Final score: Chiefs rally back from 11 down to beat Chargers 23-20 in overtime

The Kansas City Chiefs looked as though they were primed to suffer their first loss in 11 games Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Then what has almost come to be expected happened — they found a way to emerge victorious.

Kicker Harrison Butker drilled a 58-yard field goal in overtime — his second 58-yarder of the day — as the Chiefs overcame an 11-point deficit to defeat the Chargers 23-20 and improve to 2-0 on the season. Running back Darwin Thompson converted a fourth-and-1 rush at the Los Angeles 46-yard line to keep the game-winning drive alive.

Butker actually made the game-winner three times in a row. He connected from 53, but Nick Allegretti was called for a false start penalty. Then he made it from 58, but Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn called a timeout in an attempt to ice Butker. Then he made it from 58 again for the win.

The comeback may have been expected, but it began in a way perhaps largely unexpected. Trailing 17-6 in the third quarter and facing fourth-and-15 at the Los Angeles 40-yard line, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid sent out Butker for his first 58-yard kick of the day — which he made, cutting the lead to one score.

On the next drive — Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, making a surprise first start of his rookie career — made one of the few mistakes of his day when he threw an interception into the hands of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

Starting at their own 5-yard line, Mahomes and the Chiefs worked the ball up to the 46. Then on second-and-8, rolling to his right on the run, Mahomes threw the ball nearly 60 yards in the air to a streaking Tyreek Hill for a 54-yard touchdown. The Chiefs tied the game at 17 when Mahomes connected with wide receiver Mecole Hardman in the end zone.

Herbert and the Chargers took more than 10 minutes off the game clock on the ensuing drive that ended with a 23-yard field goal, leaving a little more than two minutes in the fourth quarter for Mahomes and company, then down three points. The Chargers forced the Chiefs to third-and-20 at midfield with less than a minute to go — but Mahomes scrambled for 21 yards to keep the game alive. Butker’s 30-yard field goal sent the game to overtime.

Herbert targeted six different receivers in the first half as he and the Chargers built a 14-6 lead going into the locker room. On the first possession of his career, Herbert drove Los Angeles 79 yards in 3:37, capping it off with a four-yard scramble for a touchdown.

Later in the quarter, wide receiver Jalen Guyton found his way behind the defense, and Herbert led him with a perfect 14-yard pass in the end zone for the first passing touchdown of his career.

The Chiefs’ only score of the first half was a 10-yard touchdown reception by Travis Kelce. Long snapper James Winchester was called for holding on the extra point attempt, and Butker’s 43-yard try after the penalty was blocked by defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. The Chargers scored first in the third quarter when Michael Badgley hit a 41-yard field goal to make it 17-6.

Injuries

• Defensive cornerback Antonio Hamilton left during the first half with a groin injury.
• Running back Darrel Williams left during the second quarter with an ankle injury.
• Defensive end Frank Clark left during the third quarter due to an illness.
• Wide receiver Sammy Watkins left during the fourth quarter after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit by Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman.

Special teams

• Chiefs rookie Tommy Townsend punted five times on Sunday and landed two of those punts inside the 20-yard line.

Rapid reaction

• The game’s rapid reaction will be posted to our homepage shortly.

Statistics