Montana Does His Magic, 17-14 : AFC: He takes the Chiefs 80 yards for Allen’s winning touchdown against the Chargers.

Kansas City’s old-timers were too much for San Diego’s rookies.

The Chargers were seemingly given new life by two rookies, running back Natrone Means and punt returner Darrien Gordon.

But in the end, it was Joe Montana and Marcus Allen coming through, as Montana directed a nine-play, 80-yard drive that Allen capped with a one-yard run with 1:57 left and the Chiefs beat the Chargers, 17-14, Sunday.

After leaving two games because of injuries and sitting out two others, Montana finally was around to show his fourth-quarter magic.

“It’s always important to do that as a team,” Montana said. “It gives confidence not only to our offense, but to our defense. If they can stop them, we still have an opportunity to put a drive together late in the game.”

The Chargers got their first touchdown in three home games when Means broke through one pile and bulled through safety David Whitmore at the goal line to score from the seven and make the score 7-7 in the second quarter.

San Diego went ahead 14-10 on John Friesz’s four-yard pass to Anthony Miller 1:05 into the fourth quarter, a touchdown that was set up by Gordon’s 54-yard punt return.

But Neil Smith got his second block of a John Carney field goal attempt, with 3:28 to play to give the Chiefs the ball at their 20.

Montana went right to work, completing a 22-yard pass to Keith Cash. On the play, Shawn Lee was called for roughing Montana, taking the Chiefs to the San Diego 43.

After three consecutive incompletions, Montana went to Willie Davis on a 12-yard pass on fourth and 10, then threw another 12-yarder to Hassan Jones.

Allen ran a draw play 18 yards to the one shortly before the two-minute warning, then scored his second touchdown of the game and 103rd of his career.

Allen, who also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Montana in the first quarter, said Montana was calm on the winning drive.

“When your leader doesn’t show any signs of concern, why should you?” Allen said.

The Chiefs (5-1), off to their best start since 1971, won their fourth in a row and handed San Diego (2-4) its third consecutive loss.

Eleven of the last 16 games in this AFC West series have been decided by a touchdown or less, and the Chiefs have beaten San Diego in seven consecutive regular-season games.

“When we get them down, and they don’t have any timeouts left, we can’t let them go 80 yards,” Charger Coach Bobby Ross said. “If they don’t get that (fourth and 10), we run out the clock and win the game.”

Montana, back after sitting out one game because of a strained hamstring, was 21 of 39 for 284 yards. He also was intercepted for the first time this season.

Allen gained 46 yards in 13 carries.

Friesz completed 18 of 35 passes for 218 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.