration for the way he has played throughout the season.  Rivers ranks second in the league behind Indy’s Peyton Manning with 3,642 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.  He completed 23 of 39 passes for 280 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Raiders but got little help from the running game.

Rookie Ryan Mathews was expected to return from a high ankle sprain but did not play against Oakland while Mike Tolbert carried the ball seven times for only 16 yards.  Mathews was the starter in the opener against the Chiefs and rushed for 78 yards on 20 carries.

Kansas City running backs Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones will be expected to carry the load offensively if Cassel does not play.  Charles rushed for 92 yards on 11 carries including a touchdown in the first meeting, and the Chiefs rushed for 251 yards overall against the Chargers.

The Chiefs have won three straight games since suffering a 49-29 loss at Denver and won the second meeting with the Broncos last week at home, 10-6.  Charles rushed for 116 yards on 21 carries in the latest win while Jones added 53 yards on 11 attempts and had four catches for 54 yards.

Surprisingly, Kansas City wide receiver Dwayne Bowe did not have a reception for the first time this season, although he had only one catch for 13 yards in the season opener.  Bowe had scored a touchdown in the previous seven games, making at least three catches in each.

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