Ryan Mathews scored twice, and the San Diego Chargers overcame two more interceptions by Phillip Rivers to beat the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday 20-17.  San Diego  improved to 2-1 for just the second time in Norv Turner’s five seasons as coach. The Chiefs dropped to 0-3.

The Chiefs had been outscored a combined 89-10 in their first two games and were without stars Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki, out with season-ending knee injuries.

Still, the Chargers let them hang around almost until the end.

The Chiefs didn’t get a first down until their opening drive of the second half, which Matt Cassel capped with a 4-yard TD pass to Dwayne Bowe to pull to 10-7.

The Chargers responded with an 80-yard drive capped by Mathews’ run to the right side for a 10-point lead.

After the teams traded field goals, the Chiefs pulled to 20-17 when Cassel found Pope on a 1-yard scoring pass with 4:58 to play.

The Chiefs were out of timeouts, and all the Chargers had to do was run out the clock. They went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Kansas City 34, and Rivers was stopped to give the Chiefs a final chance.  But Cassel was intercepted on the ensuing possession and the Chargers ran out the clock.