In a dramatic Week 15 showdown with the postseason on the line, the Los Angeles Chargers erased a halftime deficit and walked out of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium with a 16–13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, eliminating Kansas City from playoff contention and leaving star quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured late in the fourth quarter. The loss dropped the Chiefs to 6–8 and snapped the franchise’s long active postseason streak. 

Both teams entered this rivalry clash with everything to play for. Kansas City needed a win to keep its fading playoff hopes alive, while Los Angeles looked to strengthen its position in the AFC playoff picture under head coach Jim Harbaugh, in his second season leading the Chargers.

First Half: Chiefs Take Control

Kansas City came out determined to set the tone. On their opening possession, the Chiefs executed a balanced drive that mixed short passes and tough runs, culminating in a 12‑yard Patrick Mahomes touchdown run that put Kansas City ahead 7–0 early. The Chiefs’ offensive rhythm was clear, and Mahomes looked poised to carve up the Chargers’ secondary. 

The Chargers responded with a 49‑yard field goal that cut the lead to 7–3, but Kansas City continued to control the game. In the second quarter, Harrison Butker knocked in a pair of field goals from 27 and 47 yards to stretch the lead to 13–3. The Chiefs’ defense forced a three‑and‑out on multiple possessions, allowing the offense to assert early momentum.

However, the Chargers made life difficult late in the half. Quarterback Justin Herbert connected with KeAndre Lambert‑Smith on a 16‑yard touchdown pass with only seconds before halftime, trimming the Chiefs’ lead to 13–10. Kansas City’s advantage felt slender but valuable heading into the locker room. 

Second Half: Chargers Adjust and Take the Lead

The second stanza belonged to the Chargers. Los Angeles’ defense, now dialed in, began to confuse Mahomes with delayed blitzes and disguised coverages. The Chiefs’ offensive line, already missing key pieces, struggled to contain pressure consistently, forcing Kansas City into repeated three‑and‑outs.

On the first possession of the second half, Los Angeles marched methodically into field‑goal range, where Cameron Dicker knocked through a 23‑yard field goal to make it a 13–13 game. Later in the third quarter, Dicker again split the uprights from 49 yards, giving the Chargers a 16–13 lead — their first lead of the afternoon. 

Kansas City, which had looked comfortable early, could not regain traction. The Chiefs’ offense stalled against disciplined Chargers’ coverage and a defensive front that consistently applied pressure on Mahomes and disrupted the timing of his quick‑passing game.

Late Drama: Mahomes Injury and Game‑Sealing Turnover

With less than two minutes remaining and Kansas City trailing by three, Mahomes began a critical drive that could have kept the Chiefs alive. He had a respectable line of 16 completions on 28 attempts for 189 yards through the afternoon, and also produced the team’s opening touchdown on the ground. 

But on a play near midfield, Mahomes suffered a knee injury while attempting to extend the play — a blow that forced him out of the game and into the locker room. Gardner Minshew stepped in with the game on the line, completing several short passes and moving the chains. But on the final play with only seconds remaining, his pass intended for a late‑developing route was intercepted by Chargers defensive playmaker Derwin James Jr., sealing the 16–13 upset and eliminating the Chiefs from the postseason. 

Standout Performers

Chiefs

• Patrick Mahomes: 16/28, 189 yards, 1 rush TD; battled throughout and led the early charge before exiting with injury. 
• Harrison Butker: 2/2 on field goals and kept the Chiefs ahead deep into the second half. 
• Travis Kelce: His reliable intermediate work kept drives alive, though it wasn’t enough late in the game. 

Chargers

• Justin Herbert: Efficient and poised, accounting for the go‑ahead touchdown and 210 passing yards. 
• Cameron Dicker: Perfect on field goals — his 23‑ and 49‑yard boots swung the game. 
• Derwin James Jr.: Game‑sealing interception and consistent coverage presence down the stretch. 

Tactical Breakdown: What Tilted the Game

Several defining themes emerged from this pivotal divisional battle:

Defensive Adjustments by Los Angeles: After yielding points early, the Chargers’ secondary tightened coverage and obscured their blitz packages effectively, forcing Kansas City into repeated stalled drives in the second half.

Red Zone Execution: The Chiefs maintained the lead through field goals but couldn’t convert a pair of trips inside the Chargers’ 10‑yard line into touchdowns. Los Angeles, meanwhile, maximized its late red‑zone opportunity with Herbert’s touchdown to Lambert‑Smith.

Offensive Line and Protection Issues: With Kansas City already dealing with offensive line injuries, the Chargers’ consistent interior pressure and edge disruption rattled Mahomes at key moments, hindering his ability to orchestrate a comeback.

What This Means for the Chiefs

This loss closes the book on the Chiefs’ 2025 season and snaps their streak of playoff appearances that had stood since 2015. The combination of injury, inconsistency and missed scoring opportunities illustrates the razor‑thin margins of contention in the modern NFL. The knee injury to Mahomes now potentially becomes a central offseason storyline, as the team will assess his recovery timeline and the durability of their offensive protection scheme. 

Kansas City’s sudden fall from AFC powerhouse to a team watching football in January underscores the depth of competition within the league and highlights areas — from offensive line reinforcement to depth at skill positions — that will be focal points heading into the 2026 offseason.

Looking Ahead

For the Chargers, the 10–4 record and critical AFC victory bode well for their playoff positioning. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh’s unit showed resilience, adaptiveness and composure in hostile environs, all hallmarks of a team with postseason potential. Continued defensive discipline and special‑teams reliability give Los Angeles a legitimate chance to make noise late into the season.

For Kansas City, the narrative shifts to reflection and renewal. The end of one of the NFL’s most remarkable playoff runs brings with it tough decisions about roster construction, offensive identity and the path forward with or without Mahomes at full strength. Their legacy of dominance leaves a high bar — and this loss will be a defining chapter in the next era of Chiefs football.