Chiefs’ Travis Kelce continues to haunt Chargers with another game-winning TD
Travis Kelce had done this against the Chargers before.
But never against Derwin James Jr. — until Sunday night.
The Kansas City tight end beat James on a drag route for a 17-yard touchdown with 31seconds remaining, lifting the Chiefs to a 30-27 victory at SoFi Stadium.
“It was just a tough situation,” James said. “He made a play.”
Kelce scored a touchdown late in regulation and then again early in overtime in Week15 last year in this same venue as Kansas City triumphed in a similarly dramatic way.
That night, James had been injured early in the game and was not available to defend Kelce.
Justin Herbert interception seals Chiefs’ 30-27 win over Chargers
🏈 Chiefs 30, Chargers 27 — FINAL
Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton picked off a deflected Justin Herbert pass in the final seconds to seal the Chiefs’ win over the Chargers. The Chiefs sweep the season series with the Chargers and clinch the division tiebreaker with the win.
Tight end Travis Kelce finished with three touchdown catches — and beat Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. on his final one — to power the Chiefs’ victory.
Getting the ball back with 26 seconds left after the Chiefs’ final touchdown, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was sacked for the fifth time before throwing the game-ending pick.
Herbert completed 23 of 30 attempts for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer made eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Keenan Allen, playing in his first game back from injury, finished with 94 yards on five catches.
Once again, the Kelce-Mahomes combination was too much for the Chargers. Mahomes completed 20 of 34 passes for 329 yards, with each of his touchdown passes to the standout tight end. Kelce finished with six catches for 115 yards.
“Magic Mahomes does it again, baby,” Kelce said in a postgame interview with NBC’s Melissa Stark.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco finished with 107 yards in 15 carries, and Chargers running back Austin Ekeler tallied 83 yards and a touchdown in 19 carries.
Travis Kelce scores his third TD of the game to give Chiefs late lead
🏈 Chiefs 30, Chargers 27 — 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce scored his third touchdown of the game, this time on a 17-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes to put the Chiefs back into the lead.
The Chargers have three timeouts left. Can Justin Herbert pull off a magical comeback?
A 13-yard pass to Skyy Moore and a 12-yard run by Mahomes fueled the Chiefs’ drive.
Joshua Palmer touchdown gives Chargers lead late in fourth
🏈 Chargers 27, Chiefs 23 — 1:46 left in the fourth quarter
Joshua Palmer caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to give the Chargers the lead again — the sixth scoring change of the game so far.
A 46-yard reception by Keenan Allen fueled the 10-play, 64-yard drive. A nine-yard run by Austin Ekeler helped set up the Palmer TD catch, his second of the game.
Will it be enough to hold back Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs? They have two timeouts left.
After fumbling the ball away, the Chargers get it back on a fumble
🏈 Chiefs 23, Chargers 20 — 6:47 left in the fourth quarter
Troy Reeder punched the ball out of Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon’s arms, giving a chance for Alohi Gilman to pounce on the ball and recover the fumble at Chargers’ 36-yard line.
Keenan Allen, who lost the ball on a fumble minutes earlier, was all smiles as he put on his helmet and re-entered the game for a Chargers team looking to find the end zone.
Allen then made a 46-yard catch to put the Chargers on the Kansas City 18.
Keenan Allen loses ball to Chiefs on costly fumble
🏈 Chiefs 23, Chargers 20 — 10:09 left in the fourth quarter
A solid-looking drive by the Chargers came to an abrupt halt when Chiefs safety Bryan Cook caused wide receiver Keenan Allen to lose the ball on a fumble after a 13-yard catch.
Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark jumped on the loose ball, giving Kansas City the ball at their own 22-yard line.
With linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. still questionable to return with a neck injury, the Chargers’ defense is struggling to contain Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce’s 32-yard TD catch gives Kansas City the lead
🏈 Chiefs 23, Chargers 20 — 14:50 left in the fourth quarter
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes on the first play of the fourth quarter to push Kansas City back into the lead.
Kelce made the catch from about 10 yards out underneath coverage, broke a tackle and then ran down the sideline for his second touchdown of the game.
The Chargers haven’t looked the same in the second half, so far, compared to their first-half performance. They showed much of the same last week in their Sunday night loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Will they respond or wilt?
Another Kansas City field goal makes it a four-point game
🏈 Chargers 20, Chiefs 16 — 6:22 left in the third quarter
Harrison Butker kicked a 30-yard field goal at the end of a nine-play, 56-yard drive to cut into the Chargers’ lead.
The Chargers started the second half with the ball, but only picked up a single first down before punting — a false start penalty on Trey Pipkins and a sack on Justin Herbert doomed the possession.
With Mike Williams already ruled out with an ankle injury, the Chargers got more bad news on the injury front:
Chargers add a field goal just before halftime to extend lead
🏈 Chargers 20, Chiefs 13 — HALFTIME
Cameron Dicker hit his second field goal of the game — this one for 21 yards — to extend the Chargers’ lead just before halftime.
The Chargers missed out on a prime chance to score a touchdown when Kansas City’s Frank Clark pressured Justin Herbert into throwing an incomplete pass on third and goal from the Kansas City three-yard line.
The Chargers scored on four of their five possessions in the first half — and they get the ball to start the second half.
Mike Williams (ankle) will not return to the game.
Chargers re-take lead on Austin Ekeler touchdown run
🏈 Chargers 17, Chiefs 13 — 3:31 left in the second quarter
Austin Ekeler scored on a two-yard touchdown run despite Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton pulling on his facemask as he churned into the end zone. Bolton was called for a penalty on the play.
The touchdown capped off a methodical, 13-play, 70-yard drive that included a 20-yard catch from DeAndre Carter and Stone Smartt’s first career catch on a critical third down. Isaiah Spiller took advantage of a key Zion Johnson block to punch the Chargers into the red zone on an 11-yard run. Zander Horvath also converted on third down just outside the end zone to set up Ekeler’s TD.
Justin Herbert has completed 12 of 16 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown so far. Chiefs quarterback has connected on 10 of 20 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. Ekeler has nine carries for 44 yards and Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco has 46 yards on five carries.
Mike Williams remains on the sideline with an ankle injury after hobbling off in the first quarter.
Travis Kelce goes ‘Prime Time’ on Chargers as Chiefs take lead
🏈 Chiefs 13, Chargers 10 — 14:13 left in the second quarter
Travis Kelce showed off some retro “Prime Time” celebration moves on a short four-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes, bouncing off defenders before finding enough open space to bust off a Deion Sanders-like trot into the end zone.
Kelce’s touchdown came on the heels of a 40-yard catch by Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson, who beat tight coverage from Chargers cornerback Bryce Callahan. The seven-play, 75-yard drive was the best showing by the Chiefs’ offense so far.
As for the Chargers, Mike Williams remains on the sideline with an ankle injury. He is listed as questionable to return.
Chargers extend lead, but Mike Williams limps off the field
🏈 Chargers 10, Chiefs 6 — 2:35 left in the first quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a 46-yard field goal to extend the Chargers’ lead, but it wasn’t all positive news for L.A. on its second possession.
Mike Williams made a spectacular, tippy-toe catch on the sideline for 15 yards, but immediately hobbled off the field. He later went into the sideline medical tent.
Williams is playing in his first game after missing two games with a high-ankle sprain.
Chargers hold Chiefs to another field goal
🏈 Chargers 7, Chiefs 6 — 5:58 left in the first quarter
The Chargers defense once again slowed down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs once they crossed midfield, forcing Kansas City to settle for a 52-yard field goal from Harrison Butker.
Sebastian Joseph-Day held Mahomes to three yards on a second-down scramble before the quarterback threw an incomplete pass on third down.
We’ve seen the Chargers start out strong against Mahomes and the Chiefs early on at SoFi Stadium only to fade later in the game. Could that narrative be shattered tonight?
Huge Joshua Palmer TD catch flings Chargers into the lead
🏈 Chargers 7, Chiefs 3 — 9:33 left in the first quarter
Chargers receiver Joshua Palmer caught a 50-yard bomb from Justin Herbert and fell into the end zone to give the Chargers a quick touchdown on its first possession.
After connecting with Keenan Allen on a 17-yard pass and hitting DeAndre Carter for an eight-yard completion, Herbert found Palmer wide open down the sideline. Palmer turned around to catch the pass and then fell backward into the end zone, leaping up in celebration in front of a stunned Kansas City secondary.
The Chargers certainly look different with Allen and Mike Williams back from injuries. Are the Chargers’ recent offensive woes behind them?
Chiefs take early lead on Harrison Butker field goal
🏈 Chiefs 3, Chargers 0 — 10:54 left in the first quarter
A 33-yard field goal by Harrison Butker pushed the Chiefs into an early lead after the Chargers managed to stop a methodical drive orchestrated by Patrick Mahomes in the red zone.
The Chargers turned up the pressure on Mahomes as the Chiefs drove deeper into Chargers territory, with Derwin James making contact nearly the line of scrimmage with tight end Travis Kelce on third down, leading to an incomplete pass.
When Chargers face Chiefs, Derwin James vs. Travis Kelce grabs spotlight
During his most recent visit to SoFi Stadium, Travis Kelce scored the tying and winning touchdowns against the Chargers — both coming in the final 2 minutes, 31 seconds.
The Kansas City tight end had a seven-yard scoring reception with 1:16 left in regulation and then a 34-yarder 1:15 into overtime during Week 15 a year ago.
It must be remembered that Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. was injured early that night and not in the game at the end.
On Sunday, Kelce and the Chiefs return to SoFi Stadium for another headlining matchup against James and the Chargers, the two AFC West rivals’ third consecutive game against each other in prime time.
“It’s always fun playing Kelce,” James said. “He’s knows who I am. I know who he is. It’ll be a show on Sunday, for sure.”
What’s wrong with Chargers’ Justin Herbert? Mike Williams, Keenan Allen might answer
Justin Herbert’s completion total and percentage are both up while he has thrown for 115 fewer yards and five fewer touchdowns.
His rating is seven points lower, and he has passed for nearly a full yard less per attempt.
Through nine games this year and nine a season ago — a season that ended with Herbert in the Pro Bowl — one thing is identical: The Chargers are 5-4.
The above math and the missing images of Herbert spiraling rainbows deep downfield have left some observers outside the team’s Costa Mesa training facility wondering why the quarterback has regressed in his third season.
“I think it has been more challenging with all of the different pieces,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “I think when you get in a situation like that, you can push too hard and turn the ball over. For the most part, he has protected it well.
Chargers have playoff hopes, and a few more healthy bodies, before Chiefs showdown
The Chargers broke training camp back in August.
Then, they just broke.
“There have been so many moving pieces,” linebacker Drue Tranquill said. “It seems like we haven’t had a string of games where everyone has played together.”
A string of games? The Chargers haven’t had a single game of being completely whole.
In their season opener, they were missing cornerback J.C. Jackson. In Week 2, they were without wide receiver Keenan Allen. They went into Week 3 minus Jackson and center Corey Linsley and came out of Week 3 without Joey Bosa and Rashawn Slater.
Mike Williams and Keenan Allen active for Chargers
Wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams both are active for the Chargers’ Sunday night game against Kansas City.
Allen has been limited to two games and 45 snaps this season because of a hamstring injury. Williams missed two games with a high-ankle sprain.
Tight end Gerald Everett won’t play. Everett was downgraded to questionable Saturday after coming off the injury report the day before. He has been dealing with a groin issue.
The Chargers’ other inactives for the game: K Dustin Hopkins (hamstring), RB Larry Rountree III, WR Jason Moore, edge rusher Jeremiah Attaochu, OL Brenden Jaimes and QB Easton Stick.
Chargers-Chiefs matchups, how to watch and prediction
Breaking down how the Chargers (5-4) and the Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) match up heading into their game at 5:20 p.m. PST on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The game will be shown on NBC (Ch. 4) and streamed on Peacock and NFL+.
When Chargers have the ball
Coming off a miserable second half last weekend in a 22-16 loss at the San Francisco 49ers, the Chargers are looking to rebound against a defense that has given up only two touchdowns apiece to each of its last three opponents.
When the Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs met in Week 2, Justin Herbert passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns, but the Chargers still lost. That night included a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown by Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson.
Chargers vs. Chiefs: Betting odds, lines and picks against the spread
The Chargers have reason for optimism heading into Sunday night. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are set to return in advance of a really big game against the Chiefs. A win for the Chargers would cut Kansas City’s lead to one game in the AFC West. A loss would make it virtually impossible to win the division down by three games in the win-loss column and effectively four games because of the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Kansas City Chiefs (-6, 50) at Chargers
The practice returns of Allen and Williams moved this line down about a point, as the Chargers went from +6.5 to +5.5 in the betting odds at most sportsbooks, but you can find a stray +6 out there. Allen has played only two games this season with six catches for 77 yards. When he briefly returned in Week 7 against the Seahawks, he played only 32% of the offensive snaps and had two grabs for 11 yards. Williams hasn’t played since Week 7 and still leads the team in yards receiving with 495 and is tied for second in receptions behind Austin Ekeler.