Chiefs defeat Chargers 24-17: Complete game summary

On Monday Night Football at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17 to improve their record to 7-4 and maintain their hold on the AFC West going into their bye week.

OFFENSE

First half

First drive: The Chief started their first drive of the game with a run from Damien Williams. Patrick Mahomes threw an incompletion on the next play, but completed an 11-yard pass to Sammy Watkins to convert on third down. Three incompletions and a holding penalty on the next set of downs forced the Chiefs to punt on their first drive of the game.

Second drive: The Chiefs started the drive with a 4-yard pass to Mecole Hardman. Mahomes converted the following third down with a 24-yard scramble. But two plays later, Mahomes threw his second interception of the season.

Third drive: The Chiefs started the drive with an illegal formation penalty that pushed them back five yards. The Chiefs continued to struggle on offense and they went three-and-out.

Fourth drive: Following the interception and return from Tyrann Mathieu, the Chiefs got into the end zone with a 6-yard run from LeSean McCoy. Chiefs 7 Chargers 3

Fifth drive: The Chiefs started the drive with a 6-yard pass and short run to Damien Williams. Mahomes converted on third down with a short pass to Darrel Williams, followed by a 31-yard pass to Travis Kelce. But a blown-up screen play and a couple of incompletions forced the Chiefs to settle for a field goal. Chiefs 10 Chargers 6

Second half

Sixth drive: The Chiefs started the drive with a holding penalty and a 7-yard completion to Kelce. A hands to the face penalty saved the Chiefs from what would have been a turnover. Then a 20-yard Mahomes scramble put the Chiefs in Chargers territory. A 15-yard catch from Watkins put the Chiefs in field goal range, and a 16-yard catch from McCoy put them into the red zone. Runs from McCoy and Darrel Williams gave the Chiefs the score. Chiefs 17 Chargers 9

Seventh drive: Mahomes started the drive with an 11-yard completion to Kelce. A defensive holding penalty helped extend the drive for the Chiefs, and a deep pass to Kelce put the Chiefs on the board. Chiefs 24 Chargers 9

Eighth drive: The Chiefs started the drive with a 6-yard run from Williams and a short pass to Kelce for the first down. The Chiefs couldn’t convert the next set of downs and were forced to punt.

Ninth drive: The Chiefs started the drive with a 14-yard gain from McCoy, and converted on their first third down of the drive with a run from Williams, but failed to convert on the next set of downs and punted.

Tenth drive: The Chiefs went three-and-out after two short gains and an incompletion.

Eleventh drive: Mahomes scrambled once again for a huge gain of 15 yards to convert a third-and-6. The Chiefs can’t convert the next set of downs though, and punt with two minutes left in the game.

Twelfth drive: Chiefs took the victory formation to end the game

DEFENSE

First half

First drive: Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers completed a 16-yard pass to tight end Hunter Henry and a 7-yard pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen to start the game. Rivers then completed a 37-yard pass to running back Austin Ekeler to get into the red zone. The Chiefs were able to stuff the run and keep the Chargers on third-and-long to force Los Angeles to settle for three points. Chargers 3 Chiefs 0

Second drive: The Chargers started the drive strong with three straight rushes from running back Melvin Gordon for a total of 33 yards. But the Chiefs recovered, finally keeping the Chargers short of the first-down marker. The Chargers missed their field goal attempt.

Third drive: The Chargers started the drive with a short pass to Ekeler, but Rivers was then sacked for a big loss. The Chargers converted on third down with a screen play. A catch and run from Allen gave the Chargers 30 yards, but on the following play Frank Clark forced an errant pass from Rivers that was intercepted by Derrick Nnadi.

Fourth drive: The Chargers started the drive with a 6-yard pass and an 11-yard run for a first down. but a few plays later, Rivers threw his second interception of the day to Tyrann Mathieu.

Fifth drive: The Chargers started the drive with a 26-yard completion to convert on third down. An 18-yard run from Ekeler put the Chargers into the red zone, but three straight incompletions forced the Chargers to take a field goal Charger 6 Chiefs 7

Sixth drive: The Chargers started the drive with a 16-yard catch and run from Ekeler. Then Ekeler took another short pass for 18 more yards, and Gordon had a short catch and run to put the Chargers in field goal range. Back-to-back holding penalties pulled the Chargers out of field goal range before a 14-yard completion put them back in range. Chargers 9 Chiefs 10

Second half

Seventh drive: The Chargers went three-and-out to start the second half.

Eighth drive: The drive started with an interference call against the Chiefs, giving the Chargers 25 yards. A 7-yard reception by Allen converted the Chargers’ first third down of the drive. Another interference penalty put the Chargers into the red zone, and Allen scored on a 7-yard reception. Chargers 17 Chiefs 24

Ninth drive: The Chargers started the drive with a 14-yard completion to Henry. But the Chargers failed to convert on the next set of downs — thank to a strip sack from Frank Clark

Tenth drive: The Chargers went three-and out thanks to a big tackle for loss from Clark.

Eleventh drive: Rivers threw his third interception of the game three plays into the drive.

Twelfth drive: Two incompletions and a short pass forced the Chargers into an early fourth-and-short situation, which they converted with a 10-yard pass to Henry. A huge 50-yard reception by Mike Williams but the Chargers in field goal range. But a few plays later, Daniel Sorenson picked Rivers off in the end zones, sealing the game.

SPECIAL TEAMS

No noteworthy special teams plays.

INJURIES

• Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill is questionable to return with a leg injury
• Chiefs OL Austin Reiter is questionable to return
• Chiefs RB Damien Williams is out
• Chiefs safety Jordan Lucas is out
• Chiefs RB LeSean McCoy left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury

STATISTICS