When you sport a 1-7 record in the NFL, you often throw conventional wisdom out the window. Missing an extra point earlier in a game and having a tired defense out on the field may do that to you too. The Kansas City Chiefs decided to go for it all on Sunday, passing on an extra point after pulling within 20-19 late in their game against the San Diego Chargers. Their two-point conversion came up short, however, and the Chargers escaped the AFC West Division matchup with the victory. “When you’re 1-7, it’s not even a question what you do,” Kansas City Head Coach Herman Edwards said. “These guys, they deserve to win a football game. These guys are so beat up on defense that it wouldn’t have been fair to not go for two points because I don’t think we could’ve stopped them. We just didn’t have the bodies.” In what can politely be described as a sloppy game for most of the day by both teams, more than 67,000 in attendance saw the Chargers break a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter, nursing a lead right down to the very end. On a day where neither the offense or defense was at its best, the Chargers somehow found a way to win their fourth game of the season, heading into a big matchup this Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Chiefs had pulled within 20-19 after a questionable pass interference call and a TD catch by future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (two TD receptions) with less than a minute remaining. Having missed an extra point attempt earlier when they took a 13-6 lead, the Chiefs had QB Tyler Thigpen (27-of-41, 266 yards, three TDs) roll out and try for a two-point conversion pass deep in the right side of the end zone. Chargers safety Clinton Hart, however, knocked the ball away to preserve the lead and San Diego (4-5) recovered the onside kick to secure the victory. The victory reminded many fans of the earlier tussle this season in Denver, where the Broncos passed on an extra point and pulled out a 39-38 victory over the Chargers in Week 2 to end the game. After Kansas City grabbed a 7-0 lead early in the game, a pair of Nate Kaeding field goals got San Diego within 7-6. Kansas City scored again to make it 13-6, but the PAT never got off the ground as holder Dustin Colquitt bobbled the errant snap. Despite having a shaky game, San Diego QB Philip Rivers (27-of-36, 316 yards) passed for two TDs (Malcom Floyd, Antonio Gates) late in the contest to put San Diego up by seven. Star RB LaDainian Tomlinson finished the day with 78 yards on 22 carries. “We’ve been in a couple games like that and had calls and plays go against us and not finish,” San Diego Head Coach Norv Turner said. “It’s nice to win the game.” Win they did, but the Chargers know the next few weeks could make or break their season. After visiting Pittsburgh this Sunday (Nov. 16), San Diego returns home to face Indianapolis (5-4) on Nov. 23 (5:30 p.m.) and Atlanta (6-3) on Nov. 30 (1:05 p.m.).