Game-Winning Field Goal Dooms Upset-Minded Chargers Against Chiefs

In heartbreaking fashion, the Chargers lose again to the Kansas City Chiefs on a game-winning drive capped off by a doinked field goal off the crossbar.

Some teams seem to just find a way to win in miraculous manners.

Unfortunately for the Chargers, one of those teams is AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Sunday night Week 14 matchup once again displayed the above notion, and Los Angeles dropped to 8-5 after a nail-biting 19-17 defeat at the hands of the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

For the Bolts offensively, it was more of the same carried over from their win last week against the Atlanta Falcons. A slow second half in Week 13 set a trend that was not broken in the first half in Kansas City. 

The Chargers completed five full drives in the first half Sunday: they punted all five times. Even worse, the final three drives were all “three-and-outs”, excluding a drive before half that was cut short due to the second quarter zeroing out. 

Kansas City started the game well, as they produced a scoring drive on the game’s opening possession with a field goal from replacement kicker Matthew Wright. Wright, who would end up deciding the game’s fate with time expiring in the fourth quarter hours later, knocked in the attempt to give the Chiefs an early 3-0 lead.

It was clear that the Chargers offense, and more specifically the run game, was feeling the effects of missing running back J.K. Dobbins, who had been playing at a high level all season until his injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12. Without a reliable run game to support, quarterback Justin Herbert struggled to move the ball in the first two quarters. Gains of 21 and 38 yards to wide receivers Quinten Johnston and Joshua Palmer respectively showed some life through the air, but other than that the Chargers offense was dormant as Kansas City began to build a lead.

Defense, on the flip side, was a strength for Los Angeles once again. After the opening-drive field goal, the Bolts forced star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense into back-to-back punts. The second drive saw a sack on third down by veteran linebacker Joey Bosa as he chased down Mahomes as he tried to step up in the pocket to potentially find a first down on the ground. 

Unfortunately for the Chargers’ defense, they were forced back on the field quickly as the Chargers went three-and-out early in the second quarter. They were able to continue their fantastic play overall despite allowing an opening-play pass for 26 yards from Mahomes and perfectly encapsulated a “bend but do not break” style of defense as they held the Kansas City offense out of the endzone another time. Wright connected on his second field goal and gave the league-leading Chiefs a 6-0 lead.

Three punts followed in the game sequence, two by Los Angeles and one by Kansas City. 

The Chiefs then marched down the field before halftime and finally were able to find the endzone for six. Mahomes found veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has been widely regarded as one of the best at his position ever since his rookie season in 2013, for a nine-yard touchdown pass to extend the team’s lead to 13-0. In what has been a down year statistically for Mahomes, a two-time league MVP and three-time Super Bowl winner, he was able to register a solid statline Sunday night as he threw for 210 yards on 24/37 passing to go along with four carries for 17 yards on the ground.

Kansas City would take the 13-0 lead into the half.

“We didn’t make enough plays in the first half and we didn’t execute the way we wanted to. Pass game, run game, we weren’t moving the ball well. That’s on us and I praise the guys for standing in there, staying patient, and making plays in the second half,” Herbert said.

Desperately needing an answer to begin the third quarter, the Chargers would respond effectively. Orchestrating a 13-play, 79-yard scoring drive, Herbert and company were able to put up their first points of the game and their first offensive touchdown since that matchup against Baltimore in Week 12. A decision to go for it on fourth and two from the Kansas City 40-yard line was a risky one, but it paid off as Herbert found Palmer down the middle for a crucial 15-yard pickup. A few plays later, running back Gus Edwards barreled up the middle for a three-yard rushing score and brought the game back within a single possession as Los Angeles would cut the Chief lead to 13-7. Edwards did not enjoy a greatly efficient day on the ground but was able to find paydirt as he would total ten rushes for 36 yards and the touchdown.

Playing off momentum captured by the offense, the Bolts’ defense forced a quick three-and-out on the next Kansas City offensive possession. Star linebacker Khalil Mack brought pressure upon Mahomes and made sure that his intended pass to Hopkins on third down would fall incomplete to force the punt. 

After the punt, the Chargers offense seemed to operate with a newfound confidence. On the first play of the drive, Herbert looked Johnston’s way down the middle of the field for 39 yards and although the pass fell incomplete, a flag was thrown for defensive pass interference and Los Angeles would be set up inside Kansas City territory. From there, Herbert fired a play-action pass to tight end Stone Smartt for 24 yards to continue the productive drive. Smartt, who is sparingly used as a receiver and only had three receptions for 44 yards on the season coming into the night, recorded three catches for 54 yards. 

And just three plays later, on third and three from the Chiefs’ four-yard line, Herbert linked up with a wide-open Johnston for an easy four-yard touchdown reception. Johnston, a receiver who has been under scrutiny for drops and miscues that have cost Chargers offensive drives this season and last, produced a quality game as he caught five balls for 48 yards to go along with the scoring reception.

Just like that, back-to-back touchdown drives for Los Angeles gave them a 14-13 lead late in the third quarter and gave them a real chance at giving Kansas City its second loss of the season. In what may even be more impressive, the offense started to produce despite missing star rookie Ladd McConkey, who was ruled out before the game began.

“The second half was outstanding. We pretty much flipped the script in the second half. Just got to keep working and getting better. What more can a coach ask, guys are giving it their very best and also working to get better every day too,” said head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The fourth quarter was then dominated by long drives from both teams. 

Starting with the Chiefs, they were able to respond to the Chargers’ go-ahead scoring drive with a decent one for themselves. Using a 12-play, 45-yard drive, Kansas City was forced to rely on the foot of Wright once again after a potential third-down conversion to Hopkins from Mahomes was broken up by rookie cornerback Cam Hart, who has enjoyed a great rookie season. Wright converted a deep 50-yard field goal to regain the lead for the Chiefs, 16-14. 

Not to be outdone, a now-clicking Chargers offense produced a draining 14-play, 57-yard drive of their own. Gains of 20 through the air to Johnston and 10 by Edwrads on the ground summarized the biggest plays on the drive as the Bolts forced themselves into Kansas City territory. Herbert displayed quality poise and presence Sunday night as he was able to overcome an injury scare early in the game to play a good game, ending the game with 213 yards on 21 for 30 passing and a touchdown along with 12 rushing yards.

However, a sack of the University of Oregon product on second down all but spoiled any chances of a touchdown on the drive, and the offense could not recover to keep the chains moving. Reliable kicker put through a 37-yard field goal and the Chargers took control with a slim 17-16 advantage with 4:35 remaining in the game.

In what has felt all-too-familiar for teams facing Kansas City this season, despite Los Angeles’ best efforts to Mahomes’ ability in the clutch, the Chiefs were able to find a way–they always do.

A third and ten forced by the Charger defense was all for nothing as an improvised throw from Mahomes found speedy rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the middle of the field to move the chains. In a slow march, the superstar quarterback brought his team up to the Chargers’ 11-yard line after a third down conversion through the air to fellow star tight end Travis Kelce for nine yards. With one second left, the Chiefs called a timeout and brought on Wright for the game-winning 31-yard field goal attempt.

The ball sailed to the left after connecting with Wright’s cleat, and the Chargers seemed to have hope of an incredible road win for a single second. Unfortunately, in the most agonizing manner possible, the football hit the left upright of the goalpost and snuck just in. Kansas City escaped with a 19-17 victory as the fans at Arrowhead Stadium erupted into a frenzy. The win gave the Chiefs the AFC West Title and saw the Chargers fall to 8-5.

“Lots of respect for the Chiefs, for Andy Reid. He’s the best. We’ll just keep working and like I said earlier, this one hurts; we’ll lay down and bleed for a little while, not long, and we’ll rise and fight again,” Harbaugh said.

Looking into the future, Los Angeles will look to bounce back at home next Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they look to clinch a wildcard playoff spot in the next few weeks.