The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that the club has placed tight end Kevin Boss on injured reserve and signed linebacker Bryan Kehl.

Boss (6-6, 255) has seen action in 74 games (58 starts) in six NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2012), Oakland Raiders (2011) and New York Giants (2007-10). He has recorded 150 receptions for 2,033 yards (13.6 avg.) with 22 touchdowns. He has played in five postseason games, all with the Giants, including a victory in Super Bowl XLII. In the postseason, he owns eight receptions for 142 yards (17.8 avg.).

Boss joined the Chiefs as a free agent this offseason and started two games for the club, catching three passes for 65 yards (21.7 avg.) with one touchdown. He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick (153rd overall) of the Giants in the 2007 NFL Draft. The Philomath, Ore., native was a first-team All-American at Western Oregon and prepped at Philomath High School.

Kehl (6-2, 243) has played in 59 games (five starts) in four NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams (2010-11) and New York Giants (2008-10). He has tallied 58 tackles (40 solo), 1.0 sack (-8.0 yards), one interception returned for 17 yards, one pass defensed and two fumble recoveries. Earlier this year, Kehl spent time with the Washington Redskins before being released during the club’s final roster cutdown on Aug. 31.

He originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick (123rd overall) of the Giants in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was an honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference linebacker at BYU. The Salt Lake City, Utah native prepped at Brighton High School.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Norv Turner was asked Sunday whether he could remember facing a more generous opponent, and the Chargers coach sifted through more than three decades worth of memories in vain.

“I can’t,” Turner said finally. “I’m sure we have at some point.”

The Chargers certainly took advantage of their hospitable hosts. The Kansas City Chiefs committed six turnovers, five of them in the first half, and San Diego rolled to a 37-20 victory and sole possession of first place in the AFC West.

Philip Rivers threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, Jackie Battle burned his former team with touchdowns rushing and receiving, and the Chargers (3-1) rebounded from a letdown against Atlanta to improve to 8-2 in their past 10 games against Kansas City.

Matt Cassel threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns for the Chiefs (1-3), but he had three first-half interceptions. Jamaal Charles, who followed his big game last week at New Orleans with touchdowns rushing and receiving, also fumbled twice.

San Diego turned the Chiefs’ six turnovers into 24 points.

“It was like turnover after turnover after turnover in that first quarter,” said Chargers safety Eric Weddle. “A lot of times it’s just guys making good hits, tipped balls. There’s stuff to improve, but we came back after last week, when we didn’t play well.”

Just about the only bright spot for Kansas City was wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who had seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown that came far too late to matter.

The regular officials were back on the field Sunday, and both teams kept referee Bill Leavy’s crew busy. They combined for 15 penalties for 150 yards.

The Chargers wasted little time in getting into the end zone, something they failed to do last week.

Rivers capped off a 76-yard drive that was helped along by two pass interference calls on Chiefs safety Eric Berry with a short TD pass to Eddie Royal for a 7-0 lead.

Then the cacophony of errors truly began for Kansas City.

Cassel’s third pass of the game was intercepted by Weddle, giving San Diego the ball at the Chiefs 28. Four plays later, Nick Novak’s 25-yard field goal made it 10-0.

On the Chiefs’ next possession, Charles was stripped of the ball by Takeo Spikes on the first play after a false start. San Diego took over at the Chiefs 5, and Battle pounded forward twice to give the Chargers a 17-0 lead — all before Kansas City had run five offensive plays.

The Chiefs have been outscored 41-6 in the first quarter this season.

“We’ve got to solve it and we’ve got to solve it quick. Turnovers have been killing us,” Cassel said. “We talk about it, but we obviously have to go out there and do a better job.”

Charles fumbled again midway through the second quarter, but this time the Chargers gave it right back. Rivers underthrew Robert Meacham, and Brandon Flowers made the interception.

Kansas City managed to go 85 yards in just five plays, Charles providing the highlight on an electrifying 37-yard touchdown run. But the momentum was squandered on the its next possession, when Cassel threw well behind Tony Moeaki, and Chargers linebacker Donald Butler grabbed hold of the deflection and waltzed 21 yards untouched to give San Diego a 27-6 lead.

Cassel threw his third interception deep in San Diego territory near the end of the half.

“It starts with me,” Cassel said. “I have to do a better job of protecting the football and putting us in position to be successful.”

The Chiefs put together a long drive to start the third quarter, and Charles’ 13-yard TD catch with 8:40 left gave the hardy Kansas City fans still sticking around reason to believe that yet another big comeback could be at hand.

But after rallying from a franchise-record 18 points down to beat New Orleans last Sunday, the Chiefs couldn’t stop giving away their chances of getting back in the game.

They went three-and-out on two straight series, and Shaun Draughn fumbled on the next.

The Chargers put a tidy bow on an easy if underwhelming victory by going 49 yards for another touchdown, this time with Rivers finding Battle out of the backfield for the score.

“It was a total team effort, basically, in not playing very well,” Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said. “It was bad football. You could see it was bad football. But we have a game to be played next week and we have to stay together and not point fingers. … We’re going to see if we can get better somehow, and play better versus good football teams.”

— Associated Press —

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that the club has placed center Rodney Hudson on injured reserve. Additionally, the team has signed offensive guard Russ Hochstein and center Bryan Mattison.

Hudson (6-2, 299) has played in 19 games (four starts) with Kansas City (2011-12). He originally joined the club as a second-round draft pick (55th overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft. The Mobile, Ala., native played both guard and center at Florida State, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors all four years. He prepped at B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, Ala.

Hochstein (6-4, 305) has played in 138 games (36 starts) in 10 NFL seasons with Denver (2009-11), New England (2002-08) and Tampa Bay (2002). He owns two Super Bowl championships and has played five different positions in the NFL including right guard, center, left guard, fullback and tight end. Hochstein originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick (151st overall) of the Buccaneers in the 2001 NFL Draft. The Hartington, Neb., native primarily played right guard at the University of Nebraska, earning Big 12 All-Conference honors three times. He played defensive line and linebacker at Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington, Neb.

Mattison (6-3, 310) has seen action in 15 games (four starts) in two NFL seasons with St. Louis (2011) and Baltimore (2010). He spent two seasons (2008-09) on the Ravens practice squad before moving to the 53-man roster. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Jets in 2008. He was a two-year captain at the University of Iowa, where he played on the defensive line. He was named first-team All-State by the Associated Press at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Ind.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Remember the hard-luck Saints of old — that mistake-prone franchise that routinely crumbled in crunch time?

In their first three games since coach Sean Payton was suspended in the NFL’s bounty probe, the Saints have started to resemble that franchise again, and even Drew Brees has been helpless to do anything about it.

The Saints were unable to protect an 18-point, third-quarter lead, and fans in the Superdome watched in dread as Kansas City’s Ryan Succup booted his club-record sixth field goal to lift the previously winless Chiefs to a 27-24 overtime victory over New Orleans on Sunday.

The Saints have now lost twice in the Superdome, where they were unbeaten a season ago, and which will host the Super Bowl next February.

But New Orleans now looks like a long shot to be playing for a championship after opening with losses to three 1-2 teams.

“We are far from talking about the Super Bowl right now,” Brees said. “What need to focus on is getting one win.”

Next week, the reeling Saints (0-3) travel to Green Bay.

The Chiefs (1-2) meanwhile, went home feeling a lot better about not only getting their first victory, but the resolve they showed to get it.

“The best part is our guys never gave up,” said Succop, a perfect 6 for 6 on kicks ranging from 25 to 45 yards. “We kept fighting, it was a huge team win and I’m just really excited to have had a part in it.”

After Jamaal Charles’ 91-yard touchdown run — the longest running play in Chiefs history, and the longest given up by the Saints — started Kansas City’s comeback, the Chiefs defense thwarted a Saints scoring chance when Stanford Routt intercepted Brees’ underthrown pass for Devery Henderson near the Kansas City goal line late in the third quarter. Brees, who was 20-of-36 for 240 yards and three TDs — never had another completion after that, and only attempted six passes because the Saints also never got another first down.

Charles, who finished with 233 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving, scored the only touchdown the Chiefs needed. The rest of the scoring came on field goals, as well as a safety on Justin Houston’s third sack of the game.

“This team needed a win, and a win like that really helped out in particular,” Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said. “There were a lot of doubts about what we could do and they showed a lot of character.”

Tiring of answering questions about the effects of the bounty scandal on their season, the Saints were once again in no mood to discuss whether things might have been different if Payton were still around.

“All I can say is Sean Payton is a great football coach,” Brees said. “But he’s not here, so the rest of us have to find a way.”

Instead, the Chiefs found a way after their safety got them the ball, down by 3, with 5:33 to go.

Matt Cassel’s spinning scramble and 11-yard pass across the field to Jon Baldwin on third-and-10 extended the drive, which also included Cassel’s completion to Dwayne Bowe on fourth-and-5 before Succop’s 43-yard game-tying kick with 3 seconds left.

In one of several lowlights for the crew of replacement officials working the game, New Orleans was briefly ruled the winner on the field in overtime when running back Shaun Draughn lost the ball stretching for a first down and safety Roman Harper picked up the ball and ran to the end zone.

The fumble was overturned on video review, but the spot came up a half-yard short of a first down. Charles easily converted a fourth-down run to extend the winning drive.

“We knew coming in that we could run against this defense,” Charles said. “It was an opportunity we had to take advantage of.”

The Saints scored first when Lance Moore’s leaping 9-yard catch capped an 83-yard, game-opening drive.

After that, however, no team got in the end zone for the rest of the half, which ended with the Saints up 10-6.

New Orleans appeared to be taking command in the third quarter thanks to a pair of turnovers by the Chiefs.

First came a fumble by Dexter McCluster, who hurt his shoulder while falling on his own after a short catch, then let the ball go moments before he would have been touched down by cornerback Jabari Greer. Officials initially ruled McCluster down while linebacker Jonathan Casillas scooped the ball and ran to the end zone. The Saints challenged and won a reversal on replay review, giving them the ball on the Chiefs 19. That set up Brees’ 1-yard TD pass to tight end Jimmy Graham.

New Orleans then went ahead 24-6 on Brees’ 6-yard swing pass to fullback Jed Collins, capping a short drive set up by Greer’s interception and 28-yard return to the Kansas City 7.

After that, the Saints fell apart in a way they had not in making the playoffs — and winning one title — during the past three seasons.

“We’re obviously disappointed, but not disheartened,” Saints interim head coach Aaron Kromer said. “We don’t know how we’re supposed to act right now.”

— Associated Press —

C.J. Spiller gladly accepted Fred Jackson’s challenge.

And this time, the rest of the Bills – on offense, defense and special teams – showed up to support Spiller who scored twice and finished with 123 yards rushing to spark a 35-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Buffalo’s home opener. It was a much better effort than how Buffalo opened the season with a bumbling 48-28 loss to the New York Jets last week.

The same can’t be said for the Chiefs, who followed up one dud with another a week after opening the season with a 40-24 loss to Atlanta.

Spiller picked up where he left off a week earlier, after he had career-best 169 yards rushing in taking over after Jackson sprained his right knee against the Jets.

”It’s always better to answer the questions when you win,” said Spiller, who giggled several times at the podium. ”Fred Jackson challenged me today, when he told me to put the team on my back. So when that comes down from the leader in our room, you have to step your game up. I was ready to go today.”

With Jackson expected to miss another three weeks, Spiller scored on 17- and 5-yard runs to put the Bills ahead 14-0 early in the second quarter, a lead that would balloon to 35-3 late in the third.

”C.J.’s a stud. That kid can run,” center Eric Wood said. ”We’ve got plenty of weapons, and the good thing is we’re going to get Fred back.”

With 292 yards on 29 carries, Spiller is off to such a hot start that he’s averaging 10.1 yards per rush. That’s the highest average by an NFL player with a minimum of 25 carries through the first two games of a season since 1963, when Jim Brown averaged 11.3 yards (34 carries for 394 yards).

The Bills’ defense finally showed signs of its high-priced potential after failing to make a dent last week.

Kyle Williams had two of Buffalo’s five sacks. Mario Williams – the team’s high-prized offseason free agent – recovered quarterback Matt Cassel’s fumble, which set up Scott Chandler’s 10-yard touchdown catch.

And linebacker Nick Barnett had a momentum-turning play late in the first half. That’s when he forced Kansas City running back Peyton Hillis to fumble at the goal line to preserve Buffalo’s 21-0 lead.

”We had a sense of urgency. It was just different from the very beginning,” Mario Williams said. ”We went out there and put it all on the line. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen last week, but we have to build on this and continue.”

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick shrugged off last week’s three-interception outing by going 10 of 19 for 178 yards and two touchdowns, including a 49-yarder to Stevie Johnson. And Buffalo’s special teams contributed: Leodis McKelvin returned a punt 88 yards.

It was a complete reversal for the Bills who turned the ball over four times against the Jets, failed to get any pressure on Mark Sanchez and allowed Jeremy Kerley to return a punt 68 yards for a score.

For the Chiefs, it was the same-old sloppiness, for a team that’s been outscored 75-41 and is opening a season 0-2 for the sixth time in seven years.

”I thought that we would be better, and we’re not,” coach Romeo Crennel said. ”So we have to try and figure out what that is. From what I’ve seen, if we do what we’re supposed to do, then we would be better.”

KC’s offense managed just 71 yards on its first five possessions and then coughed up the ball on its sixth, when Hillis fumbled at the goal line.

”I messed up and let the team down,” Hillis said. ”I put the blame on myself.”

Cassel finished 23 of 42 for 301 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, with much of that production coming in the fourth quarter. Dwayne Bowe scored both touchdowns on 33- and 2-yard catches.

The Chiefs defense wasn’t much better, even while welcoming back two regulars, linebacker Tamba Hali (NFL suspension) and cornerback Brandon Flowers (foot injury).

The Chiefs were so thoroughly outplayed on both sides of the ball in the first half that Spiller’s 139 yards from scrimmage nearly matched Kansas City’s 148 yards net offense.

The Bills had additional incentive to win the game in paying tribute to Marcell Dareus. The second-year defensive tackle played after traveling to his native Alabama to mourn the shooting death of his younger brother.

”He’s going through a rough time, but he felt responsibilities here,” Kyle Williams said. ”He always picks our team up and we’re glad that he’s back.”

Despite being bothered by a shoulder injury, Dareus had a sack, two tackles, including one for a loss.

”The team rallied up around me. This is my release from whatever is going on in the outside world,” Dareus said. ”I focused in on the football field and took everything else out of my head.”

— Associated Press —

Tony Gonzalez boarded the first bus to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, eager to arrive as early as possible to start what’s likely his final season in the place where it all began.

The Falcons made sure it was a happy return.

Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, one of them to the longtime Chiefs tight end late in the third quarter, and Atlanta pulled away with a dynamic second-half scoring outburst for a 40-24 season-opening victory over Kansas City.

“It’s been like a homecoming for me,” Gonzalez said. “I just want all the fans to know, ‘I love you very much and thank you for letting this day be special.’ ”

They didn’t have much choice.

Ryan also ran for a TD, and Julio Jones caught six passes for 108 yards and two scores, both of them enjoying a Chiefs defense missing four starters due to injuries and suspension.

The highlight, though, was Gonzalez, the five-time All-Pro who spent his first 12 seasons in Kansas City. After making his TD grab, the ball squirted loose in the end zone. Ryan tracked it down and pushed it into Gonzalez’s hands, and as he’d done so many times, the former college hoops player dunked the ball over the goalpost — getting mostly boos from a crowd that once cheered him.

“He’s such a great part of this organization, you know, probably the greatest tight end to ever play the game,” Ryan said. “I think deep down in their hearts, Kansas City fans were happy to see that one more time.

“Maybe not at the time,” Ryan quickly added. “Maybe in retrospect.”

The Chiefs matched Atlanta most of the first half, trailing 20-17 at the break, but a missed field goal by Ryan Succop early in the third quarter proved to be the turning point.

Atlanta scored 20 unanswered points to put the game away.

Matt Cassel threw for 258 yards and had touchdowns running and throwing, but he also fumbled deep in Kansas City territory to set up a short TD drive, and his two interceptions created short fields that the Falcons turned into field goals by Matt Bryant.

“It’s only one game in a long season,” Cassel said. “We obviously have to make a lot of corrections and get better as a football team. We’ve got to play collectively.”

There was no controversy surrounding the replacement officials. Both times that referee Mike Shepherd went under the hood for a video review, the original call stood.

Jamaal Charles had 87 yards rushing, and Tony Moeaki had three catches for 37 yards, both providing a bright spot for Kansas City. The pair of them, along with safety Eric Berry, played their first regular-season games since tearing their left ACLs last season.

There were still plenty of injury woes to go along with the suspension of Pro Bowl linebacker Tamba Hali, who missed the game after violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Starting safety Kendrick Lewis (right shoulder), cornerback Brandon Flowers (right heel) and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio (right ankle) were inactive due to injuries, and that seemed like chum in the water to one of the league’s top passing offenses.

“The fact that they weren’t there, really no one cares,” said Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel, “because all anyone wants to know is did you win or did you lose, and we lost today.”

Ryan set the tone with the Falcons’ opening series, marching 80 yards behind pinpoint passing before an 8-yard pass to Jones made it 7-0 midway through the first quarter.

The teams swapped field goals before the Chiefs answered with their own TD drive.

Cassel was 4 for 4 on the series, including a 21-yard pass to Dwayne Bowe and a 22-yard TD toss to tight end Kevin Boss, who was signed in the offseason to make precisely the kind of finger-tip grabs down the seam that got him into the end zone Sunday.

The teams kept trading haymakers the rest of the half.

Ryan connected with Roddy White three times on the Falcons’ ensuing drive, and a dump-off pass that Jones turned into a 14-yard score gave them the lead again. But the Chiefs had another answer when Cassel weaved his way into the end-zone from 5-yards out late in the second quarter.

Bryant added his second field goal just before half time for Atlanta, but Succop banged his own 40-yard try off the upright early in the second half, shifting the momentum for good.

The Falcons’ potent passing offense marched down field, Ryan capping the drive with a 5-yard scramble for a touchdown.

Three plays later, Cassel was blindsided by John Abraham and the ball squirted loose, and Stephen Nicholas pounced on it at the 7. Ryan hit Gonzalez in the back of the end zone on the very next play for a 34-17 lead, effectively putting the game away.

For the Falcons, in the most fitting fashion possible.

“Tony Gonzalez, without a doubt, is going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. “We knew it was going to be an emotional week for him and I’m sure he’s glad it’s over.”

— Associated Press —