Justin Herbert threw for 210 yards and a touchdown as the Los Angeles Chargers eliminated the Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention with a 16-13 road victory on Sunday.
The Chiefs (6-8) will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes departed with just under two minutes remaining with an apparent left knee injury.
Mahomes was driving the Chiefs down the field to either tie or take the lead when he was tackled from behind by the Chargers’ Da’Shawn Hand. He was replaced by Gardner Minshew, who was intercepted by Derwin James Jr. at the 18-yard line with 14 seconds remaining.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught his first career touchdown pass for the Chargers and Cameron Dicker made three field goals as Los Angeles (10-4) won its third consecutive game and kept its hopes alive for an AFC West title.
Mahomes had completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards and had a 12-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce each had seven receptions for a combined 121 yards.
In a hard-hitting game, the Chiefs absorbed a number of injuries. A second leg injury in two quarters knocked right tackle Jaylon Moore from the game, while wide receiver Tyquan Thornton took a blow to the head from Tony Jefferson in the fourth quarter, for which Jefferson was ejected. Then came Mahomes’ injury.
The Chiefs got off to a fast start, going 68 yards on 11 plays with their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead with Mahomes’ 12-yard run up the middle.
The Chargers made it 7-3 late in the first quarter on a 49-yard field goal from Dicker before the Chiefs matched to go up 10-3 on a 27-yard kick from Harrison Butker. Another Butker field goal, this one from 47 yards, gave the Chiefs a 13-3 lead with 38 seconds remaining before halftime.
It was more than enough time for Herbert to take the Chargers 60 yards on five plays with Lambert-Smith catching a 16-yard TD pass at the back of the end zone as Los Angeles pulled within 13-10 at halftime.
Dicker pulled the Chargers even at 13-13 with a 23-yard field goal with 8:55 remaining in the third quarter.
Los Angeles took its first lead of the game at 16-13 with 51 seconds remaining in the third quarter on another 49-yard field goal from Dicker.
