Chargers and Chiefs tied 7-7 after 1st quarter

Chargers, Chiefs tied at 7 after 1st quarter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rookie Dexter McCluster returned a punt a team-record 94 yards for a touchdown with 1:43 left in the second quarter as the Kansas City Chiefs took a 21-7 halftime lead over the San Diego Chargers on Monday night.

The Chiefs scored 21 straight points after the Chargers scored first in a game played in the rain and at some points in a heavy downpour.

Brandon Carr recovered a fumble to set up the first Chiefs touchdown of the second quarter. Derrick Johnson knocked the ball free from Chargers rookie running back Ryan Mathews and Carr picked it up at the San Diego 35 and returned it to the 12.

Matt Cassel hit tight end Tony Moeaki for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 5:55 left in the half, putting the Chiefs up 14-7.

Javier Arenas, another Chiefs rookie, returned punts 36 and 24 yards in the second quarter to give Kansas City good field position, but the offense failed to take advantage.

He returned the first one to the 32, but three plays netted zero yards and a punt by Dustin Colquitt netted only seven yards.

Jamaal Charles’ 56-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left in the first quarter to tie it at 7-7 after the Chiefs failed to make a first down on their first two possessions.

Phillip Rivers gave the Chargers a 7-0 lead with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates with 1: 52 left in the first quarter.

Gates, who shifted at the last second and appeared to confuse Kansas City’s young secondary, was all alone for a 34-yard reception on third down and was stopped at the 5 to set up the touchdown. The drive was nine plays and 60 yards.

It was the first regular season game since Arrowhead Stadium underwent a $375 million renovation. It was the Chiefs’ first home Monday night game since Nov. 22, 2004, a 27-19 loss to the New England Patriots. The Chiefs have not won a Monday night game since Oct. 2, 2000, when they beat Seattle 24-17.

The last time the Truman Sports Complex had two games on the same day was Oct. 27, 1985, when the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the World Series. The Chiefs lost to Denver that afternoon. The Royals lost 3-1 to the Oakland Athletics on Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, across the parking lot from Arrowhead.