clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Chiefs vs. Chargers FINAL: Chargers defeat Chiefs 29-28

The Chiefs can win the AFC West division with a win on Thursday night.

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

FINAL: Chiefs 28, Chargers 29

Fourth quarter

  • The Chargers tie it up on the next play with a 1 yard touchdown to Williams. The touchdown is good and LA goes for the extra two. Rivers finds Williams again, this time for the win. Chargers hand the Chiefs their first home loss and clinch their playoff spot in a 29-28 victory at Arrowhead.
  • Rivers and Benjamin come up big again. This time, it’s a 26 yard pass to put the Chargers at the KC 10. In their attempt to find the end zone with mere seconds remaining, the first is ruled incomplete and the next Rivers is sacked at the 10 by Justin Houston for 0 yards. On the next play, Rivers looks for Williams in the end zone and Kendall Fuller is called for Pass Interference, 9 yards, enforced at the KC 10.
  • A look at the Chargers holding on for dear life:
  • The return is muffed by King who then recovers it at the LA 40. The Chargers lose 10 yards from a Offensive Holding penalty called on Dan Feeney and enforced at the 40. However, on the next play, Rivers comes up big and finds Travis Benjamin for 31 yards at the KC 39 with just over 2 minutes remaining.
  • The Chiefs, now leading by only 7, struggle on their next drive. Mahomes gets sacked for the second time this game, which results in Dustin Colquitt’s fourth punt of the game.
  • Gates, Williams and Jackson combine for 62 yards in the Chargers’ successful scoring drive, which ends in a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Jackson, makes it a one score game with just 3:49 to go. Chiefs 28, Chiefs 21.
  • On the play following the timeout as the Chiefs go for the touchdown, Mahomes looks for Chris Conley who gets hit just shy of the end zone. Mahomes go for it on the next try, but can’t quite sneak it in himself. Third times a charm it’s Damien Williams who runs it in to extend the Chiefs’ lead over the Chargers. Chiefs 28, Chargers 14.
  • Despite the ugliness of this drive, Travis Kelce made some money:
  • Chiefs lead 21-14 and continue the drive. Following two incomplete passes and two no gain plays, Mahomes finally breaks through and finds Travis Kelce at the LA 43 for a 15 yard gain. On the next play, Mahomes throws it deep to Tyreek who nearly gets on the end of it in the end zone, but it doesn’t matter as he’s called for Illegal Motion, offsetting, which is enforced at the 43. Mahomes and Kelce come up big again for the Chiefs when Mahomes finds Kelce for 16 yards at the 27. Another penalty on the Chiefs in this drive comes next. This time, loss of 5 yards for Illegal Shift. As fate would have it, the Chargers respond with a 5 yard penalty of their own — Defensive Holding enforced at the 32. Back-to-back runs form Darrel and Damien Williams put the Chiefs at the LA 10 and they take a timeout with about 9:30 to go.

Third quarter

  • With under a minute to go in the third quarter, the Chiefs start at their own 25 following the punt and on the first play, Mahomes finds Hill for 5 yards. The Chiefs take a 10 yard loss following an Offensive Holding penalty called on Mitch Morse. On the next play, though, they’re bailed out after Joey Bosa gives them a 15 yard gain with a Face Mask call.
  • Rivers and the offense take the field trailing by a touchdown and under 3 minutes remaining in the third. On their opening play, Rivers finds Newsome for 11 yards at the Chargers’ 34, but the drive ends in a punt for Los Angeles as well after Eric Murray breaks up a pass intended for Travis Benjamin.
  • Mahomes and the offense take the field and their next drive doesn’t see much of the same success. A 10 yard Offensive Holding penalty on the first play and it ends in a punt from Colquitt at 4th & 3 at the KC 27.
  • The Chargers open the drive strong with a 17 yard pass from Rivers to Tyrell William on the second play. The drive proves successful, lasting 11 plays for 76 yards over 6:41 and ending in a 19-yard touchdown from Mike Williams. Chiefs 21, Chargers 14.
  • As the Chiefs’ defense takes the field, one player is noticeably missing:
  • A 16 yard pass to Kelce, a 33 yard pass to Hill, a 17 yard pass to Benjamin and the Chiefs end their opening drive of the second half with a touchdown from Damien Williams. Chiefs extend the lead 21-7.

Halftime: Chiefs 14, Chargers 7

Second quarter

  • Chiefs’ offense takes the field with less than a minute and Mahomes, who looks for Hill deep, is nearly picked off. Tyreek appears to leave the field limping and the Chargers offense takes the field before the clock hits 0 to conclude the half. Chiefs lead 14-7.
  • With just over a minute to go, the Chargers get within striking distance with Rivers finds Mike Williams for 13 yards at the KC 11. The 7 minute drive for LA ended with an interception by Kendall Fuller in the back corner of the end zone.
  • Chargers, starting at their own 5, open up the next drive with a 14-yard pass from Rivers to Mike Williams. Then, 2nd & 10 and at their own 19, Los Angeles picks up 16 yards with a run from Detrez Newsome to the 35. Chris Jones turns up the ice heat with his second sack of the game on Rivers to set them back 5 yards. Rivers responds with a 25 yard pass on the next play to Tyrell Williams, getting LA into Chiefs’ territory. With under two minutes to play, Justin Houston and Chris Jones split sack Rivers, his third of the game.
  • Michael Badgley kicks 65 yards and it’s returned by Tremon Smith for 51 yards into Los Angeles territory. However the drive ends with a punt from Colquitt 4th & 3 at the Los Angeles 42.
  • A look at LA’s first touchdown of the game:
  • On the first two plays of the Chargers’ next drive and the second quarter, Justin Jackson runs it for 3 yards to the Chiefs’ 22. Los Angeles gets to the Chiefs’ 13 before losing 8 yards when Phillip Rivers is sacked for the second time this game. This time, it’s Chris Jones who tallied his 10th consecutive game with a sack on the play. 3rd&10 and 1st&Goal two Chiefs players pick up Defensive Holding penalties. The Chargers finally get on the scoreboard on their 10th play with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Mike Williams. Chiefs 14, Chargers 7.

First quarter

  • Note: Darrel is now the 11th receiver to catch a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes.
  • The Chiefs open their next drive strong with a 32 yard pass from Mahomes to Damien Williams into Chargers territory. Mahomes and Williams combine for 18 more passing yards to put the Chiefs at the Los Angeles 11. After just missing Tyreek Hill in the end zone, Mahomes finds Darrel Williams who runs it in for the touchdown. Chiefs extend their lead 14-0.
  • On the first play of the Chargers’ next drive, Orlando Scandrick picks up a 5 yard Defensive Holding penalty enforced at the Los Angeles 25. Eric Berry and Derrick Nnadi combine to break up a run from Justin Jackson for 3 yards. Phillip Rivers gets his first big yards on the night with a 22 yard pass to Antonio Gates at the KC 45. Dee Ford comes up big with a QB sack on Phillip Rivers at the LA 48 for a 7 yard loss and then Eric Berry forces the Chargers to end in a punt by breaking up a pass from Rivers to Gates. Chiefs maintain the lead 7-0.
  • On the Chiefs’ second play of their opening drive, they pick up some major yards when Damien Williams fires out of the canon and runs it left outside back for 22 yards to put the Chiefs at the Los Angeles 26. Mahomes is almost sacked two plays later, but scrambles out of some high-pressure by curling outside left and finding Damien Williams again for 6 yards at the Los Angeles 15. The Chiefs get within striking distance when Mahomes finds Travis Kelce with a 7 yard pass at the 3. Falling out of bounds, Mahomes somehow finds a way to hit Demarcus Robinson for a 5 yard touchdown. Chiefs take the lead 7-0.
  • The Chiefs end their coin toss losing streak and defer — defense takes the field to start. Colquitt punts it to the opposing end zone and it’s returned by Desmond King II to the Chargers’ 20 for 25 yards. The Chargers aren’t on for long as Rivers’ second throw on the second play is picked off by Steven Nelson.

Around Arrowhead

Actives and Inactives

How to watch

Never miss an episode of the Rundown by subscribing to our YouTube channel.


The Kansas City Chiefs (11-2) welcome the Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) to Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night.

Please join us for the Arrowhead Pride Tailgate on 610 Sports Radio prior to the game Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. Arrowhead Time. Listen to 610 Sports Radio by clicking here.

Here’s how to watch and listen to the Chiefs-Chargers game:

Nuts and bolts

Location: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Game time: Thursday, December 13, 2018 | 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time

TV channel: FOX/NFL Network

Online Stream/Replay: FuboTV

Arrowhead Pride Post-game show, right after the game on 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City

Radio: 101.1 The Fox (Mitch Holthus, Kendall Gammon and Dani Welniak) | Spanish Radio Broadcast: La Mega 1160 AM/100.5 FM (Tico Sports)

Matchup history: Chiefs lead 61-54-1

Odds: Chiefs -3.5

Final Injury Report: Chiefs-Chargers

Prediction: Chiefs 35, Chargers 24 (Sweeney) | Full staff predictions

Announcers: Joe Buck (play by play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Erin Andrews (sideline), Kristina Pink (sideline), Mike Pereira (rules)

Enemy SB Nation site: Bolts from the Blue

Twitter: Arrowhead Pride

Facebook: Please like us!

Chiefs 2018 regular-season schedule

Week 1 | Sep 09 | Chiefs @ Chargers | StubHub Center | 3:05 PM CBS

Week 2 | Sep 16 | Chiefs @ Steelers | Heinz Field | 12:00 PM | CBS

Week 3 | Sep 23 | 49ers @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 12:00 PM | FOX

Week 4 | Oct 01 | Chiefs @ Broncos | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | 7:15 PM | ESPN

Week 5 | Oct 07 | Jaguars @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 12:00 PM | CBS

Week 6 | Oct 14 | Chiefs @ Patriots | Gillette Stadium | 7:20 PM | NBC

Week 7 | Oct 21 | Bengals @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 12:00 PM | CBS

Week 8 | Oct 28 | Broncos @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 12:00 PM | CBS

Week 9 | Nov 04 | Chiefs @ Browns | FirstEnergy Stadium | 12:00 PM | CBS

Week 10 | Nov 11 | Cardinals @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 12:00 PM | FOX

Week 11 | Nov 19 | Chiefs @ Rams | LA Coliseum | 7:15 PM | ESPN

Week 12 | Bye

Week 13 | Dec 02 | Chiefs @ Raiders | Oakland Coliseum | 3:05 PM | CBS

Week 14 | Dec 09 | Ravens @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 12:00 PM | CBS

Week 15 | Dec 13 | Chargers @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 7:20 PM | FOX

Week 16 | Dec 23 | Chiefs @ Seahawks | CenturyLink Field | 7:20 PM | NBC

Week 17 | Dec 30 | Raiders @ Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 12:00 PM | CBS

Arrowhead Pride Premier

Sign up now for a 7-day free trial of Arrowhead Pride Premier, with exclusive updates from Pete Sweeney on the ground at Arrowhead, instant reactions after each game, and in-depth Chiefs analysis from film expert Jon Ledyard.