Just a week ago, with the Chiefs needing a first down to kill the clock and preserve a lead in the closing minutes against Tampa Bay, Gonzalez saw his one-handed circus catch on a third-and-long play wiped out by an offensive pass interference call. Forced to punt, the Chiefs lost the lead in the final seconds of regulation, then didn't touch the ball in overtime.

Against San Diego, on a day when he caught 10 passes for 113 yards and moved into 10th place on the NFL's career receptions list, Gonzalez was the beneficiary of a pass interference call against Clinton Hart at the 1-yard line in the drive for the potential game-tying touchdown.

But as the intended target on the two-point conversion for the potential game-winning points, Gonzalez couldn't escape Hart's tugs as he tried to come off the line. QB Tyler Thigpen's pass in his direction was tipped and intercepted.

"I came off the line of scrimmage and he grabbed me from both sides," Gonzalez said. "I was turned around backwards trying to get away from him. He just wouldn't let go of me.

"I think (the referees were) trying to let us play, but that was ridiculous. He held me. At that point, the way I felt my game was going, that's probably all he could do."

--Of course, the Chiefs would have been in position to kick for the game-winning point had they not botched a PAT kick after their second touchdown in the second quarter.

Long snapper Thomas Gafford, who was snapping in just his third NFL game since joining the Chiefs, bounced his snap back to P Dustin Colquitt, who recovered the in-the-dirt pitch and managed to place the ball. But rookie K Connor Barth was in the stop stage of a start-stop approach and never got his kick away. Colquitt made the "fire" call, but his pass was deflected.

"I've got to be better than that, and I am better than that," Gafford said. "I feel horrible."

--Ricardo Colclough, who joined David Macklin as cornerbacks the Chiefs signed as street free agents just last week, on being pressed into duty against San Diego after only three workouts with his new team: "That's pretty tough on anybody, I don't care how long you've been playing. Especially against an offense like this, it's going to play with your mind a little bit."

Kansas City also pushed into duty S Oliver Celestin, who was signed on Friday, and DE Wallace Gilberry, added on Wednesday.

--Here's the laundry list of the Chiefs' defensive wounded, both before the game and during it:

Injured and inactive starters were LB Derrick Johnson (hamstring), CB Brandon Flowers (hamstring), DE Turk McBride (shoulder) and nickel back Pat Surtain (quad). Reserve S DaJuan Morgan also was inactive.

Injured during the game and unable to return were starting DE Tamba Hali (knee) and MLB Pat Thomas (hamstring). Reserve DE Brian Johnston also was unable to continue with a calf injury. LB Donnie Edwards and CB Maurice Leggett (making his first NFL start) came back in and being injured.

--"I feel like the football gods should throw us a bone and give us a win. Just one." -- TE Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs lost their third consecutive game in the final minute of regulation or overtime.