The San Diego Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 37-20 to improve to 3-1 in a game where they forced six turnovers.

The Chargers had a +10.6 advantage in The Trench Counter, with the real edge coming in the 6-1 turnover battle. San Diego had a +6 advantage in Total Rushes/Completions.

Philip Rivers went 18-for-23 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. 

Ryan Mathews was benched for much of the game in favor of Jackie Battle, though he did end up with 14 rushes for 61 yards.

Matt Cassel went 24-for-42 for 251 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Jamaal Charles ran 17 times for 92 carries and a touchdown with another one coming in the air, but fumbled the ball away twice.

The Chargers signed kicker Nick Novak on Friday.

Nate Kaeding has an apparent groin injury and is listed questionable.

Kaeding, who'd gone 7-for-7 on field goals, hadn't been on an injury report this season.

"He was sore when he started kicking today, and wasn’t able to continue," coach Norv Turner said.

Ryan Mathews is averaging a fumble every 42.5 times he touches the ball, losing a fumble every 78 touches.

“I am very concerned, and it has to stop,” said Chargers' general manager A.J. Smith. “I believe you can improve in ball security. And no one works any harder in trying to get better than Ryan. However, if it continues he will play less.”

Smith traded up 16 spots in 2010 to draft Mathews, which came two months after the Chargers parted ways with LaDainian Tomlinson.

“Extremely talented players like Ryan get multiple opportunities to improve,” Smith continued. “What happens to fumblers is, first, they play less. Second, if it continues while they’re playing on a limited basis, then you don’t play for a while and you get to sit and think about it.

“Third, when you get the call to go back on the field and the fumbling continues, then you will be somebody else’s fumbler.”

Malcom Floyd signed a three-year contract extension with the San Diego Chargers that will carry through the 2015 season.

Floyd signed a two-year deal with the team shortly after the NFL Lockout ended last season and has been with the team since 2004.

The Atlanta Falcons improved to 3-0 with a 27-3 win at the San Diego Chargers.

The Falcons had a +12.9 advantage in The Trench Counter, recording 10 additional first downs and having +3 turnover differential. Atlanta also had a +18 edge in Total Rushes/Completions.

Matt Ryan went 30-for-40 for three touchdowns and an interception with 275 yards. 

Tony Gonzalez caught nine balls for 91 yards and a touchdown, while Julio Jones caught five balls for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Michael Turner rushed 14 times for 80 yards and a touchdown.

The Falcons frustrated Philip Rivers throughout the game with their pass rush. Rivers went 21-for-38 for 173 yards and two interceptions.

Ryan Mathews made his 2012 debut, rushing 10 times for 44 yards with an addition 32 yards coming on five catches.

The San Diego Chargers want Ryan Mathews to rush 25 times per game, along with several catches out of the backfield.

The Chargers traded a huge package to move up 16 spots to take Mathews with the 12th overall pick in 2010 and they think he is poised to deliver them a return on their investment.

“He could impact this offense significantly,” Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson said. “[Coach] Norv Turner wants everything to really go through the run game, preferably with one bell-cow running back. Mathews certainly can be that type of running back and has also developed quite a bit in the passing game. But San Diego also wants to consistently take shots downfield, and they might have the longest and deepest route tree in the NFL. Getting defenses to honor the run with Mathews should help quite a bit.” 

Ryan Mathews is expected to return to practice with the San Diego Chargers on Wednesday.

Mathews broke his clavicle on his first carry of the preseason.

Mathews is expected to play in Week 3 against the Falcons.

The San Diego Chargers improved to 2-0 with a 38-10 win over the Tennessee Titans.

The Chargers had a +16.0 advantage in The Trench Counter, dominating all aspects of the game with the exception of being even in turnovers. San Diego had a +38 edge in Total Rushes/Completions, running 75 total plays on offense against 40 for the Titans.

Philip Rivers went 24-for-32 for 284 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Rivers found Dante Rosario for three touchdowns in the red zone. Michael Floyd caught six balls for 109 yards.

Jackie Battle scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, rushing 14 times for 69 yards in total as Ryan Mathews remained unavailable. Curtis Brinkley also had 18 carries for 42 yards. 

Jake Locker went 15-for-30 for one touchdown and one interception.

Chris Johnson continued to struggle, rushing eight times for just 17 yards.

Ryan Mathews will not play for the San Diego Chargers in Week 2 against the Titans.

Mathews is still recovering from a broken collarbone.

Mathews is likely to return for Week 3.

The San Diego Chargers see second round pick Kendall Reyes as a perfect fit at defensive end.

Reyes has taken over for Luis Castillo and Jacques Cesaire.

“Perfect height, perfect weight,” Cesaire said of Reyes. “Smart. Instinctual. Really poised.”

“In my opinion he's the most physically and mentally mature defensive lineman we've had come in, in the last seven years,” Castillo wrote in an email.

Reyes completes the overhaul of the Chargers' defensive line after they spent a first round pick last season on Corey Liuget.

The Chargers feel they are younger, faster and more athletic now on the defensive line.