The Kansas City Chiefs’ postseason hopes ended in heartbreaking fashion Sunday, with Patrick Mahomes being helped off the field and a final desperation pass being intercepted as the Los Angeles Chargers escaped Arrowhead Stadium with a 16-13 victory.
The defining moments came in the final two minutes. Mahomes was scrambling toward the sideline and throwing the ball away when he was spun down by defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, immediately clutching his left knee. Moments later, backup Gardner Minshew took over and, with Kansas City driving, threw a late interception to Derwin James to seal the Chargers’ win.
The Chiefs later confirmed Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury that will sideline the two-time MVP for the remainder of the season.
Justin Herbert, playing through a broken left hand, led a second-half rally that turned a 10-point deficit into a Chargers lead. Los Angeles improved to 10-4, secured its second straight 10-win season and remained unbeaten in AFC West play.
Kansas City fell to 6-8 and is now guaranteed to miss the postseason for the first time since 2014.
The Chiefs looked inspired early in bitter cold conditions, with wind chills near zero. Mahomes capped the opening drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, and Harrison Butker added two field goals to give Kansas City a 13-3 lead late in the second quarter.
Los Angeles flipped the game just before halftime. Herbert guided the Chargers 60 yards in five plays, finishing the drive with a touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, the first of his career, to pull within 13-10 at the break.
Cameron Dicker tied the game on the opening possession of the second half and then drilled a 49-yard field goal late in the third quarter to give the Chargers their first lead of the day.
The Chiefs had chances to respond, but mistakes in the red zone proved costly. A promising drive ended when Mahomes’ jump ball at the goal line intended for Kareem Hunt was intercepted by Daiyan Henley. Mahomes finished with 189 passing yards before leaving the game.
Minshew briefly sparked hope by completing three straight passes on the final drive, but with 20 seconds remaining, his throw for Travis Kelce was picked off by James, sending the Chargers into celebration and extinguishing Kansas City’s postseason aspirations.
Herbert managed the game efficiently despite the injury to his hand, while the Chargers’ defense delivered timely stops and turnovers in a matchup that once again came down to a single score.
Injuries
Chargers: WR Quentin Johnson (groin) was inactive. S R.J. Mickens exited with a shoulder injury.
Chiefs: CB Trent McDuffie (knee) was inactive. WR Tyquan Thornton entered concussion protocol and RT Jaylon Moore suffered a knee injury; both did not return. QB Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee late in the fourth quarter.
Up Next
*Chargers: Visit Dallas next Sunday.
Chiefs: Visit Tennessee next Sunday.*
