KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On a day when the Chargers took an enormous step towards the postseason, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs misplaced their most vital participant.
What began in balmy Brazil ended Sunday within the bitter chilly of Arrowhead Stadium. The Chargers accomplished a season sweep of AFC West bully Kansas Metropolis with a 16-13 victory that finally knocked the Chiefs out of playoff rivalry for the primary time in 11 years.
It was the third-coldest recreation in Chargers historical past — 15 levels at kickoff — and showcased a red-hot protection that paved the best way to Los Angeles wins over Philadelphia and Kansas Metropolis, final season’s Tremendous Bowl groups, in consecutive weeks.
“This can be a ball workforce,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned, gleeful after his workforce gained for the sixth time in seven video games. “An actual ball workforce.”
This Chargers season, which started with a 27-21 victory over the Chiefs in São Paulo, is simply the second within the final 13 years during which they beat their division rival twice.
Harbaugh started his postgame remarks on a somber notice, wishing the perfect for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who left the sport late within the fourth quarter after struggling a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he was hit by defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.
Gardner Minshew closed out at quarterback for the Chiefs, and the sport ended when Derwin James Jr. intercepted his ultimate go. There can be no implausible end for the franchise that gained the final 9 division titles.
“We’ve been going at these guys for some time, going again to Baltimore,” mentioned Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh, acquired in a commerce with the Ravens this season. “It was lengthy overdue.”
Every week after Cameron Dicker kicked 5 subject objectives within the win over Philadelphia, he kicked three extra towards the Chiefs.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes grabs his left leg after sustaining a torn ACL within the fourth quarter.
(Reed Hoffmann / Related Press)
Oweh had two sacks of Mahomes, and Tuli Tuipulotu had two extra. The protection had the Chiefs in a hammer lock, limiting them to 190 yards within the air and a mere 49 on the bottom.
Nonetheless, the Chargers needed to dig themselves out of a gap. They confronted a 13-3 deficit late within the second quarter earlier than tearing off 13 unanswered factors.
Justin Herbert threw a 16-yard landing go to rookie KeAndre Lambert-Smith with 5 seconds left within the first half to start out the comeback. After that it was Dicker and protection for the guests.
“It was actually cool that we had been in a position to shut out a one-score recreation like that,” mentioned Herbert, who mentioned his surgically repaired left hand felt tight within the chilly climate however was higher, as was his grip on the ball. “What number of instances we’ve performed them and it’s been these one-score video games? The protection got here up with the turnovers and the stops.”
Kansas Metropolis, trailing by three, bought all the best way right down to the guests’ 17 early within the fourth quarter however the Chargers but once more got here up huge on protection. Linebacker Daiyan Henley intercepted a third-down go close to the objective line, getting place on working again Kareem Hunt and primarily turning into the receiver on the play.
“I used to be stunned to even see the ball go up within the air, however I needed to revert again to my receiver days and get an over-the-shoulder look,” mentioned Henley, who final lined up as a go catcher six or seven years in the past on the College of Nevada Reno. “Eye-hand coordination is one thing you simply should have in these moments.”
Not every thing the Chargers protection did was so easy. Security Tony Jefferson was ejected within the fourth quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit that knocked Chiefs receiver Tyquan Thornton out of the sport. The decision to ship Jefferson packing was not made by officers on the sector, who flagged him for pointless roughness, however by league officers watching from New York.
Earlier within the second half, Jefferson flattened receiver Rashee Rice with one other devastating hit, and Rice got here after him because the Chargers security made his approach off the sector and towards the locker room. Gamers from either side intervened.
Chargers security Tony Jefferson leaves the sector after being ejected towards the Chiefs on Sunday.
(Reed Hoffmann / Related Press)
In response to the booing crowd, Jefferson raised each center fingers, a gesture that seemingly will draw extra consideration from the league.
“I apologize for that,” he mentioned afterward. “I’m classier than that. I used to be simply caught up within the second. Feelings get excessive. I gained’t sit right here and act like I’m an ideal man. I tousled after I did that.”
The Chargers (10-4), who end the season at Denver, have but to lose an AFC West recreation. They’re 5-0 in these and stay inside hanging distance of the division-leading Broncos.
It gained’t be a straightforward highway. The Chargers play at Dallas subsequent Sunday, then play host to Houston earlier than closing out the common season towards the Broncos.
“I began pondering, that is my favourite ball workforce I’ve ever been on,” Harbaugh mentioned. “Been on some good ones. None higher than this one.
“They’re tight. Fates are intertwined. It’s unselfish. Nothing anybody is doing is for themselves.”
And on this frigid Sunday, that paid some unforgettable dividends.
