The San Diego Chargers played from behind all day and couldn’t recover, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs 19-7.
Kansas City won the toss and deferred to the second half. After a Chargers punt, the Chiefs scored first with a 43-yard field goal by kicker Cairo Santos. San Diego got to midfield on the next possession but was forced to punt after Philip Rivers was sacked for a loss of seven on third down. Kansas City ended the first quarter facing a 1st-and-10 from the San Diego 40.
The Chiefs led 10-0 early in the second quarter after quarterback Chase Daniel tossed a pass to Dwayne Bowe; however, he fumbled the ball just shy of the goal line but it rolled and popped into the hands of Travis Kelce in the end zone for the score. The Bolts went 69-yards in six plays for a quick answer after Rivers hitEddie Royal for 44-yards to the one-yard line and Branden Oliver ran it in for the touchdown on the next play. A quick three-and-out by KC gave the ball back to the Chargers however Mat McBriar punted and Thomas returned it 41-yards to the San Diego eight. A big defensive stand complemented by a sack on second down by Dwight Freeney held the Chiefs to a field goal and a 13-7 lead. On Kansas City’s ensuing possession, the Bolts’ defense did their job again holding the Chiefs to another field goal and 16-7 lead. The Chargers got the ball with 33 seconds left in the half but on second down, Rivers’ pass downfield was picked off by Kurt Coleman. The Chiefs took a knee and will get the ball to open the second half.
San Diego’s defense came out of halftime strong forcing the Chiefs to punt after four plays. On 1st-and-10, Rivers was sacked and stripped by Justin Houston and the fumble was recovered by the Chiefs at the San Diego 17. The Chiefs booted another field goal to make it a two-score lead, 19-7. San Diego and Kansas City traded punts on the following possessions. After driving to the Kansas City 34, Nick Novak tried a 52-yard field goal but it fell wide left with less than a minute left in the third.
Despite a 30-yard gain to get into San Diego territory, Santos missed a 51-yard field goal and the Chargers started their first drive of the fourth from their own 40. The Chargers took it down to the Kansas City three where Rivers hit Royal in the end zone for the touchdown, however the call was reversed as the ball hit the ground. The Bolts went for it on fourth down but failed to convert and Kansas City took over on their own three yard line. The Chargers’ defense came up big again forcing the Chiefs to punt off the turnover on downs. The Bolts made it to the KC 20, however they failed to convert another fourth down attempt yet, the Chiefs were forced to punt after a quick three-and-out. The Chargers then drove to the Chiefs’ 10, however with four seconds left, Rivers’ pass was picked off in the end zone by Coleman and the Bolts fell short of the post season with the 19-7 loss.
