NFL: Chargers D leads way in 43-14 win over Chiefs

SAN DIEGO — This was too easy.

The San Diego Chargers turned four turnovers into touchdowns, including a 40-yard fumble return for a score by safety Paul Oliver, to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 43-14 on Sunday and run their winning streak to six games.

LaDainian Tomlinson scored two touchdowns and moved into 10th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes to Antonio Gates as the Chargers improved to 8-3.

The Chiefs (3-8) lost a week after stunning the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime.

Tomlinson began the day 12th on the all-time list with 12,218 yards. He passed Marcus Allen (12,243) on a 5-yard carry in the first quarter and Edgerrin James (12,246) on an 8-yard run in the second.

Tomlinson had 39 yards on 13 carries, giving him 12,257 for his career. Up next is Marshall Faulk in ninth with 12,279 yards.

Rivers was 21 of 28 for 317 yards, with no interceptions, for a rating of 135.6. He wasn't sacked.

A defense that lost outside linebacker Shawne Merriman to a foot injury in the second quarter still came up big. Cornerback Quentin Jammer had an interception and forced a fumble, and Brandon Siler and rookie Larry English also recovered fumbles.

The most spectacular play was Oliver's. Matt Cassel dropped back and cocked his arm to throw late in the second quarter and the ball slipped out of his hand. Oliver grabbed it in the air, bobbled it, gained control, turned and ran 40 yards into the end zone to give the Bolts a 28-7 lead

It was San Diego's second TD in a span of 20 seconds. Rivers had just thrown a 15-yard scoring pass to Gates to cap a drive set up when Jammer forced a fumble by Jamaal Charles, which Siler recovered at the San Diego 39.

KC's fourth turnover came early in the third quarter when a shotgun snap went over Cassel's head on third-and-1 from the Chiefs 31 and was recovered by English at the 10. Tomlinson scored on a 3-yard run two plays later to make it 35-7.

San Diego's first touchdown, a 19-yard pass from Rivers to Gates, was set up by Jammer's interception. Gates had seven catches for 118 yards.

The only San Diego TD that didn't come after a turnover was Tomlinson's 1-yard run early in the second quarter. That one was set up when Malcom Floyd hauled in a 53-yard pass from Rivers. Although he appeared to tumble into the end zone with the ball, Floyd was ruled down at the 1.

Chris Chambers, released by the Chargers a month ago and quickly signed by KC, caught a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7 in the second quarter. Jamaal Charles scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter.

San Diego's Nate Kaeding kicked a 55-yard field goal in the third quarter, second-longest in club history to his 57-yarder last year at Tampa Bay. He added a 23-yarder in the fourth.

Backup QBs Billy Volek of San Diego and Brodie Croyle of KC came in late in the game.

Cassel was 19 of 31 for 178 yards. He was sacked once.