The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Norv Turner finally found a team that could handle the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, his San Diego Chargers could be ready to run away with the AFC West.

With LaDainian Tomlinson rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns and the defense getting eight sacks and four turnovers, the Chargers beat Kansas City 24-10 Sunday for their sixth win in eight games. They’re beginning to flash the form that made them 14-2 in the 2006 regular season before Marty Schottenheimer got fired after the playoffs.

“I think we have improved as a football team all the way through,” said Turner, who beat the Chiefs for the first time in seven tries as a head coach. “I know there were some weeks that it didn’t show up.”

It was just the second victory in 11 games in Kansas City for San Diego and put the Chargers (7-5) 1 1/2 games ahead in the AFC West, pending Denver’s game at Oakland.

The Chiefs (4-8) lost their fifth in a row and could be headed for their worst season in about 20 years.

“It is flat-out embarrassing,” said tight end Tony Gonzalez, who had 10 catches for 140 yards. “I don’t think I’ve lost five games in a row as a Chief. It’s frustrating, because I feel like we’re a lot better team than what we’re playing right now.”

Since the Chiefs beat the Chargers 30-16 and plunged them to 1-3 on Sept. 30 and triggered an outcry against Turner, the Chargers have turned it around.

“We know we control our own destiny, but I wouldn’t say we’re breathing easier,” said quarterback Philip Rivers, who had a 38-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson. “We’re still not pleased at being 7-5. It is certainly better to be where we are than looking up at someone.”

By the middle of the fourth quarter, normally loud and packed Arrowhead Stadium was quiet and about half-empty.

“We just can’t seem to score any points in the fourth quarter coming down the stretch,” said Chiefs coach Herm Edwards.

Tomlinson had only 60 yards on 13 carries in the first half, but came on after intermission with scoring runs of 31 and 28 yards. Tomlinson’s second touchdown was No. 111 in his career and moved him past Walter Payton for third on the all-time list for touchdowns rushing.

“You’ve got to understand, the whole reason I wanted to even play football was seeing him,” Tomlinson said. “I remember watching everything he did, even off the field, the way he talked to kids, the way he talked to people, the way he carried himself.

“It’s definitely an honor just to be mentioned in the same breath with, in my opinion, the greatest running back that has ever played the game.”

Shawne Merriman had three of the eight sacks, which broke the Chiefs’ record of seven allowed in a game. The Chargers also had three interceptions, two off Damon Huard and one off Tyler Thigpen, the third-team quarterback who entered late in the fourth quarter when Huard injured his hand.