KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Marty Schottenheimer's second trip back to Kansas City was even worse than the first.
Priest Holmes ran for two early touchdowns as the Kansas City Chiefs built a 24-point halftime lead and coasted to a 27-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers.
Schottenheimer coached the Chiefs from 1989 to 1998 and returned to Arrowhead Stadium on the opposing sideline for the second time. The Chargers lost here in heartbreaking fashion, 24-22, last December as Michael Husted kicked a 38-yard field goal with 68 seconds.
Sunday's contest was over a lot faster. Holmes scored on touchdown runs of 24 and five yards as the Chiefs grabbed a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
"I think it's obvious today that the Chiefs are the much better football team," Schottenheimer said. "That was reflected in the outcome. I was disappointed, mostly defensively. We didn't tackle them as well as we should have."
Holmes, who signed a lucrative contract extension last week, showed no ill effects from offseason hip surgery. He carried 18 times for 85 yards. He also caught seven passes for 98 yards.
"It was nice to see him put everything to rest," Chiefs quarterback Trent Green said of Holmes. "Obviously there's been a lot of conversation this offseason about how wealthy he's going to be and if he was going to be able to do it. I think everybody saw him break tackles and make guys miss in the open field."
The defense, among the worst in the NFL last season, also made things difficult as free agent signee Vonnie Holliday sacked Drew Brees three times in the first half.
"I've been anticipating this, I could barely sleep last night," said Holliday, formerly of the Green Bay Packers. "This is Arrowhead, it's the best place to play a game ever. It was a great day and I think we made a statement as a team and as a defense."
The Chiefs also limited LaDainian Tomlinson of the Chargers to 34 yards on 13 carries.
"It's nice to start the new season with a win. We did some good things," Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. "We're pleased with it. We're not overwhelmed with the success. I thought, especially in the first half, that we played about as well as we can play this early in the year."
Kansas City has won seven straight home games against San Diego, outscoring the Chargers by a 201-73 margin.
Green increased the lead to 21-0 with a 21-yard TD pass to Johnnie Morton early in the second quarter. Holmes caught a 31-yard pass from Green on the previous play.
On the Chiefs' next drive, Green completed a 32-yard pass to Dante Hall that set up a 42-yard field goal by Morten Andersen.
The Chargers traded away star linebacker Junior Seau in the offseason and showed plenty of holes on Sunday, allowing the Chiefs to roll up 390 yards.
Green was in control early, completing passes of 21 yards to Eddie Kennison and 16 yards to Holmes to set up the first TD by Holmes. The second TD came following a 16-yard interception return by Greg Wesley to the Chargers 41.
Brees tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the second half to make the score respectable. He completed a 21-yarder to Josh Norman in the third quarter and a 20-yarder to Eric Parker in the fourth.
Brees completed 18-of-33 passes for 202 yards and was intercepted twice.
"They are a pretty sound defense, they brought quite a bit of pressure today," Brees said of the Chiefs. "I'm sure with those safties and how big and how physical they are, they are able to do those things and get pressure on the quarterback and they did a good job of that today."
David Boston, a key offseason signee for the Chargers, had just two catches for 20 yards.
Andersen kicked a 46-yard field in the second quarter.
