Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) – Kansas City Chiefs (4-0): 10-17
Like every week, the Chiefs won a football game. And as has often been the case over the past year and a half, it is the defense that must be thanked. Steve Spagnuolo's men completely stifled Justin Herbert (16/27, 179 yards, 1 TD) and his squad, like a beaming Trent McDuffie, whose impact often goes beyond statistics.
Patrick Mahomes (19/29, 245 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) was not good, and was quickly deprived of Rashee Rice, but knew how to do the minimum to win. He will have been able to count on Travis Kelce (89 yards) who is much more energetic than since the start of the season. The absences on the Chargers side weighed heavily, but Jim Harbaugh especially seemed overwhelmed by the events.
With this victory, the Chiefs are more than ever at the head of the division, while the Chargers will have to quickly recover to avoid ending up losing out in the race for the playoffs.
The opportunistic Chargers
The start of the match saw a clear dynamic: errors for the Chiefs, and the Chargers taking advantage of them. It's Carson Steele who commits the first loss of the ball, on a fumble. Justin Herbert takes the opportunity to dissect the defense and find Ladd McConkey (67 yards, 1 TD) for a touchdown (7-0).
It was then Patrick Mahomes who threw a bad interception, injuring his receiver Rashee Rice in the process. This time the Chargers are satisfied with a field goal (10-0).
With its back to the wall, Kansas City responds with a single action, a long pass from Patrick Mahomes to rookie Xavier Worthy (73 yards, 1 TD), saving hope (10-7). Although borrowed, Andy Reid's men returned to the locker room with a small gap.
Trent McDuffie and the intractable defense
The Chiefs equalize with a field goal at the start of the second half, then nothing. on both sides, the attacks are calamitous and the level of play is more like a pre-season match. Both teams can't find any rhythm on the ground, and the offense rests on the shoulders of uninspired quarterbacks.
It is finally at the end of the boredom that Kansas City will make the difference, through the intermediary of shadowy heroes. Noah Gray first, then the running duo Kareem Hunt / Samaje Perine. It is the latter who scores the winning touchdown, an important success but not convincing.
