Kansas City dropped its second game of the season, finishing with a 14-2 record, following a 38-21 defeat to quarterback Justin Herbert and the L.A. Chargers. The Chiefs pulled the majority of their starters, allowing their backups a chance to put some film on tape for next season.
Quarterback Chad Henne was the starter under center for Kansas City to close out the season. Sunday afternoon was Henne’s first start since he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2014.
Henne finished tonight’s game by completing 23 of 32 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns against the Charger defense. One of his top targets, through the air, was running back Darwin Thompson, who caught all seven of his targets for 65 yards and a score. Thompson also ran for 45 yards on 14 rushing attempts on the ground.
Wide receivers Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson were also deeply involved in the offensive production. Pringle caught four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, while Robinson finished with six catches for 58 yards.
On the other sideline, quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 302 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Chargers to their fourth consecutive victory to finish the season with a 7-9 record.
Receiver Mike Williams had a huge day through the air, finishing with six receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, tight end Donald Parham finished with three catches for 37 yards with a touchdown, and RB Austin Ekeler finished with six catches for 33 yards and a score.
On the defensive side of the ball, some of Kansas City’s defenders made some plays. Notably, defensive end Tim Ward finished with five tackles and a sack, defensive back DeAndre Baker compiled four solo tackles and a sack, DB BoPete Keyes finished with six solo tackles, and linebacker Darius Harris led the team with seven tackles and three assists.
The Chiefs and Chargers traded touchdown-scoring drives to begin the first half. Kansas City struck first as Chad Henne led a seven-play, 53-yard drive that was capped off with WR Byron Pringle catching a three-yard pass in the end zone for the score.
Kansas City’s 7-0 lead didn’t last long, however, as Justin Herbert led the Charger offense down the field 75 yards in 12 plays to tie the game up following a short pass to TE Donald Partham, who broke a tackle before trotting his way into the end zone for the score.
On their next possession, the Chiefs offense capped off the first quarter with a scoring drive. On the 10th play, at the Charger 13-yard line, Henne fired a short pass to Pringle that went for a 12-yard gain to convert on 3rd down and put Kansas City just a yard away from getting into the end zone.
Two plays later, Henne handed the ball off to Darwin Thompson, who ran straight into the pile of defenders and gained just enough ground to score the touchdown and give the Chiefs a 14-7 lead.
Still early in the second quarter, The Chargers caught a huge break after Kansas City’s defense forced the L.A. offense off the field after just five plays. On the punt return, WR Mecole Hardman muffed the kick, and gunner Joe Reed recovered the fumble for Los Angeles at the KC 17-yard line.
Four plays later, Justin Herbert completed a four-yard pass to Austin Ekeler in the end zone to tie the game back up at 14 apiece.
Still mid-way in the second quarter, Herbert takes the offense on another long 77-yard drive in 15 plays to the Kansas City goal line. On third down from the two-yard line, Herbert called his own number and drove his way into the endzone for the score. However, the official review declared Herbert’s knees hit the turf before the ball crossed the goal line and reversed the call, forcing a fourth-down situation.
Rather than taking the field goal, however, L.A. decided to go for it as Herbert handed the ball off to Ekeler, who was instantly met with Kansas City defenders for no gain and turned the ball over to the Chiefs on downs.
Kansas City was given the ball back on their own one-yard line, giving the Chargers an opportunity to still find their way onto the scoreboard. On the second play of the possession, Henne was tackled by defensive end Isaac Rochell for a safety, giving Los Angeles a two-point lead and the ball back.
Following the free-kick, the Chargers offense bolted back down the field in five plays to increase their lead following a one-yard run by Justin Herbert into the end zone. L.A. went into the half with a 24-14 lead over Kansas City.
Late in the third quarter, Justin Herbert fired off a deep pass for WR Mike Williams that went for a 48-yard touchdown to cap off a six-play, 77-yard drive to extend the Charger lead, 31-14.
Kansas City finally answered with a scoring drive to start the fourth quarter. Chad Henne led the Chiefs’ offense 77 yards in nine plays, including a short pass to Byron Pringle that went for a 31-yard gain. Three plays later, Henne fired a pass to Darwin Thompson for an 8-yard score that brought Kansas City back to within ten points.
However, the Chargers delivered the final dagger as Justin Herbert guided his offense 77 yards to find the end zone one last time to seal a 38-21 victory and hand the Chiefs their second loss of the season.
