The Kansas City Chiefs are your AFC West winners for the ninth straight season, as they took down their divisional foe, the Los Angeles Chargers, on a game-winning area aim.
The 19-17 win moved the Chiefs to 12-1 on the season, which was an enormous victory to not solely declare the division, however create separation from the Buffalo Bills for the No. 1 seed within the AFC. Meanwhile, the Chargers are actually 8-5 on the season as they proceed to seek for a playoff spot with 4 video games remaining now.
This low-scoring affair noticed an extended drive from Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense that chewed up 8:29 of fourth-quarter clock, nevertheless it resulted in a area aim to make it 17-16.
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Kansas City Chiefs large receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) celebrates after scoring in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers throughout the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
There was greater than sufficient time for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense to reply, and as we’ve seen too many instances to depend, that’s precisely what occurred at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
On Third-and-10 on the following drive, Mahomes escaped Chargers strain and located his rookie receiver Xavier Worthy for a 14-yard strike, the place he got here again to the ball and secured it to increase the drive.
A Mahomes scramble and some runs from Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt would proceed to churn yards and clock, because the Chiefs bought nearer to the top zone for kicker Matthew Wright, who was excellent with three area targets, together with a 50-yarder, made previous to getting into the game-winner.
CHIEFS’ TRAVIS KELCE SOUNDS OFF ON LACK OF SCORING THIS SEASON: ‘F—ING FRUSTRATING’
On Third-and-7 from the Chargers’ 20-yard line, it was crucial Los Angeles stopped the Chiefs to power the sphere aim and provides Herbert one other probability to get a game-winning drive himself.
But Mahomes’ magic passed off but once more, as he rolled outdoors the pocket, made a tackler miss, and flipped the ball to Travis Kelce for the primary down.
That allowed the Chiefs to run the clock all the way down to the top of the fourth quarter, the place Wright knocked the ball off the left upright from 31 yards out, nevertheless it was inside simply sufficient to remain true for 3 factors and the victory.
“Doink for the division!” NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico yelled from the published sales space.
It took some time for somebody to search out the top zone on this sport, nevertheless it lastly occurred close to halftime as DeAndre Hopkins caught a brief cross from Mahomes and took it 9 yards to make it 13-0.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) arms off to operating again Gus Edwards (4) in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs throughout the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
The Chargers, who needed to play with out Herbert’s trusty rookie Ladd McConkey, couldn’t get going with 5 straight punts within the first half.
However, they turned it round within the second half with back-to-back landing drives to make this one an actual AFC West battle.
First, it was the opening drive of the second half, as Herbert dissected the Chiefs’ protection over 13 performs the place Gus Edwards, taking up the beginning function with J.Ok. Dobbins injured, scored from three yards out.
Then, after forcing a three-and-out on the Chiefs, Herbert wanted simply 4 performs to ultimately discover Quentin Johnston for the four-yard rating to take a 14-13 lead.
But when Mahomes and the Chiefs have the ball on the finish of a detailed sport this season, it simply hasn’t labored out for the opponent.
Mahomes was 24-for-37 for 210 yards along with his one landing cross, whereas speeding for 17 yards within the win. Pacheco, who had extra of a lead function as he eases again from harm.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) drops again to cross in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers throughout the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
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Kelce had probably the most yards by a Chiefs participant with 45, whereas Worthy completed with 41 and Hopkins with 32.
For the Chargers, Josh Palmer had a game-high 78 yards on six receptions whereas tight finish Stone Smartt, who noticed a much bigger function with Will Dissly damage throughout the sport, had 54 yards on three catches. Johnston completed with 48 yards on 5 receptions as effectively.
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