NFL: Steve's Sideline Report- Finally, A Win Emerges

By Steve Bowles

It was a long time coming. After dropping each of the first 11 games of their 2000 schedule, several of which were close scores, the Chargers won one-by a close score. And it came at the expense of the Kansas City Chiefs, who can never seem to beat the California teams, especially on the West Coast (the Chiefs are a combined 1-4 against the 49'ers, Raiders and Chargers, including 0-3 in the Golden State).

It looked like any other game the Chargers had played in. They committed five turnovers, including two interceptions by quarterback Ryan Leaf. But in the end, it was the Chiefs that shot themselves in the foot, the biggest mistake coming from fullback Tony Richardson, when, after a run in the third quarter that took him inside the Chargers' two yard line, he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Richardson thought he had scored on the play, and as a result he spiked the ball. Not so fast, Tony. The penalty pushed the Chiefs back to the 16 yard line and eventually had to settle for a Todd Peterson field goal. So instead of a four-point lead, they had to settle for a two-point lead.

This was crucial, because all the Chargers needed was a field goal to retake the lead, and they got it. It was set up nicely by Nate Jacquet's 35-yard punt return, leading to a 52-yard field goal by John Carney that gave the Chargers a 17-16 fourth-quarter lead with just over two minutes left in the game. They held on for their first victory this season. Looking deeper, there were several heroes in the game. Freddie Jones caught two touchdown passes, Rodney Harrison notched two sacks and Michael Dumas sacked Chiefs Warren Moon when it looked as if the veteran signal-caller was going to lead the team to a score to answer Carney's field goal. However, on the next play, Moon's pass fell incomplete and the game was over.

Article courtesy of www.4thandlong.net