The Kansas City Chiefs defeated divisional foe Los Angeles Chargers on a game-winning field goal to win the AFC West for the ninth straight season.
With the 19-17 victory, the Chiefs improved to 12-1 on the season, a big win that not only clinched the division title, but also widened the gap over the AFC's No. 1 seed, the Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the Chargers are currently 8-5 on the season and continue to look for a playoff spot with four games remaining.
In a low-scoring game, Justin Herbert's long drive and the Chargers' offense cut off 8 minutes, 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but a field goal made it 17-16.
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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, 8, celebrates after scoring in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley Imagen Images)
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense had plenty of time to react. As we've seen countless times, that's exactly what happened at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
On third-and-10 on the ensuing drive, Mahomes escaped Chargers pressure and found rookie receiver Xavier Worthy for a 14-yard strike, where he returned to the ball and secured the ball to extend the drive.
A Mahomes scramble and several runs from Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt kept the yardage and clock ticking, and the Chiefs neared the end zone for kicker Matthew Wright, who made three field goals, including a 50-yard shot. I let it happen. Before approaching the winner of the game.
Chiefs' Travis Kelce laments lack of scoring ability this season: “It's frustrating''
On third-and-7 from the Chargers' 20-yard line, it was imperative that Los Angeles stop the Chiefs and convert a field goal, giving Herbert a chance to make the winning shot himself.
But Mahomes' magic happened again, rolling out of the pocket, missing a tackler, and flipping the ball to Travis Kelce for a first down.
This allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock until the end of the fourth quarter, when Wright smashed the ball into the left upright from 31 yards remaining, but the ball stayed inside just enough to save just three points. He achieved victory.
“Good luck for your division!” NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico shouted from the broadcast booth.
It took a while for someone to find the end zone in this game, but it finally happened near halftime when DeAndre Hopkins caught a short pass from Mahomes for 9 yards to make it 13-0. did.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, 10, hands running back Gus Edwards, 4, during the first half of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley Imagen Images)
The Chargers had to play without Herbert's trusted rookie, Rudd McConkie, but they struggled to get going with five straight punts in the first half.
However, they turned things around with consecutive touchdown drives in the second half, making this game a true battle for the AFC West.
First was the opening drive of the second half, in which Herbert dissected the Chiefs' defense for 13 plays and Gus Edwards, who took over the starting role after J.K. Dobbins was injured, scored from three yards out.
Then, after forcing the Chiefs into a three-and-out, Herbert took just four plays to score on Quentin Johnston's 4-yard score for a 14-13 lead.
But this season, when Mahomes and the Chiefs got the ball after close games, things didn't go well for them.
Mahomes completed 24 of 37 for 210 yards with one touchdown pass and had 17 yards rushing in the win. After recovering from his injury, Pacheco took on a more starring role.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, 15, drops to make a pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley Imagen Images)
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Kelce finished with 45 yards, the most by a Chiefs player, Worthy had 41 yards and Hopkins finished with 32 yards.
For the Chargers, Josh Palmer had six receptions for a game-high 78 yards, and tight end Stone Smart, who played a bigger role with Will Dissly injured in the game, had three catches. gained 54 yards. Johnston also had five receptions for 48 yards.
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