KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Michael Husted kicked his first field goal in more than two years with 68 seconds remaining Sunday, giving Kansas City a 24-22 win over San Diego and spoiling the return to Arrowhead Stadium of Chargers Coach Marty Schottenheimer.
Signed earlier in the week to replace the injured Morten Andersen, Husted was good from 38 yards as the Chiefs (8-7) kept alive their postseason aspirations with their fifth straight home win.
It was Husted's first field goal since Oct. 7, 2000, when he was with the Washington Redskins.
"I just had to clear my mind, work on relaxing, thinking I need to be fundamentally sound," said Husted, who has hit 142 of 200 attempts during his career.
Schottenheimer coached the Chiefs from 1989-98, guiding them to three division titles and an AFC championship game appearance.
"It was not as emotional as I expected it to be," said Schottenheimer, who left after the 1998 season and coached the Redskins last year.
It was more emotional once Chargers rookie wide receiver Reche Caldwell fumbled with 33 seconds left after making a catch inside Chiefs territory, possibly ending San Diego's playoff hopes.
"I think we are all speechless with what happened," star linebacker Junior Seau said. "We did not seize the moment."
The Chargers (8-7) lost for the sixth time in eight games following a 5-1 start.
"The bottom line is that right now, we're aren't playing well enough to win," said Schottenheimer, whose team lost its fourth straight on the road. "I think that's an obvious statement.
"If we don't fumble the ball on that last play of the game, we have an opportunity to win. You have to make plays."
Rookie Marc Boerigter made plays for the Chiefs, who were without Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes.
Boerigter hauled in a pair of touchdown passes, including an NFL record-tying 99-yarder that gave Kansas City a 21-6 lead 4:04 into the third quarter. It was the ninth 99-yard completion in league history.
Trent Green hooked up with Boerigter, who beat the final defensive back after safety Rodney Harrison committed to tight end Tony Gonzalez on a crossing pattern. Boerigter caught the ball in stride and went untouched to the end zone.
"In order to get a play like that off, you have to get a lot of protection," Green said. "And it took a lot of time. If you look at, not only that pass play, but the earlier one to Marc in the first quarter, it seemed like I had all day back there."
Green completed 23 of 36 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns with an interception and Boerigter had five catches for 144 yards. Kansas City managed only 53 yards rushing with Holmes out due to a hip injury.
Boerigter opened the scoring with an eight-yard touchdown catch 9:49 into the first quarter. Green then found fullback Omar Easy from six yards late in the first half as the Chiefs took a 14-6 lead into the locker room.
The record-tying reception staked Kansas City to a 15-point lead, but Drew Brees threw short touchdown passes to Tim Dwight and fullback Fred McCrary around a field goal by Steve Christie as the Chargers grabbed a 22-21 lead with 10:58 left.
Kansas City began the game-winning drive at its own three. Green threw a 32-yard reception to Gonzelez on first down and added a 12-yarder to Eddie Kennison on third and eight from the 37.
The play of the drive came on fourth and inches from the Chargers' 37 as Mike Cloud battled his way for a first down, getting it by the nose of the football following a measurement.
Green then hooked up with Easy on a 13-yard pass, getting the Chiefs to San Diego's 23. With the team in field goal range, Kansas City Coach Dick Vermeil was content to put the game on Husted's foot.
"We were a little different on that final series down there because they kept saying, 'This guy has not kicked a field goal for the Kansas City Chiefs. He has not kicked a field goal since 2000,'" Vermeil said.
Just about everyone on the Chiefs' bench avoided Husted, who has hit five of his nine field goal attempts over the last three years.
"People don't talk to kickers," he said. "They pretty much just leave us alone. Actually, Kennison asked where we needed to be. And I said, 'At least the 25.' And they delivered to the 20."
"I didn't say anything to him," Vermeil added. "I don't have much luck speaking to punters and kickers."
