Kelce recorded 191 receiving yards, a record-breaking number, and was credited with scoring on a Mahomes 34-yard touchdown pass in overtime to win the 34-28 victory over Los Angeles Chargers.
Kelce caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter. He then won the game with his catch and run in overtime. Kelce intercepted Mahomes’ pass at 30 yards and dodged two tackles on his way to the end zone. He was then surrounded by teammates.
Mahomes said, “I don’t think I’ve ever been part in a walk-off touchdown, or anything like that,” and he completed 31 of 47 passes for 410 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. You think he is old. He cannot run with people. He can still run by people. He got to the finish line.
At the end of October, the Chiefs were 3-4. They have now won seven consecutive games to improve their record to 10-4.
Kelce was held to six receptions in the previous two games. But, he came out strong. In the fourth quarter, he had five of his 10 receptions for 142 yards. He also caught a 69 yard reception that resulted in Tyreek Hill’s 1-yard touchdown. A 2-point conversion tied the game at 21.
After Kelce’s sixth career game, in which he had at least 10 catches, Andy Reid, Chiefs coach said that everyone was talking about Kelce losing a step. His endurance down the stretch is remarkable for an older statesman. But his acceleration is amazing.
After a fourth-quarter intercept that cost Mahomes, Austin Ekeler’s touchdown gave the Chargers an advantage of 21-13. After the turnover, he was 10 of 16, gaining 197 yards and three touchdowns.
It (stinks) right now. I’m sorry, but I can assure you that I felt just as bad about the throw and the situation as everyone else. I also knew how terrible it looked. Mahomes stated, “But you will have another chance and it is worth being ready for that moment.”
With 2:19 left, Justin Herbert gave the Chargers an advantage of 28-21 on a 8-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Alle. However, it didn’t hold. The Chiefs won in overtime, making it the second consecutive season that they have visited the Chargers’ Hollywood Park headquarters.
“The goal is to score. Herbert stated that we needed to score points and got into the end zone. We would have loved to be able to stop the clock and have no time. But this is the NFL and you must get to the end zone.
Los Angeles lost after Donald Parham suffered a terrible injury. After hitting his head on the ground in the first quarter, the 24-year-old seemed to have lost consciousness. The team took him to the hospital and helped him on a stretcher.
Herbert threw two touchdowns, and ran for another. However, the Chargers (8-6) were unsuccessful on three red-zone drives. Herbert completed 22 out of 38 passes, gaining 236 yards and one interception.
“I enjoyed the whole game. We gave ourselves a chance, even though it didn’t work out for us today. “We just didn’t finish it off defensively,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley stated.
After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, the Chargers scored on two consecutive drives to make it a 14-10 advantage at halftime. Herbert scored with a 1-yard keeper from the left end, and then connected with Jalen Guiyton for a 4-yard touchdown on their next drive.
For their first 10 points, the Chiefs were able to take advantage of Chargers’ errors. Los Angeles had it turned over on downs and Kansas City ran 95 yards in just 11 plays. The culmination of Michael Burton’s 7 yard run up the middle was Kansas City.
On Harrison Butker’s 30-yard field kick, the Chiefs converted Anthony Hitchens’ intercept of Herbert into points.
BIG NIGHT FOR HILL
Hill had 12 receptions, 148 yards and a TD. This is Hill’s fourth season with at least 11 receptions.
SIX STRONG FOR EKELER
Ekeler ran 2-yards from the left end for a touchdown, extending the lead to 21-13 in the fourth quarter. Uchenna Nawosu intercepted Mahomes’ screen pass meant for Clyde Edwards Helaire at the KC 4; she returned it 2 yards.
This marks the third consecutive time that a Chargers player has made it to the end zone in six consecutive games since 1994. LaDainian Thomason had a streak of seven games in 2004, while Natrone Means had six in 1994.
RED ZONE WOES
If Staley had chosen to kick a field goal rather than going for it on fourth down, the Chargers would have at least had a 20-10 lead by halftime. Andre Roberts kicked the kickoff from 75 yards. Los Angeles drove to the 5, before Herbert converted it on downs.
Although the Chargers could have scored a field goal in the final play of the first period, Herbert was unable to connect with Allen on fourth and goal from the 1.
Los Angeles was down to second-and-goal in the fourth quarter. But Ben Niemann recovered Joshua Kelley’s fumble at 2.
Red-zone errors were also not uncommon for the Chiefs. They fell 14-13, and were fourth-and-goal at 2 when Mahomes’ incomplete pass to Mecole Hartman made it 4-3.
INJURIES
Chargers: S Derwin James suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: Steelers host the Chiefs on Dec. 26.
Chargers: Visit the Houston Texans Dec. 26.
