The Kansas City Chiefs have won a wild and dramatic duel against the Los Angeles Chargers with 34:28. Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill were on top form, the hosts were undoed by a bad weakness. In the AFC West, Patrick Mahomes and Co. set themselves apart.
In the end it was a coin toss, which was to be decisive for the course of the highly dramatic game between the Chiefs and the Chargers. At the beginning of the overtime, Melvin Ingram chose the right side of the coin (“tails”) from the guests, so his team received the ball, scored an instant touchdown – and won the match!
At the start of extra time, Patrick Mahomes (31/47, 410 YDS, 3 TD, INT, 3 ATT, 32 YDS, FUM) first found Travis Kelce (10 REC, 191 YDS, 2 TD) with a pass over 27 yards shortly afterwards provided Tyreek Hill (12 REC, 148 YDS, TD) for a new first down. With an outstanding run after the catch past several defenders, Kelce finally decided the game with the decisive touchdown. 34:28, the Chargers did not get the ball back under the NFL overtime rules.
With a touchdown catch Kelce had only managed to equalize a minute before the end of regular time. The Chargers had previously taken the lead through a touchdown pass from Justin Herbert (22/38, 236 YDS, 2 TD, INT) to Keenan Allen (6 REC, 78 YDS, TD). At the end of regular time, the hosts were unable to move the ball decisively again. After a punt by the Chargers, it went into overtime.
At the beginning of the game, it had not really been suggested that the encounter should be so exciting and highly dramatic. Thanks to a strong kick return from Andre Roberts, Los Angeles marched to the opposing goal line on his first drive, but remained there without points. The played fourth down did not result in points.
While the Chiefs plowed down the field on their first drive (eleven plays for 95 yards) and were rewarded with a touchdown from Michael Burton (ATT, 7 YDS, TD, 2 REC, 20 YDS), Herbert passed the next Drive blocked by the Chargers and thus intercepted by Anthony Hitchens. After a field goal by Harrison Butker (2/2 FG, 2/2 XP), the guests took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.
NFL: Chargers convince with a strong run game
Los Angeles, however, was by no means defeated. Thanks to a very good run game in which both Austin Ekeler (12 ATT, 59 YDS, TD, 4 REC, 23 YDS) and Justin Jackson (13 ATT, 86 YDS, REC, 13 YDS) were able to move the ball constantly, the Chargers also had a lot of offensive success. Herbert first ran the ball out of a yard into the end zone, shortly afterwards he found Jalen Guyton (2 REC, 10 YDS, TD) with a pass to 14:10.
After a strip sack from Joey Bosa against Mahomes, the Chargers got the chance to extend their lead again shortly before the break. At the opposing one-yard line, however, Staley again played the fourth down, again they were unsuccessful: Daniel Sorensen fended off Herbert’s pass at the line of scrimmage.
After a field goal from Butker, both teams exchanged turnover on downs in the second half. Herbert couldn’t get the ball to Jared Cook (3 REC, 32 YDS) at the opponent’s 28-yard line, while Mahomes missed a wide open Mecole Hardman (2 REC, 11 YDS) at the one-yard line.
Los Angeles then marched over 97 yards once more to the opposing goal line – only to fumble the ball back! Joshua Kelley (7 ATT, 21 YDS, FUM) lost the leather while trying to get into the opposing goal line. Mahomes returned the favor immediately, however, and Uchenna Nwosu intercepted a pass into the flat. Ekeler finally ensured the 21:13 lead with a short touchdown run.
From then on, the Offenses took command. The last three drives up to the last minute of regular time all ended in touchdowns. With 28:28 it finally went into overtime, where Kelce’s outstanding run after the catch finally decided the game.
NFL: Parham injury overshadows Chiefs win
The encounter was overshadowed by a serious injury to Donald Parham Jr., who hit his head on the ground during a catch attempt in the end zone and was then unable to move all parts of the body. The tight end was admitted to a local hospital and his team said his condition was stable.
With the victory, the Chiefs create a cushion at the top of AFC West and are now two games ahead of the second-placed Chargers, and the franchise is at least temporarily taking first place in the AFC. Kansas City will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at home next week, while the Chargers will face the Houston Texans away from home.
Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) – Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)
Result: 28:34 (0: 7, 14: 3, 0: 3, 14:15, 0: 6) BOXSCORE
Chargers vs. Chiefs – the most important statistics
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In the first quarter, the Chiefs briefly moved the ball almost at will. Kansas City had ten first downs in the first 15 minutes, Mahomes and Co. recorded no more game in the first quarter in any game this season.
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Herbert broke the 8,220 passing yards mark in the NFL in the first half. This means that the quarterback has collected more passing yards in his first two seasons than any player before him.
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Herbert secured another record. With his 71st touchdown, the young quarterback overtook Dan Marino and scored more touchdowns in his first two seasons than any other player before him.
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The Chargers bet on the run, Los Angeles ran more run than pass plays and was successful. The hosts had 192 rushing yards – the highest figure for the Chargers this season.
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The Chiefs went into the game as the team with the best offensive third down conversion rate, the Chargers with the worst in defense. This trend should continue: With 12 third downs, the guests got a new first down 7 times – a very good rate.
The star of the game: Travis Kelce (Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs)
Tyreek Hill was the chain mover for the Chiefs and Mahomes’ number one target for long stretches. In the end, however, Kelce made all the difference. In the fourth quarter, Kelce carried a pass from his quarterback over 69 yards to the one-yard line, and one minute before the end of regular time he caught the touchdown to equalize 28:28. In overtime, Kelce put the lid on: first he caught a 27-yard pass, then he carried a short pass from Mahomes over 34 yards into the end zone, bringing his chiefs to victory. With 191 receiving yards, Kelce set a new personal record. Also outstanding: Tyreek Hill and linebacker Nick Bolton.
The flop of the game: The Chargers goalline offense
28 first downs, 428 total yards – the Chargers got the ball very well offensive, but too often they didn’t reward themselves with points. That was not primarily due to the aggressive fourth-down decisions by head coach Brandon Staley, but rather to individual mistakes right before the goal line. The hosts made two drops on the first drive, shortly afterwards Herbert missed an open cook, later Kelley even fumbled when trying to jump into the opposing end zone. The Chargers scored zero points from three goal-to-go situations – in the end, that would take bitter revenge!
Analysis: Chargers vs. Chiefs – the tactics board
- The Chiefs found an excellent offensive game. With outside runs and quick passes into the flats, the guests marched down the field on their first drive. The Chargers adjusted their own coverages and from then on played less softly. This in turn resulted in spaces at Out or Corner Routes, which Hill above all knew how to use.
- On the Chiefs side, Chris Jones dropped out after a positive corona test. His absence was clearly noticeable in both pass and run defense. The Chargers constantly attacked the Chiefs defense with runs through the middle and were quite successful.
- The Chargers are among the most aggressive teams in Fourth Down, especially against strong opponents. This impression was only reinforced against the Chiefs: Los Angeles played five fourth downs and they were successful in their two run-plays. Her three pass attempts, however, did not result in a first down.
- In their fourth down attempt on the opposing two-yard line, the Chiefs surprisingly bet on a pass-play from the shotgun. Kansas City got a wide open receiver in the flat with Mecole Hardman. But: Mahomes missed his teammate completely and threw the ball two yards too short into the lawn.
- Durwin James went into the game battered. Safety was on the field at the beginning of the match, but saw hardly any play in the further course of the game. James was noticeably absent from the hosts’ secondary: Kelce booked all but one of his catches with James on the sidelines.
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