SAN DIEGO - Clinching a playoff berth is a mere formality now for the Chiefs.
And no one could be happier than Tony Gonzalez, the star tight end who has seen a long dry spell since the last time Kansas City reached the playoffs.
Gonzalez caught two touchdowns, including the decisive score, and Priest Holmes ran 31 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns Sunday to lead a 28-24 win over the Chargers.
"I take huge satisfaction, considering what I've been through the last seven years here, coming in here my first year and winning the AFC West, and then not even getting close to it since then," Gonzalez said.
The Chiefs, who have the league's best record, can do no worse than tie for the West title. They would have clinched it had Denver not won at Oakland. The Chiefs can make it official if they win Sunday at Denver.
"As far as I'm concerned, we're not done yet," Gonzalez said. "We have to stay humble, stay hungry and go out there and get ready because we've got a tough game next week out there in Denver."
The Chiefs last made the playoffs in 1997, with Marty Schottenheimer as coach. They finished 13-3 and clinched home-field advantage in the playoffs, only to be upset by Denver in the division round.
Schottenheimer is now San Diego's coach. This is the first time in his 17 full seasons as an NFL coach that his team will lose at least 10.
San Diego's Doug Flutie made the game interesting until he started turning over the ball in the final 11 minutes. Flutie helped trim the Kansas City lead from two touchdowns to 21-17 late in the third quarter.
But he had two turnovers in the fourth quarter. The biggest came when, while in shotgun formation, he dropped a snap. Kansas City's Gary Stills recovered at the San Diego 27 with 11:18 to play.
"It came in low and hard and caught my knee," Flutie said. "That was a real missed opportunity."
After Holmes carried seven consecutive plays, Trent Green found Gonzalez open for a 3-yard touchdown and a 28-17 lead with 6:28 to play.
Flutie moved the Chargers again, but was intercepted in the end zone by safety Greg Wesley with 4:07 left. Flutie hit Antonio Gates on an 18-yard touchdown as time expired.
