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Kansas City Chiefs Rewatch: 2011 Week 8 vs Chargers

By Leigh Oleszczak

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers gets sacked during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 31, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers gets sacked during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 31, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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After starting 0-3 in 2011, the Kansas City Chiefs got back to .500 and now looked to move to over .500 on Halloween against the Chargers.

It was a rough start for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011. They got blown out in their first two games and were 0-3. The next three games resulted in victories for Kansas City and just like that, they were back to .500 and right in the thick of things in the AFC West.

The team got back to prominence at the perfect time, as the Chiefs hosted the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football on a spooky Halloween night at Arrowhead Stadium. The stage was set for a battle between these two teams and it was a game that Chiefs fans would never forget.

Kansas City Chiefs Rewatch: Week 8 vs Chargers – October 31, 2011

The Chiefs marched right down the field and Ryan Succop put up three points, the first of the evening as the Sea of Red was loud and pumped up. After the two teams traded turnovers, Philip Rivers threw his second interception of the evening, giving Kansas City the ball back.

Matt Cassel found rookie Jonathan Baldwin down the field for a beauty of a touchdown that went for 39 yards. Baldwin might not have been a success story for the Chiefs, but whenever he did make a play, it was usually quite the web gem.

After that touchdown that gave KC a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, it was a field goal show until the fourth quarter. At that time, it was a 13-12 Chiefs lead and Jackie Battle helped extend the lead by plowing into the end zone for a one-yard rushing touchdown, making it 20-12 KC.

Here come the Chargers though, as Curtis Brinkley scored a two-yard touchdown and the Bolts’ two-point conversion was good. It was all tied up at Arrowhead Stadium and an uneasy feeling was certainly had by all of the Chiefs fans in the stadium.

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The nervousness didn’t go away when the Chargers marched back down the field and were on the Chiefs 15-yard line with over a minute remaining in regulation. That’s when something weird happened.

Philip Rivers took the snap and fumbled it! Andy Studebaker pounced on it and it was the Chiefs’ football! San Diego was that close to stealing the win, but instead, this game would be going to overtime where from there, Cassel would lead a 13-play drive that took up seven minutes on the clock. Succop made the 30-yard field goal to give KC the walk-off win on Halloween!

This was a fun game and it put the Chiefs over .500 on the year. After starting the season 0-3, being 4-3 didn’t seem fathomable at all, but the Chiefs fought hard and were now right back in the hunt for the AFC West title.

Key Stats

  • Matt Cassel – 19/32, 261 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • Jackie Battle – 19 carries, 70 yards, TD
  • Jonathan Baldwin – 5 receptions, 82 yards, TD
  • Tamba Hali – 2 sacks
  • Philip Rivers – 26/41, 369 yards, 2 INT
  • Curtis Brinkley – 10 carries, 43 yards, TD
  • Malcolm Floyd – 5 receptions, 107 yards
  • Eric Weddle – 2 INT

The Kansas City Chiefs were over .500 for the first time in 2011, but unfortunately, this would be the last victory they’d have for over a month. The season went downhill pretty quickly after this game.

Even with the rest of the season going on a downward spiral, this Monday night Halloween match-up was one for the ages. Chiefs fans still remember the Rivers fumble, which was rumored to have been caused by fireworks that had been set off in the parking lot. That was never confirmed nor denied however.

This was also the now famous “Worst day ever!” moment that Rivers was caught mouthing on the sideline. Whiny Rivers is always a treat.

Well, the next 2011 rewatch won’t be until week 13, so we’ll have a lot of explaining and catching up to do in the next post. Oh boy.

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