Chargers’ defense comes up big in victory over rival Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Derwin James Jr. shadowed Travis Kelce in the closing seconds of the Chargers’ 16-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, as he has so many times in so many games over so many seasons. The football ball sailed through the frigid air Sunday afternoon, and James got to it first, boxing out Kelce near the left sideline.

Then the celebration began, with the Chargers racing with James toward the stands beyond the end zone, where several power-and-blue clad fans stood cheering, their voices raised among a sea of Chiefs fans, now silent. For the Chargers, the ending was joyful and poetic and fitting in so many ways.

How many times had the Chiefs made a critical play to defeat the Chargers by a field goal or a touchdown in recent years? How many times had James and the Chargers trudged to their locker room with the roar of the red-clad Chiefs crowd ringing and stinging in their ears?

This time, it was different.

The Chargers (10-4) swept both games against the Chiefs this season, improved to 5-0 against the AFC West and took another significant step toward their second consecutive playoff berth in Jim Harbaugh’s second season as their coach. They also eliminated the Chiefs (6-8) from the postseason.

James’ interception of backup quarterback Gardiner Minshew with 14 seconds remaining in the game drove a stake through the heart of a dynasty, making the Chargers winners over the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the runner-up Chiefs in back-to-back games.

The Chargers sealed the deal with Patrick Mahomes sidelined by a left knee injury and with Minshew pressed into service for the final 1:53 of the game and the Chiefs desperate for yardage, for better field position for a possible tying field goal off the right foot of Harrison Butker.

“It didn’t look good,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid said of Mahomes’ injury.

The Chiefs later said an MRI exam revealed that Mahomes had torn his ACL.

The Chargers have won three in a row and six of seven despite a patchwork offensive line that hasn’t adequately protected quarterback Justin Herbert and his fractured left, non-throwing hand since he was injured in the first quarter of their victory Nov. 30 over the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I wouldn’t say I learned anything new,” James said of the Chargers’ modest winning streak, which has been sparked by their defensive play. “I learned what I already knew kind of about this team. They’re resilient. They’re going to fight. Down 10 points and nobody was like, ‘We’re going to lose.’

“Everybody was still believing.”

The Chiefs led 13-3 late in the first half, but Herbert drove the Chargers for a late score, zipping a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith with five seconds left. Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 23 and 49 yards to rally the Chargers into the lead in the third quarter.

Kansas City was scoreless after halftime, rendered powerless by the Chargers’ defense, and their offense took full advantage. The Chiefs’ only touchdown came on Mahomes’ 12-yard scramble on their first possession. Butker kicked two fields to account for their other scores.

“Huge,” Herbert said of the momentum generated by his lone touchdown pass, the first TD reception of Lambert-Smith’s career, and by Dicker’s field goal on the opening drive of the second half.

Herbert completed 19 of 29 for 210 yards, literally warming to the task after it was 15 degrees at the opening kickoff. The Chargers ran the ball almost exclusively on their first possession, which yielded the first of Dickers’ three field goals, a 49-yard boot with 2:30 remaining in the first quarter.

The Chargers ran the ball eight times on their 11-play drive.

Omarion Hampton rushed for a team-leading 61 yards on 15 carries in his second game after suffering a fractured left ankle during the Chargers’ loss Oct. 5 to the Washington Commanders. Kimani Vidal, who assumed the starting position while Hampton was sidelined, had 33 yards on 12 carries.

It was the Chargers’ defense that won the game for them, though. James and linebacker Henley had interceptions and outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and Tuli Tuipulotu had two sacks apiece. The Chargers limited the Chiefs to 239 total net yards, including only 49 on the ground.

James had 10 combined tackles, leading the Chargers.

“He told me all day he was going to go out there and he was going to make a play like that,” Herbert said of James, who had won only twice in six seasons in his career against the Chiefs before this season. “That’s why I wasn’t surprised to see it happen. The way he flies around and competes, he plays four quarters like they are his last, so I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”