KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Tony Richardson scored on a one-yard run with 48 seconds remaining Sunday, lifting the Kansas City Chiefs to a 20-7 victory over the hard-luck San Diego Chargers.
It was the eighth straight loss for San Diego and dropped the Chargers into a last-place tie with the Chiefs (5-9) in the AFC West. But the Chiefs swept the season series from their divisional rival.
San Diego has lost six games this season by three points or fewer. Last season, the Chargers also lost six games by three or fewer points en route to a 1-15 campaign.
Richardson helped the Chiefs end the home portion of their schedule on a positive note, capping a eight-play, 65-yard drive with his short touchdown run.
The Chiefs received plenty of help on the winning drive, getting a pair of penalties to aid the march.
Safety Rodney Harrison committed both infractions, including a roughing penalty for a blow to Green's head that nullified an interception by defensive lineman Leonardo Carson deep in Kansas City territory with under two minutes remaining.
"Things happen. Penalties get called," Harrison said. "You are not always going to agree. There is nothing I could do about it."
"I didn't see the personal foul. They (officials) saw it," Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. "Those kinds of calls go either way against you and for you. Today they went for us. A few weeks ago in Oakland, we got down there and were in a position to tie the ballgame and there were penalties that weren't called."
"Santa Claus came early," Vermeil said. "We were very fortunate to have won that game. We've been in a few this season that we've been unfortunate to lose."
Green also passed for a touchdown as Kansas City completed a 3-5 season at Arrowhead Stadium. It is the first time the Chiefs finished with a losing record at home since a 3-4 mark in 1987.
Rookie LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for a season-high 145 yards for San Diego. It was Tomlinson's first 100-yard effort since he gained 102 yards against Cleveland on Oct. 7.
Things got off to a rousing start for the Chiefs, who took the game's opening kickoff and moved 80 yards in 16 plays.
Green kept the drive alive with third down completions on three occassions. He capped the march with a three-yard touchdown pass to
backup tight end Jason Dunn.
Green finished 19 of 28 for 203 yards and two interceptions.
"We were anticipating some different looks than they gave us," Green said. "We thought we were going to get some soft coverage. I think it was pretty apparent that they were trying to stop Priest (Holmes) and the running game."
It did not take San Diego long to answer as it moved 57 yards in five plays. Tomlinson had a 34-yard run on the drive that Doug Flutie capped with a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Freddie Jones.
That was one of only two completions in six attempts for Flutie in the first half. He rebounded to finish 15 of 27 for 175 yards, including a four-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Conway in the third quarter.
Green put the Chiefs in position to take the lead in the third quarter, finding speedster Eddie Kennison for 48 yards to the San Diego 14. But the drive stalled and Todd Petersen kicked a 33-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 10:15 left in the quarter.
San Diego took the lead later in the quarter, moving 71 yards in 10 plays. Flutue threw a four-yard TD pass to Conway with 1:02 left in the period for a 14-10 advantage.
Peterson connected from 41 yards early in the fourth quarter before Steve Christie hit a 27-yard field goal with 5:01 remaining to give San Diego a 17-13 advantage.
Kansas City's Priest Holmes, the NFL's leading rusher, carried 23 times for 80 yards, increasing his season total to 1,347 yards. He had just eight yards on eight attempts in the second half.
