On Sunday afternoon, a clearing sky did not prevent the sound of crackling lightning to echo repeatedly throughout Mission Valley as the San Diego Chargers (8-3) scored quickly and often, en route to crushing the Kansas City Chiefs (3-8) 43 –14.

Prior to the game, NBA Legend Bill Walton joined

Charger great Chuck Muncie at a BBQ to raise funds for

Muncie’s Youth Foundation.

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To cap off the 50-year anniversary celebration, the Chargers All-Time Greatest players and coaches were announced prior to the game. The first to be honored was Head Coach Don “Air” Coryell who received an enthusiastic ovation. It was also revealed on Saturday that Coryell is one of the top 25 finalists for induction into the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The 11 current players who were inducted into the Greatest Players class were announced separately as part of the traditional pre-game ceremonies, replacing the typical introduction of either the starting defense or offense. This twist allowed punter Mike Scifres’ name to be called for the first-time ever in pre-game ceremonies. After the game, Scifres acknowledged the unique opportunity, “The punters and kickers don’t get to run out that much. With so much history, to be one of the 50 guys selected was definitely an honor.”

This was a game played on the weekend honoring the Chargers Greatest. Fittingly, the Chargers of today played in a fashion that honored Coryell who revolutionized the game. However, according to Charger Greatest member and broadcast personality Hank Bauer, “They honored everybody.”

Early on, it was the Chargers defense led by a Quentin Jammer interception of a Matt Cassel pass that changed the battle of field position. Philip Rivers quickly capitalized on the opportunity by leading the Chargers on a 61-yard drive that was capped off by a 19-yard touchdown reception by Antonio Gates. It was Gates' first of two touchdowns in the game, giving the Chargers a 7-0 lead.

Only briefly did the Chiefs appear that they would put up a fight when former Charger Chris Chambers caught a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 early in the 2^nd quarter.

The Chargers offense and defense then resembled the dynamic, fast-striking Coryell team of yesteryear, scoring three touchdowns while using just 8:08 of game clock.

The first of these drives went 70 yards on three plays and was set up by a Malcolm Floyd 53-yard pass reception inside the 1-yard line. LaDainian Tomlinson rushed it in for his first of two touchdowns of the day.

Jammer created another turnover by knocking the ball out of running back Charles Jamaal’s hands. Brandon Siler recovered the ball on San Diego’s 46-yard line.

Eight plays later, River found Gates again, this time for a 15-yard touchdown reception.

The climax of the scoring frenzy came on the very first play of the Chief’s next possession. The ball slipped out of Cassel’s hands as he attempted to throw. Paul Oliver recovered the ball in the air and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, giving the Chargers a 28-7 lead at the half.

The Chargers' scoring in the second half included a 3-yard Tomlinson touchdown run, Cassel intentionally grounding the ball in the end zone for a safety, and two Nate Kaeding field goals, including one from 55 yards for his longest ever at Qualcomm Stadium.

With all of this scoring, a few other Chargers hit some additional milestones.

Darren Sproles returns a kick against Kansas City.

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Gates’ two touchdowns gives him 55 in his career, moving him into 4th place for most career touchdown catches by a tight end, and this in only his 104^th career game. Tony Gonzalez is the all-time leader with 81 touchdowns in 201 career games.

Rivers posted a season-high 135.6 passer rating by completing 75.0% of his passes (21-28) for 317 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. In fact, this was Rivers’ third game in a row without an interception.

Although Tomlinson only ran for 39 yards, he finished the day in 10^th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 12,257 yards. This performance moved him past Marcus Allen (12,243) and Edgerrin James (12,246).

After the game, Tomlinson was asked if today’s offensive performance honored the legendary Coryell. Tomlinson chuckled and reflectively said, “I think so. With all the hidden gadgets, throwing the ball down the field, and seeing guys jump up for the ball, I think we did honor him.”

With the win, the Chargers maintain a one-game lead over the Denver Broncos. For the fourth year in a row, they also finish the regular season with a 5-1 record in the AFC West. The Broncos still have three remaining games against the Raiders and Chiefs in the AFC West. If, like last season, both the Chargers and Broncos should finish the season with the same overall record, a Denver loss to either Oakland or Kansas City would give the Chargers the tiebreaker over the Broncos for a fourth consecutive AFC West Championship.