Backup Plan Almost Works

Catches on quick, that Drew Brees kid.

The San Diego rookie nearly led the Chargers to victory Sunday, directing four consecutive scoring drives before running out of time in a 25-20 loss to Kansas City at Qualcomm Stadium.

“We were just stepping up to the ball, snapping it and throwing,” said Brees, who made his NFL debut late in the first half when starter Doug Flutie left with a concussion. “I think everyone felt like we were in a rhythm.”

That was particularly impressive considering the Chargers (5-3) found themselves in a 19-0 hole with Flutie at the helm. Brees, who gets only four or five snaps with the No. 1 offense each week, chipped away at the Kansas City lead and finally put the Chargers ahead, 20-19, by throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Jones with 6:10 to play.

Kansas City’s Priest Holmes led all rushers with 181 yards in 30 carries, but it was the one-yard touchdown dive by Tony Richardson--his second such scoring plunge of the day--that allowed the Chiefs (2-6) to reclaim the lead, 25-20, with 1:26 remaining.

The Chargers’ chance for a last-gasp rally started with a whimper. Brees was sacked, then threw an incomplete pass. When he missed Tim Dwight on third-and-16, the crowd of 58,789 groaned with frustration. But the Chargers got new life when safety Jerome Woods jarred Dwight’s helmet loose, drawing a flag for unnecessary roughness and giving San Diego a first down at the Charger 41 with 45 seconds to play.

Operating with no timeouts--and looking nothing like a rookie--Brees strolled to the line.

“Incredible,” running back Terrell Fletcher raved. “He was doing a wonderful job against a wonderful defense.”

The Chargers inched forward, crossing into Kansas City territory with a seven-yard pass to Fletcher. Brees spiked the ball on second down at the Kansas City 41, stopping the clock with 13 seconds to play. He might have been able to get off two, maybe three quick plays.

Instead, he dropped back, saw an opening up the middle, and took off running. He gained 13 yards but they were costly; there was no time to run another play.

“It’s instinctive that when you step up in the pocket and everything opens, you run,” he said. “You can do that in college because the clock stops if you get a first down.”

This time, Brees realized he had made a mistake the moment he crossed the line of scrimmage and glanced up at the clock. And how many seconds did he see?

“Nine,” he said, allowing himself a slight smile. “My number.”

The mistake might have been disheartening to Brees, but his come-from-behind performanceRevolution No. 9, if you will--left his teammates and coaches duly impressed.

“He was really poised [in the huddle],” fellow rookie LaDainian Tomlinson said. “He was stuttering out the plays at all. Like he was in total command.”

Meanwhile, a foggy-headed Flutie was on the sideline trying to regain his sensibilities. The hit he took, a wallop from defensive end Duane Clemons, gave him his first concussion in 18 years, since his sophomore year at Boston College.

“I was out,” said Flutie, who is expected to be ready for Sunday’s game at Denver.

“I knew I blacked out when I got slammed. It just got progressively worse. I snapped out of it just before halftime. (But) my short-term memory isn’t that good.”

Flutie was asked if he offered the rookie any advice.

“I didn’t need to,” he said. “He was seeing things and letting it rip.”

The victory was vital for Kansas City, which snapped a four-game losing streak and was in danger of slipping out of sight in the AFC West. There’s still a very real possibility of that happening, but beating San Diego was a significant step in the right direction.

Holmes’ 181 yards rushing were the most ever against a San Diego defense, eclipsing the 178-yard performances of Denver’s Terrell Davis in 1997 and Houston’s Hoyle Granger in 1966.

Several times, the Chiefs ran draw plays in passing situations, giving Holmes room to roam.

“When they go with six men in the box, I can get to the second level,” he said. “I just have to make one man miss. Today, I was able to do that.”

As for Brees, he will have to make people miss in practice. This week, he will resume his role as a backup. But not a faceless one.

“He believes in us, and he made us a believer out of him today,” Dwight said. “That’s something you really need as a wide receiver and a quarterback. You need that relationship where you can count on each other.”