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On a rainy opening Monday night, the Kansas City Chiefs managed little offense but made enough big plays to hold on for a 21-14 home win over the San Diego Chargers. It was a big win for the Chiefs who were 4-12 last year a combined 10-38 over the past three seasons. One big run, a turnover and a long punt return were all the Chiefs needed to jump out to a 21-7 lead at halftime.

The Chiefs only managed 197 total yards of offense in the game, and 56 of those came on a Jamaal Charles touchdown run that tied the game at 7-7 near the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Chargers running back Ryan Matthews coughed up the ball, giving the Chiefs the ball at San Diego’s 12-yard line. That led to a two-yard Matt Cassel touchdown pass, the highlight of Cassel’s 10-for-22, 68-yard night. With under two minutes left in the first half, Dexter McCluster returned a punt 94 yards to put Kansas City up two touchdowns.

The Chargers had a big play of their own in the third quarter and chances to tie at the end of the game. Philip Rivers hit Legedu Naanee down the middle for a 59-yard score to cut the deficit in half. Overall, Rivers was a respectable 22-for-39 for 298 yards and two scores, but he came up just short in the final seconds of the game. With 1:14 left in the game, the Chargers had first and goal from the Chiefs 4-yard line, but Cassel couldn’t complete a pass.

If you’re expecting something to look real fancy or nice, I don’t think that’s what you’re going to see here with this Chiefs team. That’s all right. We’re figuring out how to get things done.

The win left Haley’s ugly Chiefs all by themselves in first place in the AFC West. The Chargers, who were 13-3 last season, joined the Raiders and Broncos at 0-1.