SAN DIEGO, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Tony Richardson scored on a one-yard run with 1:26 left Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs blew a 19-point lead and then downed the San Diego Chargers, 25-20.
Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs were the only team to lose to the Chargers. This year, they became the first team to beat the Chargers at home.
Kansas City (2-6) drove 71 yards in 10 plays in 4:44 after San Diego (5-3) went ahead on a 26-yard touchdown pass from rookie backup Drew Brees to tight end Freddie Jones.
"It's very meaningful to come into San Diego and beat a good football team and beat them the way we had to beat them in the fourth quarter," Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil said. "We thought we could run the football."
But the Chiefs had to survive a scare on the play prior to Richardson's game-winning touchdown. Priest Holmes ran four yards to the one, but the ball popped loose and the Chiefs recovered.
Brees was brought in to replace Doug Flutie, who left the game in the second quarter with a concussion.
"I'm fine," Flutie said. "In the second half, I felt like I could've gone back in but I think I know better than to get back in there. It was a legitimate concussion."
The Chiefs opened the scoring with 5:08 left in the first quarter when Todd Peterson kicked a 37-yard field goal, one of two on the day. He has made 12 consecutive field-goal attempts.
After holding San Diego on the ensuing possession, Kansas City drove 52 yards in five plays, using just 2:18 as Richardson ran to his left and dove into the end zone. But Peterson's extra-point attempt was blocked, giving the Chiefs a 9-0 lead.
Holmes extended Kansas City's lead to 16-0 with 3:23 left in the first half with a three-yard run and Peterson closed it out with a 28-yard field goal as time expired.
"I think the scheme we had as far as attacking their defense, it really showed an improvement in our running game," Holmes said.
San Diego finally got on the board 6:43 into the second half when Wade Richey booted a 48-yard field goal.
Rookie LaDainian Tomlinson ran to his right for an eight-yard score with just 25 seconds left in the third as San Diego went 89 yards down the field in just six plays.
After Richey kicked a 35-yarder 2:25 into the final quarter to make it 19-13, the Chiefs were stopped on their next possession and the Chargers took over at their own 29 and used nine plays, going 89 yards in 4:44, ending with Jones' touchdown.
"It's very disappointing to lose this ballgame," Chargers coach Mike Riley said. "We're going to be able to pinpoint the things that we can do better and find a way to it better and come back and play better."
Kansas City took over at its own 29 with 5:59 left and had third and six at San Diego's 42 with 4:19 remaining. Quarterback Trent Green found Larry Parker for an 11-yard catch, bringing the ball to the 31.
Six plays later, Richardson capped the scoring.
Green finished the day completing 13 catches in 27 attempts for 156 yards and an interception.
"It's a total team effort," Green said. "In the end, there was enough that all three phases did well to help us get the win. It's nice when it's a total team effort."
Holmes ran for 181 yards on 30 carries for his third 100-yard game this season.
Brees was 14 of 28 for 182 yards and a touchdown and tried to bring the Chargers into scoring position but time ran out when he was called for an illegal forward pass in Kansas City territory.
"He went out and took control," Flutie said of Brees. "From what I saw, he played his tail off. He made a bunch of plays, got us back in the ballgame and we had a chance to win it."
